Matthew John Dorman, Ph.D.

Freelance musician, music educator, writer and editor

General Information

I was born and raised in California and since June 2008 I have been living in Helsinki, Finland. In March 2009, I completed the PhD in ethnomusicology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where I taught Music and Popular Culture in America (MUS 114 – click here to see syllabus) in 2007 and 2008. In 2005 I was awarded a Fulbright Grant to conduct ethnographic fieldwork in Finland on Finnish popular music. My dissertation, The Sound of a Thousand Lakes: Rock Music and Cultural Symbolism in Finland examines symbolic structures of Finnish rock music and culture, particularly in relation to local and trans-local interactivity. To see the dissertation in PDF form, click here. I also hold a Master of Music degree in composition, a Bachelor of Science degree in business management, and a certificate of completion of the US Department of Defense Data Systems Officer Course.

Editing and Proofreading

Whether you are a native or non-native English speaker, it is paramount to have your work professionally edited and proofread. Given that I live in Finland, I have become more or less specialized in working with non-native speakers/writers at various levels of English language proficiency. I can edit and proofread your:

· Dissertations and theses

· Academic papers

· Essays

· Technical manuals

· Advertisements and brochures

· Flyers

· E-Books

· Screenplays

· Song lyrics

· Professional/personal correspondence and email

· Textbooks

· PowerPoint presentations

Songwriting, Performance, and Teaching

I frequently perform in Finland and abroad as “Matthew John” (solo) or “The Matthew John Band.” As a songwriter, I specialize in folk and folk-influenced styles (follow the link below the picture to hear sound samples). I have also written “classical” compositions for orchestra, pop songs for pop bands, country tunes, and experimental works. I am available for hire to write songs for any event or occasion (music or lyrics or both). I have taught courses on music and culture at the university level, as well as assisted in the teaching of film studies courses. I also teach guitar (acoustic guitar)—finger-style in the manner of Mississippi John Hurt as well as various flat-pick styles (old-time, folk, pop, and acoustic rock).

Album cover for Matthew John’s “Honey Bee”

For gig and other information about Matthew John, click here.

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In Lapland hiking with my wife, Pirjo (Photo by Kauko Röyhkä)

Contact Information

Matthew John Dorman

Saniaistie 3 f 96

Helsinki 00730

Finland

Email: mjdorman (at) umail.ucsb.edu

Secondary email: Gallowswood (at) yahoo.com

Web: www.myspace.com/matthewjohn45

www.matthewjohn.net

Last Updated: June 2009

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Matthew John