We Learn To Create

On the heels of Thanksgiving and an unforgettable weekend my wife and daughters gave me to see my favorite player Lionel Messi win MLS Cup in Miami,* I’d like to take a moment to express my sincere thanks and admiration for the students, teachers, artists and leaders I have the privilege of working with and learning from.

Behind the scenes of my dual life as an artist (Cory Cullinan and Doctor Noize), I run and teach Stanford University’s Recording Arts Workshop each year, I’m Chairman of the Board of the Pikes Peak State College Recording Arts & Technology Program, and I give several Artist-In-Residencies and Keynotes each year.

People ask why I still teach when at this point I could just be an artist. My answers: (1) I like to keep learning to create well, and we all learn better around students and great learning institutions; (2) I love being a part of communities dedicated to excellence, self-improvement and group support systems; and (3) honestly it’s just fun.**

“I have recognized the impact that you’ve made on my growth as a musician over these past years (first online in 2023 and in person the following two years). I particularly resonate with your system of collaboration in the class, encouraging my peers and me to use the two weeks to make connections and learn from each other.”

—Recording Artist Henry Bobbitt

This email came from an incredible young composer and producer who’s made the Stanford Recording Arts Workshop better as part of our ensemble three years in a row! 2025’s talented class matched the 2024 class by producing a double album in two weeks. Once again, the group ranged from college professors and musicians at large to graduate students, college students and high school students, all with one thing in common: they’re exceptional musicians who came to learn and collaborate together. Another diverse group bonded for life. Click on the cover below to hear their album!

Thankful For My Teachers

The album above features incredible avant-garde pieces by composers from multiple continents (Wen-Ching Wang, Nahyun Kim, Yu-Chieng Huang); singles from the upcoming albums of two artists I produce (Riley Max and Levi Randolph); great pop/rock/fusion/rap songs (Nati Grinkrug, Chad Dyer, Isaac Moore, April McGuire, Amity Wu, Sidney Cullinan); amazing EDM/soundtrack music (Ishir Ayyagari, Henry Bobbit, Yeung Liu); and stunning instrumentals (Jacob Moore and the group title track). All completed together, all opening our minds and ears (including mine) to more diversity.***

I’m also the Chairman of the Board**** of the Recording Arts & Technology Program at Pikes Peak State College. Shazia Ali, the incredible Music Dept. Head there, attended my Stanford Recording Arts Workshop for two years and based her program on our program there. We launched the Pikes Peak Recording Arts & Technology Major this year and already have almost 40 students Majoring in it. The last college I taught at couldn’t even get 10 kids to enroll as Music majors in all specialities combined. Shazia’s a force of nature making a difference in her community and world, and the kind of person and program I want to dedicate my time and expertise to.

I was invited to give a Keynote Address to the Stanford University Women’s Club last month, and learned as much from the experience as they did. Before accepting, I asked one of the leaders of the group, Sarita Skidmore: “Uh… Why would you want ME to speak to your illustrious group?” She had some great ideas and insights into why my commitment to a diverse range of both music and teaching might be valuable for other leaders, teachers and artists to hear. So I created a very personal keynote called…

THE POWER OF MUSIC & LEARNING

And how their synthesis drives internal & external growth & community

The talk goes through the what and why of my art and teaching as both Doctor Noize and Cory Cullinan, the story (told through both words and snippets of my music) of how music and learning saved me and taught me the value of community in a traumatic time during my teens, and how the combination of the two is an unstoppable positive force for all. I also gave a strong plea to artists, academics and leaders to awaken their sense of social responsibility and sacrifice in these pivotal cultural times. One kind attendee took the time to mail me this handwritten letter soon after, literally living my point:

“Thank you for a wonderful hour learning about music, life and values. We are grateful. You helped me recognized that, yes, I need to take action and not watch by the sidelines.”

This once again reminded me that we all have more to share from our experience than we think we do. I’d be delighted to have the opportunity to share this Keynote and discussion with your organization. Or come to Stanford to study with me and my annual ensemble for two weeks this summer, or Pikes Peak to study with Shazia’s crew all year.

We Learn To Create

As if to emphasize these life reminders, my new single 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 A Song has received over 88,000 video views,***** scores of playlist adds, interview requests soon to be published, and dozens of truly thoughtful reviews in its first month. Most reviews are indeed emphasizing the joyful combination of music, teaching and community the song represents. I’m deeply grateful to all who’ve listened, watched, considered, and drawn attention to it. Here’s the end of a review by Jyla Music that’s quite profound:

Thanks for your time. Share positive energy. Go make the world you live in.

— Cory Cullinan / Doctor Noize

*My only disappointment in the weekend was that Messi didn’t say in his postgame interview that he heard that guy who played soccer at Stanford for like two seconds came to his game and he was like totally psyched about that.

**It also arguably keeps me from being an old fart.

***In an extraordinary gesture of tolerance, we allowed Nati to TA even though he goes to Cal.

****Not to be confused with Sinatra. Frank to his friends.

*****You could make this 89,000 views if you watched it individually on 1,000 different computers. Think about it.