Thomas Edison State University Mentor Warren Gramm

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Meet a Mentor: Warren Gramm

Mentoring Online is Music to His Ears

"When I completed graduate school, I searched high and low for a college that had a music program. When I reached out to Thomas Edison, it seemed I was in the right place at the right time. Coincidentally, the prior learning assessment (PLA) program staff were looking for a mentor to participate in the music portfolio review process. I am happy to say I have been teamed up with the University for 10 years," said Warren Gramm.

In addition to mentoring two online music history courses, Music History I (MUS-220) and Music History II (MUS-221), Gramm mentors PLA prerequisite courses, Introduction to Prior Learning Assessment (PLA-100) and Introduction to Portfolio Development (PLA-200).

However, it is his work reviewing portfolios that presents some of the most interesting mentoring experiences.

"As a subject matter expert with Thomas Edison State University (TESU) in the field of music, I also review portfolios completed by students through the PLA program who look to gain credit for their work and experience in various fields of music," he explained. "I have seen an incredibly diverse amount of portfolios. Some of my favorites over the years have been Rock and Roll History and Bluegrass Fiddle."

Gramm, who also teaches music courses full time in Jersey City, N.J., Public Schools, noted that he could not possibly entertain a university position part time in the traditional setting that had anything but evening classes. "Even then, my duties as a husband and father would surely suffer if I were to be absent multiple evenings every week. It seems that mentoring, or studying for that matter, at TESU provides flexibility for all parties."

Gramm, who has taught guitar classes at community colleges, pointed out the advantages of mentoring and learning online.

"The flexibility of an online course far surpasses that of a traditional classroom setting in many ways," he said. "When my students have questions, they should expect to receive a response to their email from me within a few hours. Courses like music history and theory fit very well in the mentor/online mold that has been created at TESU. Students are able to work through material on their own time and at their own pace, which works well for a history-based course. Imagine you wanted to listen to a piece of music a few times to really digest all that it has to offer. In a traditional setting, there may not be time for that and the instructor may have an agenda to keep to. Students benefit from this type of flexibility as well as the online discussion forums, which spark great music conversations, just like the ones found in a traditional classroom."

Working with the diversity of an online population is another advantage that is fulfilling to Gramm.

"Being a mentor at TESU is an extremely rewarding process. I never would have thought I might play a part in so many people's lives in helping them pursue and receive what is taken for granted by people these days, a college degree," he said. "I have had the privilege of working with adults that are of a traditional college age as well as those entering into retirement. There is no specific mold to which someone has to conform to when it comes to TESU. The process was a new one for me as I hadn't had much experience with online education before 2006. The one aspect of mentoring that has surprised me the most is the diversity of students that I have had the pleasure of working with. Specifically, I never imagined that I would have the honor to work with so many members of the armed forces serving our country in places like Afghanistan and Japan, and defending our nation here in the United States. To help someone attain a degree who is currently serving in the military is a task that I don't take lightly. I know I am fortunate to play such a role and am extremely grateful for it."

Gramm earned a bachelor's degree from The College of New Jersey in guitar performance as well as a master's degree in the same field from The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. He is currently enrolled at Boston University pursuing a Doctorate in Music Education.

In addition to music, Gramm loves photography. In his spare time, he and his wife, Kelly, run a small business that specializes in family and wedding photography. The family is also involved in their church where Gramm performs, and, he noted, "When it comes to having two small children, my greatest hobby is being a father!"

Gramm, who lives in Rockaway, N.J., added, "I have been married to my beautiful and most patient wife for almost eight years. We have two children, Catherine, age 3, and Matthew, who is 5 months old."

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