C. Michael Palmer is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He holds degrees from Oberlin College (B.M. in Trombone and B.A. in German Studies), Rice University (M.M in Performance), Valparaiso University (M.Ed.), and the University of Michigan (Ph.D. in Music Education). An advocate of creativity in music, Dr. Palmer's research focuses on composition and improvisation. His dissertation titled "An Analysis of Instrumental Jazz Improvisation Development Among High School and College Musicians" examined developmental tendencies and characteristics of jazz improvisers at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. Other interests include the cognitive development of preservice teachers and action research in the K-12 classroom. His scholarly writings have been published by Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Music Education Research, Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, British Journal of Music Education, Teaching Music, Visions of Research in Music Education, and the International Trombone Association Journal. He has presented clinics at state music education conferences in California, Indiana, and Michigan, as well as the National Association for Music Education Conference (NAfME) in St. Louis, the Society for Music Teacher Education (SMTE) Conference in Greensboro, and the American Education Research Association in New Orleans.