Marshall Heiser Ph.D. is a multidisciplinary arts scholar specialising in creative practice in popular music and record production. He has a background in classical music and was also active in the Brisbane and Melbourne independent popular music scenes as a performer, songwriter and record label operator, receiving kudos from Rolling Stone Magazine and JJJ’s Richard Kingsmill.
Marshall has taught music production at the Qld Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University and in the private HE sector. His scholarly publications are widely cited, and he has presented papers both nationally and internationally regarding such diverse topics as music and sound in cinema, the interrelatedness of humour, play and creativity theory, self-directed learning, and the phenomenology of record production.
Most recently, Marshall has expanded his skillset to include music-technology development and manufacture, ranging from the old (tube amplification) to the new (open-source music software applications and hardware user interfaces). His most recent research project – aimed at empowering young artists by reconciling their individual psychology and experience with sociocultural context – has resulted in his new book Popular Music, Power and Play: Reframing Creative Practice.
Publications, conference papers and lecturing:
– Book: Heiser, M. (2021). Popular Music, Power and Play: Reframing Creative Practice. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Academic.
– Publication (Peer-reviewed): Heiser, M. S. (2021). ‘Control, Chaos, Power, and Play: Interview with Dr Bill Bruford’ In Journal on the Art of Record Production. https://www.arpjournal.com/asarpwp/control-chaos-power-and-play-interview-with-dr-bill-bruford/
– Conference Paper: Heiser, M. (2019). ‘What if? Play and Record Production Creative Practice.’ (paper accepted for inclusion at the 14th Art of Record Production conference, Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA, May 17–19, 2019. Nb., author did not attend conference due to unavoidable circumstances).
– Book chapter: Heiser, M. S. (2016). ‘The Soundtrack as Appropriate Incongruity.’ In M. Evans & P. Hayward (Eds.), Sounding Funny: Music, Sound and Comedy Cinema. Sheffield, England: Equinox.
– 2012-2016: SAE Institute, Brisbane, Australia: Audio lecturer, curriculum development, unit co-ordinator.
– PhD Thesis: Heiser, M. S. (2015). The playful frame of mind: An exploration of its influence upon creative flow in a post-war popular music-making context. (Doctoral dissertation). Brisbane, Australia: Griffith University.
– Publication (Peer-reviewed): Heiser, M. S. (2012). ‘SMiLE: Brian Wilson’s Musical Mosaic.’ In Journal on the Art of Record Production, 7. https://www.arpjournal.com/asarpwp/smile-brian-wilson’s-musical-mosaic/
– 2007-2012: Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia (QCM): Sessional lecturer, tutor, curriculum development, research assistant.
– Conference: Heiser, M. S. (2012). ‘The Recording as Artefact of Play’ (presented at the Australasian Computer Music Conference, Brisbane, Jul., 2012).
– Conference: Heiser, M. S. (2012). ‘The Sonic Saboteur: Jaques Tati Versus the Great American Narrative Franchise.’ (presented at the 8th Australasian Humour Studies Network Colloquium, Canberra, Feb., 2012).
– Conference: Heiser, M. S. (2011). ‘Digital Audio Workstations: Master or Slave?’ (presented at the Create World Conference, Brisbane, Nov., 2011).
– Conference: Heiser, M. S.(2011). ‘Humour, Playframing, and Breaking Mental Set: An Augmentation of the Self-Directed Learning Approach.’ (presented at the IXeme colloque international de CORHUM. Versailles, France, Oct., 2011).
– Conference: Heiser, M. S. (2011). ‘Playing with Music: Report on (2 1⁄2 years) Progress in Researching Humour and Music.’ (presented at the 17th Australasian Humour Studies Network Colloquium, Tasmania, Feb., 2011).
– Co-editor: Mixing with your Mind by Mike Stavrou (2003). Sydney, Australia: Flux Research.
Dr Marshall Heiser 