Anthony Casamassima
Musician. Educator. Writer.
Consulting Areas
• Creative Research and Artist Development
• Curriculum and Pedagogical Design
• Equity and Community Mentorship
• Commercial Music and Preproduction
• Cultural and Systems Analysis
Mission Statement
My work integrates teaching, research, and service to help students apply knowledge in their creative and professional lives. I teach musicians how to learn, work, survive, and create within changing educational and technological systems. I study how capital resources impact musicians’ educational pathways and career opportunities, with a focus on equity and access in music. By blending music education, technology, and sociocultural analysis, I design learning systems that expand access, strengthen musicianship, and support sustainable artistic development across diverse educational contexts. Across musicianship, pedagogy, and research, my goal is to build practical frameworks that help students strengthen their artistic identity, expand their opportunities, and navigate the evolving landscape of 21st-century music work.
Current Research Focus
My scholarship investigates how sociocultural capital, narrative agency, and symbolic systems shape musicians’ educational trajectories and creative practice. Drawing from sociology, music education, and creative research, I examine how educational structures influence artistic identity, labor, and access while developing pedagogical frameworks that integrate technology, symbolic inquiry, and community engagement.
Areas of Expertise
• Equity, access, and capital resources in music education and musicians’ careers
• Creative research methods connecting pedagogy, technology, and musicianship
• Curriculum and systems design for inclusive music learning environments
• Applied music technology, assessment, and emerging tools (including AI)
• Community-engaged teaching and collaborative ensemble models
Personal Statement
I began exploring music independently at an early age and started saxophone in middle school band. I later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance (2011) and a Master’s Degree in Music Composition (2016), performing and touring with original groups along the East Coast and serving as a featured improviser in numerous university exhibitions with world-class artists. I also collaborate with community organizations to develop accessible music programs and resources.
During graduate school, I became increasingly interested in the challenges musicians face in maintaining healthy lifestyles while working and gigging. My first master’s thesis examined lifestyle patterns among musicians across genres, which led to broader research interests in equity, learning differences, and the socioeconomic structures that shape musicians’ careers. I earned a Master’s in Music Education in 2020 and continued investigating inclusion, access, and labor-market outcomes in music.
In 2025, I completed my PhD in Music Education (with a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Music Technology) and published my dissertation, The Professional Education Experiences of Musicians Based on the Availability of Capital. My current work integrates music education, sociological theory, creative research, and educational technology to develop more sustainable models of artistic learning and professional development. I aim to support students and professionals in developing more flexible, sustainable artistic lives through interdisciplinary pedagogy and community-centered practice.