Simon Center, M145G
Education
- Ph.D. in Music Education and Orchestral Conducting, Florida State University, 2010
- M.F.A. in Instrumental Conducting, University of South Florida, 2003
- B.M.E., Florida State University, 1998
Biography
Frank M. Diaz is associate professor of music in music education at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. An active scholar and teacher in the field of contemplative science, he is also affiliate faculty for the IU Cognitive Science program and co-director of the IU Music and Mind Lab.
Diaz is the founder and director of the Institute for Mindfulness-Based Wellness and Pedagogy, where he collaborates with an international group of artists, educators, and scholars on disseminating research and best practices on the art of mindful living, teaching, and performance.
At Indiana University, Diaz established one of the country’s first academic courses focused on mindfulness in teaching and performing arts, and leads several mindfulness initiatives through partnerships with the Jacobs School of Music, Lifelong Learning, and the Eskenazi Museum of Art.
His research focuses on mixed-methods investigations of meditative practices and on developing theoretical models that might effectively deal with existing gaps between scientific and humanistic approaches to understanding contemplative practices.
Diaz has taught meditative practices to thousands of students through courses and workshops at educational, religious, and non-profit institutions across the United States, and his work has been featured in media outlets such as CNN, NPR, Science Daily, and The Huffington Post.
Along with his work on mindfulness, Diaz maintains an active schedule as a performer, conductor, adjudicator, and clinician.