Dr. Emmett Goods is an Associate Professor of Music/Teacher in Jazz Trombone in the Dept. of Music at URI. He is the ATL’s faculty spotlight for February 2025.

What course(s) do you teach, or have you taught, at URI?

I have taught:

• MUS 105 History of Rock & Roll
• MUS 106 History of Jazz
• MUS 124 Jazz Theory and Ear Training I
• MUS 125 Jazz Theory and Eart Training II
• AAF/MUS 208 History of Hip Hop in Black American Culture
• MUS 301 Music as a form of Social Protest
• MUS 396/596 Big Band
• MUS 398/598J Jazz Combos
• MUS 110W-510W Applied Jazz Trombone

What is your proudest teaching moment of the last year?

My proudest moment every year is in the spring when my students do their recitals. It’s a
very special time when I can see them putting to use all that I and my colleagues have
poured into them and they start to look like jazz musicians.
A second moment would be watching my students under the direction of Ayn Inserto
who was our Voices in Jazz composer in residence for 2024. It was amazing to see
them playing this very complicated music and nailing it.

What is one piece of teaching advice that you have received that you would like to
pass on to others?

We are not teaching our students to be us, rather we are teaching them to realize who
they are. Leave time for reflection and connection.

What are the 3 qualities that you think make for a great teacher?

1. Love and deep knowledge of the subject matter.
2. Empathy for the students you are teaching and the subjects you are teaching about.
3. Perseverance to push through the hard times.

How have you seen teaching evolve over your career? And/or where do you see
teaching going?

I never imagined a day where you could do most of your research at home. As a
musician I spent so much of my education trying to find recordings and listen to and
study them. Some were so elusive I felt I would never access them. But, now through
the power of the internet I can listen to and even read nearly anything. It’s been a pivot
to learn how to help students use that resource. Now artificial intelligence takes that and
stretches things even further.

How do you relax after a long day of teaching?

I love to cook for my family. So, making a family favorite is a great way to reconnect with
them and disconnect from the stress of teaching. I also love to listen to and play music.

Share your favorite place to go in Rhode Island? Why is this your favorite place?

I love to fish out of Newport. I go out on a charter and just enjoy every moment of being
on the water and catching fish.