Dr. Tolga Tem

Tennessee State University

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> Dr. Tolga Tem

Dr. Tolga Tem
Coordinator of Music Appreciation

Dr. Tolga Tem is an Assistant Professor and the Coordinator of Music Appreciation at Tennessee State University. He has a broad background as a composer, with experience creating music for orchestras and using computers to compose for multimedia, video games, and film. His expertise includes Music Theory, Music Education, Music Technology, and Computer Music.

Dr. Tem has a particular interest in Sound Design, Game Audio, and Game Technologies, and he incorporates these fields into the courses he teaches. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory and Composition, Master of Music in Composition, and Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition, all from Bilkent University. He also taught classes at Middle East Technical University, Baskent University, and the State Conservatory of Hacettepe University.

Alongside his teaching, Dr. Tem has served as the Director of the Music & Sound Production Department at SEBIT LLC for 25 years, focusing on E-Learning, Multimedia, and Game Development, as well as conducting research in these areas. A pioneer in applying artificial intelligence to the arts, Tem has been an advocate and consultant in educational technology since 1994. His recent work includes keynote presentations at the 2024 AI for All Open Education Summit in Nashville, TN, and the 100th Annual Meeting of the National Association of Schools of Music , where he showcased AI’s creative potential in music and education. His teaching blends storytelling, technology, and artistic exploration, preparing students to navigate the future of music with both innovation and imagination.

ktem@Tnstate.edu