Dr. Jeffrey Kowalkowski ("Jeff") is proud to have taught Music Theory, Orchestration, and Form and Analysis at NEIU since 2002. Jeff has taught each summer for the Chamber Music Festival since 2013. He is a composer and music theorist. His book "Hitchhiker's Guide to Music Theory" will be published this fall by Great River Learning (Dubuque, Iowa). As a composer he has received a life-time achievement award for innovation in new music from the Meir Foundation in Chicago, the Met-LIfe Meet-the-Composer award, and multiple international commissions and performances. He has also taught at the DePaul School of Music since 1996, and as a guest at the School of the Art Institute (Sound Department), Oberlin Conservatory, Lake Forest College, Northwestern, and various conservatories in Germany. He has recorded for New Atlantis, Uvulittle, and the Delmark labels. He has also scored several full length feature films, and produced sound installations at the Shedd Aquarium and the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Jeff has been involved with the Experimental Sound Studio since it's inception in 1986, and is currently the "chief" piano tuner for recording sessions. Currently, Jeff has a "Saturday Studio" for pianists, composers, and theorists at ACM-Avondale, for private students of any age, ability, or goal.