David Townsend

I am a child of God, devoted husband, father of four, music educator, percussionist, music arranger, and sports enthusiast. I enjoy spending time with God and my family, teaching, making and listening to music, watching football, playing basketball, running, hunting, fishing, hiking, and learning. My father and mother were both music teachers, so I grew up observing and experiencing quality music education from my earliest days. My music education continued at BJU, where I completed a Bachelor of Science in Music Education with a percussion proficiency in 1997. In 2005, I earned a Master of Music Degree in Music Education from Michigan State University. I have also completed Mastership Levels I and II Certification for Elementary General Music through the Gordon Institute for Music Learning. 

My professional experiences include teaching band, choir, percussion, general music, composing, music appreciation, and music history K-12 in southern Michigan for 20 years. During that time, I watched 7 classes from kindergarten through high school graduation. I witnessed the impact of early childhood music education as they passed through the various ages and stages of musical development, won music awards, and graduated from our school as competent musicians. During this period, I also conducted the Hillsdale Wind Symphony, judged at music competitions, and saw a number of my percussion arrangements published.

Since moving to Greenville with my family in the fall of 2018, I have taught BJU music education classes and supervised student teachers while completing doctoral studies at the University of South Carolina. I also serve as percussion program director at BJU and enjoy playing percussion in our church orchestra. One of my greatest joys is helping our music education and percussion students prepare to serve God as teachers and musicians throughout their lives.