Mitchell Robinson

ABOUT

Mitchell Robinson retired as associate professor of music education and coordinator of the Music Student Teaching Program in 2026 after joining the MSU College of Music in September 2003. Prior to his appointment at MSU, he held positions at the University of Connecticut, and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., and was an instrumental music teacher and music department facilitator for 10 years in Fulton, N.Y. Robinson was awarded the 1997 Reston Prize from Arts Education Policy Review for his analysis of arts education policy, and the 1999 Research Award from the International Network of Performing and Visual Arts Schools. He served as academic editor of the Music Educators Journal (2006-2010), and has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Music Teacher Education (2006-2010), the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, the International Journal of Education & the Arts, and Research and Issues in Music Education. His publications have appeared in Arts Education Policy Review, Music Educators Journal, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, American Music Teacher, and the American School Board Journal. Robinson co-authored a book, entitled Great Beginnings for Music Teachers: Mentoring and Supporting New Teachers, published by MENC: The National Association for Music Education in 2003, and contributed a chapter to Teaching Music in the Urban Classroom, Volume 2: A Guide to Survival, Success, and Reform. Robinson also served for two years as scholar-in-residence for music for the Connecticut State Department of Education, where his work focused on beginning music teacher induction and support. As of the date of his MSU retirement, Robinson was serving as a member of the State of Michigan Board of Education with a term set to expire in 2031. His scholarship is focused on education and music education policy. Robinson received B.F.A. degrees in music education and trumpet performance from the State University of New York at Buffalo, the M.M.Ed. from Hartt School of Music, a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from the State University of New York-Oswego, a Ph.D. in music education from the Eastman School of Music, and pursued post-graduate studies in music education and conducting at Northwestern University.