Todd Fallis — "Shaking The Tree"

Todd Fallis — "Shaking The Tree"



In an effort to increase the visibility of outstanding scholarship on campus, the offices of the provost and the president have initiated the Inaugural Professor Lecture series at Utah State. The series recognizes and honors recently promoted full professors.


Todd Fallis, newly promoted professor in the Music Department, was the second person honored by President Kermit L. Hall and Provost Stan Albrecht. Fallis presented his Inaugural Professor Lecture on the stage of the Kent Concert Hall in the Chase Fine Arts Center Tuesday, Jan. 13.


After comments by the president and the provost, Fallis was introduced to the invited gathering by Music Department Head Bruce Saperston.


"Todd's outstanding work has brought him to this point," Saperston said. "He is a superb teacher who consistently receives the highest teaching evaluations from his students. He is a performer who has appeared with the Utah Symphony Orchestra and many jazz greats. He is actively involved in scholarly work while believing in practical application in his teaching. He has recruited outstanding majors for our department. He has had a major impact on the Music Department."

Fallis joined the music faculty in 1991 and is now professor of music for low brass and music education. Bass trombone is his specialty.

Teaching and practical application were integral parts of Fallis's Inaugural Lecture, titled "Musician for a Day," and that's just what the invited group became. The group was asked to assemble on stage where it was greeted with chairs, music stands, handouts and a variety of rhythm instruments — congas, tumbas, shakers, sandpaper blocks, rhythm sticks, shekeres, wooden frogs and claves.

Working from the rhythmic tune "Shaking the Tree," based on a song by Peter Gabriel, the group was tutored and rehearsed by student assistants, then forged ahead with a lively performance. Select members of the group, including President Kermit L. Hall and Executive Vice President and Provost Stan Albrecht, were called upon to improvise at two mini-keyboard instruments.

The activity was greeted with some anticipation by the musically challenged, but resulted in an energetic, laugh-filled learning and creative exercise, the perfect example of Fallis's teaching brilliance.

The musical adventure was followed by a dinner in Fallis's honor at the University Residence hosted by the president and Phyllis Hall. The Fallis family was on hand to congratulate Todd, including his wife, Liz, son, Ethan, and daughter, Kimberly. Todd's mother, Dorine, flew in from Florida to take part as well.