Black Hawk College is welcoming back a familiar face to its instrumental music program.
Jazz pianist, composer and recording artist Corey Kendrick has returned to the Quad Cities from Detroit and will be teaching music courses full-time at the Quad-Cities Campus.
“I love the music program at Black Hawk. It’s not a cut-throat program. It’s a very friendly, supportive community,” Kendrick said.
“The students are there to help each other fulfill their goals of becoming better musicians, and it’s so inspiring to be able to be a part of that community,” he said.
A North Scott High School graduate, Kendrick grew up in Park View, Iowa, less than 30 minutes from the Quad-Cities Campus. He earned a Bachelor of Liberal Studies from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2008 and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University in 2015.
Before moving to Michigan to pursue his master’s degree, Kendrick spent the 2012-13 school year as a part-time BHC instructor. He coordinated the 2013 BHC Jazz Festival and taught in the 2013 BHC Summer Jazz Camp for high school, college and community musicians.
While in Michigan, he taught at the MSU Community Music School in Detroit, at the MSU Big Band Symposium and at high school jazz workshops while maintaining a private music studio. In 2018, he returned to the Quad Cities for a five-day visiting artist residency through Quad City Arts and performed educational outreach concerts for more than 1,500 K-12 students.
Three years later, Kendrick is back in the Quad Cities permanently and replacing longtime BHC music professor Dr. Edgar Crockett who retired this year.
Corey Kendrick (left) and Dr. Edgar Crockett (right) performing at the 2013 BHC Jazz Festival.
“Edgar was a great mentor to me as a young aspiring musician, and later was a great mentor to me as an aspiring educator,” Kendrick said. “He leaves big shoes to fill, but I’m so looking forward to getting into the classroom and making some music!”
For Fall 2021, Kendrick will be teaching Jazz Ensemble (MUSC 102), Theory of Music I (MUSC 111), Music Appreciation (MUSC 154) and Applied Lessons on Piano (MUSC 100 and MUSC 200).
Kendrick says another great thing about the music program at Black Hawk College is the small class sizes.
“It allows for lots of individualized, one-on-one time to make sure everyone’s on the same page,” he said.
He plans to continue the BHC Jazz Festival that for more than 25 years has brought high-caliber visiting artists to campus.
“It’s a great way for students to gain experience playing alongside masters of the craft and to see the amount of hard work and dedication it takes to perform at that level,” Kendrick said.
Corey Kendrick (left) performing with students at the 2013 BHC Jazz Festival.
“And it’s also a great opportunity for young musicians to see that their heroes are human and their goals are attainable,” he said.
Kendrick also plans to have the BHC Jazz Ensemble performing gigs in the community and eventually would like to start a summer jazz camp for high school and middle school band students.
“I’m very excited to be returning to Black Hawk College and the Quad Cities. Some of my first teaching experience was at Black Hawk, so it feels full circle to be coming back to Black Hawk to teach again,” he said.
Students interested in playing in the BHC Jazz Ensemble or who want to learn more about the BHC instrumental music program can contact Kendrick at kendrickc@bhc.edu.
New students – Apply to attend Black Hawk College.
Returning students – Register for Fall 2021 classes.