Dr. Barry Atticks

This edition of Who Makes Millersville Special features Dr. Barry Atticks, director of music business and technology.

Q: Where are you originally from?
 I was born and raised in the Harrisburg/Hershey area.

Q: What is your educational background?
Ph.D. in music education and technology from Penn State University, master’s in strategic intelligence and terrorism from American Military University, a master’s in commercial music composition from California State University, Los Angeles and a bachelor’s in business management and piano performance from Elizabethtown College.  Also, I studied at Berklee College of Music for two years.

Q: What is music technology and why is it important today?
To me, music technology is using technology to create music and it is important today because it allows unlimited creativity to all musicians. The cutting edge technology was only available to a few people in the past, but now is affordable to almost anyone.

Q: How did you become interested in studying music business and technology?
I have always been interested in the commercial music world. When I went to college, music business and technology programs did not exist, so I double-majored in traditional business and music performance. When the music technology industry boomed, I went back to school at Berklee College of Music just to study this field and fell in love creating music with technology.

Q: How many years have you been at Millersville?
This is my third full-time year; however, I taught a recording class as an adjunct prior.

Q: What was your experience like being a sound effect editor for Sony and appearing on television shows?
I worked on shows like “Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman” and “Chicago Hope.” In between gigs, I appeared on “Power Rangers” and other shows as an actor. These experiences were all unique and beneficial to my career. Well, maybe not the “Power Rangers” gig, since I was one of the queen’s evil henchmen and constantly got beaten up by the Power Rangers!  Working with the music on “Chicago Hope” was definitely more exciting than sitting in a dark room by myself all day doing sound effects for Sony.

Q: What was your experience like going to Norway during your doctorate dissertation?
It was the first time I had ever been out of the United States. Living in a different culture and seeing the world from an alternate viewpoint changed my life and perspective on many issues. I would not recommend moving there in December like I did. We only had like three hours of sunlight a day and experienced 30 below zero wind chills on New Year’s Eve. However, the 21 hours of sunlight in July was definitely worth it. It is, by far, the most beautiful country I have ever traveled to. In fact, MU’s music department is sponsoring a trip to Norway next July and we may have some spots available for the MU community!

Q: What do you think your students would be most surprised to know about you?
I received a contract to work with the FBI and Secret Service. Sorry, the details are classified.

Q: What is your favorite place to travel to?
The Caribbean. It is the only time I ever relax.

Q: What are your hobbies outside of work?
I have two teenagers who are involved in many sports and arts activities.  So, I have limited time for hobbies, but I am a PIAA high school football official which I love and I am hoping to continue writing my musical next summer.

Q:  What type of music do you listen to?
I listen to everything, but mostly classic rock, 80s, hairbands, electronic space music and some modern country.

Q: Do you play any instruments?
I have played keyboards since age 4 but I also play the trumpet, French horn, percussion and I sing.

Q: What is your greatest accomplishment?
I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Norway for a year and I am doing what I love for a living.

Q: Other Involvement/Extra Fun Facts
I am the faculty advisor to Student Senate and the faculty advisor to Marauder Music Productions. I am traveling back to the Dominican Republic in January with 30 music students.  I got engaged backstage before a concert, while Kevin Cronin, of my favorite 80s band, REO Speedwagon, serenaded us with the song “Keep on Loving You.”

Q: Is there anything else you want to add?
I reside in Allentown with my wife Amie and two children, Brendan, 14, and Brynn, 12.