Douglas Babb is a musician, performer, composer and educator. His unique solo computer- assisted performances of original music have captivated audiences at concert halls, museums, colleges and in over 2,500 schools through the national arts organization, Young Audiences. Douglas has performed at scores of civic events and educational conferences.
Mr. Babb was selected as one of the "ArtsEdTech 100" by IBM and the Getty Foundation.
A guitarist from age 8,
he mastered several instruments before beginning his lifelong
study of electronic music in 1970 at the Indiana University School
of Music where he studied under avant garde composers John Eaton
and Xenikas, jazz great David Baker and the pioneer of the music
synthesizer, Robert Moog.
In 1981, after years of studio engineering which included some early sessions with John "Cougar" Mellencamp, Babb began performing live with an impressive array of synthesizers, samplers, computers and sound equipment.
In 1986, he premiered his first symphony, a work for synthesizer, computer and orchestra.
In 1987, Douglas traveled
extensively throughout Latin America as "Ambassador of the
Arts" and the "Official Musician" of the Pan American
Games. His "Sound Safari-Games" project culminated in
the release of original music which received international media
acclaim and was featured in the Pan American Games' Closing Ceremonies.
He later returned to Indiana University as an instructor of music
technology.
In 1988, Babb founded SOUNDBYTES-Resources
in Electronic Music Technology, which comprised a public access
electronic music studio, reference library, museum and classroom.
SOUNDBYTES accolades include several artist-in-residence grants
and overseeing the "Music in High Technology" project
under the Indiana Department of Education. Babb also designed
and installed the Center For Exploration Audio/Video Media Lab
for the Indianapolis Children's Museum.
Mr. Babb's diverse commissions
include a "Dinosaur Soundscape" for the Field Museum
of Natural History; Whalespeak, a commission for the Shedd
Aquarium in Chicago; appearances at the Art Institute of Chicago;
and audio effects for the Smithsonian traveling exhibit "Monsters
of the Deep".
Douglas is a consultant to a variety of public access music technology projects. The Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee and The Children's Museum of Manhattan are recent clients. He was the focus of a CNN SHOWBIZ special feature and his work is often heard on PBS radio and television.
New England schools, museums
and music professionals have enthusiastically welcomed Mr. Babb
and his expertise since his move to Connecticut in 1994. Douglas
continues over two decades of affiliation with Young Audiences
by becoming one of the most requested artists on the Young Audiences
of Connecticut roster. He was an artist-in-residence at the Discovery
Museum in Bridgeport, CT where he performed popular monthly concerts
using video projection and a computer generated light show. Babb
is a recent addition to the artist catalogs of Very Special Arts,
the Library Council, the Music Educators Technology Association
and the Shoreline Council on the Arts.
Douglas is an active member of the New York City chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and he is a regular presenter at Grammy in the Schools. Babb also designed and installed a M.I.D.I. Lab and Recording Studio for SOUNDSFUN!, an interactive music exhibit at The Children's Museum of Manhattan.
Mr. Babb, aka The M.I.D.I. Guy, is a sought after presenter of clinics, workshops and teacher in-service in the areas of M.I.D.I for Beginners and Technology in the Classroom. Douglas was featured at "Arts, Education and Technology- A Winning Combination", presented by the Connecticut Alliance for the Arts at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, CT and he performed at The Bushnell for The Connecticut Forum's "CyberLife" conference. He was an artist-in-residence at a Connecticut Commission on the Arts "H.O.T. (Higher Order Thinking) School".