About me
Charles Brooks, D.M.A. is a classically trained professional jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, hand drummer, studio drummer, pianist, clinician, composer, and educator. He is the Assistant Professor of Audio Engineering in the Department of Entertainment Industry at the University of North Alabama, where he mentors students while teaching and equipping them with the skills necessary to understand how to seek out, recognize, and be fully prepared for professional opportunities in live sound and studio recording. Additionally, he is an endorsed artist/educator with Soultone Cymbal Company and Innovative Percussion. In 2023, Dr. Brooks placed 2nd in the London International Music Competition Percussion. His albums of original compositions are available on all current music streaming platforms.
Dr. Brooks is a nationally featured jazz performer at the University of North Alabama, Louisiana State University, Belmont University, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Austin Peay State University, University of Louisville, Western Kentucky University, the Baton Rouge Mid City Jazz Festival, and the Duluth Jazz Festival. He holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts with a Composition minor from Louisiana State University. He studied composition under Dr. Dinos Constantinides (LSU) and Dr. Jeffrey Wood (Austin Peay), and his extensive study of jazz and percussion performance took place under the instruction of Dr. Christopher Norton (Belmont), Mr. David Steinquest (Austin Peay), Dr. Michael Kingan (Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania), and Dr. Willis Delony (LSU).
He has over 35 years’ experience in performance, composition, and education, and over 25 years' experience working in the entertainment industry. He is a classically trained percussionist, an accomplished jazz musician, and both a public and private instructor and consultant proficient in orchestral performance, jazz studies, live performance, electronic music, and audio engineering.
