Michael Crawford

Dr. Michael Crawford is a Lecturer of Music Education & Percussion at the University of North Texas (UNT). His responsibilities at UNT include teaching undergraduate and graduate coursework, coordinating the College’s student teaching program, overseeing all curriculum and instruction for the Percussion Methods courses, and co-directing the UNT Percussion Group percussion ensemble.

Before joining the faculty at UNT, Dr. Crawford dedicated a decade of his career to teaching MS/HS band and percussion throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area metroplex. Additionally, he served on the instrumental faculty at Tarleton State University (2011–2014) and as the drumline instructor/arranger for Baylor University (2013–2017).

Dr. Crawford maintains an active profile as a clinician/adjudicator for numerous national and international festivals, including recent invitations to adjudicate the 2023 PASIC Percussion Chamber Competition (Indianapolis, IN) and 2024 Australian Percussion Eisteddfod and Drumline Competition (Sydney, AUS). He has also been invited to present featured clinics and research at regional and national conferences, including NAfME, CBDNA, National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy, National Fellowship of Worship Musicians, TMEA, and TBA.

As a percussionist, Dr. Crawford has performed with regional orchestras, jazz ensembles, chamber groups, and drum corps throughout the United States and Europe. He has published articles in The Instrumentalist, Journal of Music Teacher Education, and Rhythm! Scene Magazine, and musical compositions through C. Alan Publications. Dr. Crawford is a member of the Percussive Arts Society Education Committee, Black Swamp Percussion Educator Network, and a proud Artist/endorser of Innovative Percussion, Pearl/Adams, and Zildjian percussion products.