Julie Viscardi-Smalley
Associate Professor
JWU Faculty Since 2016
Julie Viscardi-Smalley, associate professor in the Sports, Entertainment, Event - Management (SEEM) department at Johnson & Wales University’s Providence Campus, specializes in teaching about the music industry, entertainment management, event management, concert production, music theory and music history. Her doctoral research is centered around the application of threshold concept theory to music industry education. Additional research interests include music education, the analysis of popular music, the music industry, concert/festival/event production, online teaching and learning and curriculum and program design in higher education. She has more than 15 years experience teaching online and engaging in instructional design for excellence in online learning.
Viscardi-Smalley’s professional experience in the music industry includes work in booking agencies, concert production, tour coordination, artist management, marketing for music, record labels and copyright/publishing for musical works. She has worked on the production team for concerts at a variety of club- to arena-sized venues across New England with popular artists such as Metallica, Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stefani, The Black Eyed Peas, Backstreet Boys, Dropkick Murphys, The Pixies, Bright Eyes, Moby, Keller Williams and more - as well as legacy acts such as Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, The Temptations, Frankie Valli, KC and the Sunshine Band, Kool and the Gang, Steppenwolf, Johnny Rivers and more. Viscardi-Smalley assisted in the tour coordination for cross-country sponsored college tours for artists such as Howie Day, All-American Rejects, Gym Class Heroes and Drake. She has handled management, marketing and public relations for a number of growing Boston-based rock acts as well. She enjoys attending live music events, performing music and spending time with family.
Education
- DMA, Music Education, Boston University
- MS, Music Education, Syracuse University
- BA, Music Education, Syracuse University
Teaching Interests
Viscardi-Smalley’s primary teaching specialization is in music industry education. Since 2005, she has taught introductory-level courses in the music and entertainment industry as well as upper-level courses focused on artist management, concert / tour / festival production, record company operations, copyright for music, music publishing, music marketing, public relations and television / film production management. Additionally, she has taught courses in popular music analysis, music appreciation, world music, hip hop culture, history of American popular music, Western music history and music theory. Viscardi-Smalley particularly enjoys teaching small, student-centered experiential learning courses partnered with industry clients such as the TDGarden / Boston Bruins Directed Experiential Education (DEE) course.
Scholarly Interests
Viscardi-Smalley’s doctoral research is centered around the application of threshold concept theory to music industry education. Additional research interests include music industry education, the music industry, best practices for concert and event management, the analysis of popular music, active learning strategies, online teaching and learning and curriculum and program design in higher education.
Courses
- Introduction to the Music Industry
- The Business of the Entertainment Industry
- Concert, Tour, and Music Festival Production Management
- Introduction to the Sports, Entertainment, Event - Management Industry
- New Media Literacy
- Sponsorship, Sales and Relationship Management in the SEE Industry
Extra Curricular Roles
Faculty Advisor for the JWU student chapter of the Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association (MEISA)
Professional Affiliations
Viscardi-Smalley is a member of the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators’ Association (MEIEA) and the Event Safety Alliance (ESA).
Publications
- Viscardi-Smalley, J. (2018, March 23). What Music Industry Education Can Learn From Threshold Concept Theory. Proceedings of the 2018 International Summit of the Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association. Paper presented at the International Summit of the Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association, Los Angeles, CA, March 22-24, 2018. Nashville, TN: MEIEA.
- Viscardi-Smalley, J. (2009). [Review of the book “Reality Check: A Common Sense Guide to Breaking into the Music Industry: An Insider’s View from the Trenches,” by M. Walt]. MEIEA Journal, 9(1), 219-221.
Honors And Awards
- Faculty Excellence Award, Bay State College, 2009