MICHAEL ALLEN, Associate Professor of Music Education, currently serves as editor-in-chief of the Florida Music Director and on the editorial board of the Journal of String Research. Dr. Allen has published articles in the Journal of Music Therapy, The Instrumentalist, American String Teacher, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Florida Music Director, and The Bulletin for the Council for Research in Music Education. In addition, he is co-author of Essential Elements for Strings, a comprehensive string method book series, and Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra. His education includes a bachelor's degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, a master's degree from Case Western Reserve University, and a Ph.D. in music education from The University of North Texas.

Dr. Allen began his teaching career in the public schools of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Following a graduate fellowship at the University of North Texas, he served as string coordinator for the Denton Independent School District (Texas) for eight years. Under his direction, the Denton High School Orchestra appeared in concert at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the Midwest Clinic, and the MENC National Convention in Indianapolis. He was appointed to the FSU faculty in 1993.