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to my community in such a way that young men with similar lived experi- ence to mine will know that anything is possible with the help of Christ who gives us strength, and that one can achieve anything to which they set their minds…one of the greatest challenges has been the lack of representation of Black faculty at my level in the field of music education. I am the only tenured Black faculty at my university and there are no Black faculty on the tenure track. There are very few Black directors of choral activities at research one institu- tions. To build a career in a field with such little Black representation has proven difficult, however, I believe deeply that “the difficult we do, the impossible we strive for.” In striving, I have achieved far beyond anything I could have imag- ined, with the help of God and those family members, mentors, and ances- tors who pushed me to persevere on this journey. Journal: As you reflect on the recent past, how has it impacted your commit- ment to your field of endeavor? Murdock: Pressure makes diamonds. My process as a young Scroller, train- ing for leadership in the Kappa Iota Chapter helped shape me into the man I am today. I learned persever- ance. I learned how to problem solve and approach challenges, and I learned more about myself as a human being, including areas of strength and areas of opportunity. These earliest experiences with Kappa Alpha Psi also cemented my commitment to music education and revealed the depths of that com- mitment to the field. I learned to think and adapt quickly, and I have used these skills as the landscape of music education has changed throughout the years…one of the most significant shifts in music education came with the onset of a worldwide pandemic, which tremendously impacted music
education in terms of the ways in which people experienced music.
Journal: How has Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, shaped your educational pursuits? Murdock: I truly believe that my adult life has been driven by my desire to achieve. One of the things that drew me to Kappa Alpha Ps i® was not just the idea of achievement, but that achieve- ment was to occur in “every area of human endeavor…in music, in the example I set as a husband and a father, as an educator, as a mentor, and as a fol- lower of Christ, I endeavor to represent honorable achievement in meaningful ways. So many of my mentors in Kappa Alpha Psi, such as Brother Andre Heath, Brother Dr. Carl Cunningham, Brother Dr. Terry Esper, and Brother Myron Hardiman have been shining examples of who I want to be as a human, as a mentor, and as a Kappa man. Now, as a chapter advisor for the Uni- versity of Arkansas Chapter, the Iota Tau of Kappa Alpha Psi, I hope to have as great an impact as these men, and many other Kappa men have had on my life. I am thankful for this journey. φνπ
As my specific area of choral music became known as “super-spreader” of the virus, I had to quickly learn how to use technology, distance learning, and other means of delivery to endure that music - specifically vocal music - was preserved in schools. Also during this time, with the death of George Floyd in 2020, came a renewed discussion in our profession regarding the ways in which we, as a profession, needed to do better to ensure that all voices are welcome and included. I have been fortunate to have been able to lead many of these discussions, and national and international levels to affect what I hope will be lasting change…. As I’ve mentioned in my an- swer to the previous question, mentor- ship has been very important to me over the years, and because of the impact of fantastic mentors, I endeavor to pay it forward. Since beginning my journey in music education, I have had the plea- sure of mentoring dozens of students, most of whom remain close contacts today. I hope that my impact on their lives live on through their teaching, and that the cycle will continue for genera- tions to come.
THE JOURNAL ♦ SUMMER 2022 | 19
PUBLISHING ACHIEVEMENT IN EVERY FIELD OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR
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