Testimonials
Prof Katrina McFerran
Professor of Music Therapy
The University of Melbourne
I have had the pleasure of being a long term collaborator of Dr Crooke, beginning as supervisor of his PhD research, then his postdoctoral work and now as a research partner and co-author. Alex has been consistently enthusiastic, informed and committed to exploring the way music and the arts can enhance young people’s wellbeing.
Alex’s attention to detail is particularly noteworthy and his diligent management of data and co-creation of publications demonstrates the quality that he brings to his partnerships and research.
Most importantly, Alex cares very deeply about social justice and is inspired about the ways music can help to remove barriers and empower people and communities to flourish. He brings a wealth of musical talent to that endeavour as well as a long history of collaborating with schools and organisations to design, provide and evaluate arts-based programs. I highly recommend taking the opportunity to work with Dr Crooke.
Prof Raphael Travis
Professor and Director of the Master of Social Work program
University of Delaware (US)
I have collaborated with Alex/Dr. Crooke extensively for over a decade across research, teaching, and applied music technology practice. My work with Alex/Dr. Crooke has focused on the well-being benefits of music technology and Hip Hop-based creative practices, particularly in relation to access, inclusion, youth engagement, and therapeutic growth.
I am familiar with Dr. Crooke as a co-investigator, as a co-author, and as an applied research scholar. I have invited Alex/Dr. Crooke to teach into multiple university courses and programs, where his ability to demystify synthesizers and electronic music-making for diverse cohorts of students has been consistently impactful. I have also worked closely with Alex/Dr. Crooke in the design and setup of university-based music technology labs, including consultation on equipment selection, spatial design, and activity structure.
Dr. Crooke has been a key contributor to the development of pedagogical and therapeutic approaches that make complex electronic music tools accessible through structured play and intuitive interaction. His thinking consistently bridges artistic, technical, and human considerations in a way that few practitioners achieve. This has allowed me to integrate therapeutic practices and experiences for youth that would not have been possible.
Dr. Crooke represents the best type of scholar, one that can combine traditional academic excellence with leadership skills and an eye toward impactful practice. Alex/Dr. Crooke has consistently kept a finger on the pulse of the practical value of this research. He seeks to answer research questions, but he also wants the results to be useful. This is particularly useful in working with community-based organizations that are mission-focused on meeting the immediate need of youth, families, or communities.
In every capacity, Dr. Crooke exemplifies the very best of research scholarship, combining intellectual depth, compassion, and innovation. He is on a continual quest to transform learning and positive change through technology into a living, community-centered practice.
Dr Michael Viega
Associate Professor of Music Therapy
Montclair State University
I have known Dr. Alexander Crooke since 2015 as a colleague and collaborator. We were introduced by Dr. Katrina McFerran at the University of Melbourne, who recognized that we shared similar interests in areas related to music technology, youth empowerment, Hip Hop and electronic dance music, and social justice.
Upon meeting Dr. Crooke, I quickly recognized the importance of his scholarship. What struck me first and foremost was that his knowledge came from his genuine love for dance culture: the artistry, the rituals, the sustaining relationships that form out of shared music experiences, and the healing that can occur in electronic music spaces. Dr. Crooke’s scholarship lives in an intersection that not only informs the field I am in, music therapy, but also music education, community music and health, and music and social justice. His work exemplifies the importance of collaboration, partnership, sustainability, and shared participation when it comes to the healing affordances of music and music technology.
Dr. Crooke’s research has direct implications for music therapy practice, especially for those who utilize music technology in health-oriented spaces. First, his work has demonstrated that when using music technology in music therapy, practitioners must have a solid foundation in the sociocultural histories of the music gear they are using. I use his article “Music Technology and the Hip Hop Beat Making Tradition: A History and Typology of Equipment for Music Therapy” in every class I teach on this subject. I usually follow that up with the article he wrote with Dr. McFerran, “Improvising Using Beat Making Technologies in Music Therapy with Young People.” Together, these two articles support the necessity for culturally centered approaches for using music technology when working with youth. His most recent article, “Samplers, MIDI-Controllers, Digital Audio Workstations and Positive Youth Identity Development: Two Examples from Practice,” will certainly be added to that list.
Dr. Crooke’s research and practice have influenced the fields of school counseling, social work, and psychology as well. He has collaborated with leaders in those fields, such as Dr. Raphael Travis Jr. in social work and Dr. Elliot Gann in psychology, creating culturally sustainable Hip Hop programming for youth. His work has inspired me to consider music’s role in health across many disciplines, not just music therapy, and to invite all stakeholders to the table when it comes to researching and exploring music technology’s health affordances.
As part of the Interlocutors Collective on the topic of colonialism in music therapy, Dr. Crooke invited me to write a chapter on Hip Hop in music therapy. He encouraged me to bring in other authors who were indigenous to the healing traditions found in Hip Hop. His knowledge, respect for Hip Hop, and collaborative spirit helped guide that chapter, centering cultural narratives and dialogue as the primary sources of knowledge. It was an absolute honor to work with him on that project.
It is always a joy to collaborate and work with Dr. Crooke, knowing that his scholarship blossoms from his genuine love and deep respect for all forms of electronic dance music and its role in supporting liberation for marginalized and oppressed peoples. In addition, Dr. Crooke is an amazing musician and producer himself. I have witnessed him create and build synthesizer music modules and make outstanding experimental music from them. I have the utmost respect for Dr. Crooke’s musicianship, scholarship, and humanity. It has been a pleasure to work with him as a colleague, but also to get to know him as a loving and kind human being with a passion for spreading the word about the transformative and healing affordances of electronic dance music.
Simon Glenister
Founder & CEO
Noise Solution
Following the founding of Noise Solution I have been active in the community music space internationally for about 17 years. Alex has been a constant presence and indeed force in that world throughout that time. Continually producing hugely well researched and massively well received papers that add knowledge and rigour while cutting to the heart of music technology and its role in shaping identity in young people. He is an expert in the field that I would never hesitate to bring into any work we are doing.
Dr Elliot Gann
Registered Psychologist
Founder & Director, Today's Future Sound
I have had the privilege of collaborating extensively with Dr. Alexander Crooke as a trusted colleague and co-creator across international conference presentations, peer-reviewed journal articles, original scientific research, and book chapters. Together, we’ve also designed and delivered in-person workshops for both youth and adults, as well as professional development sessions—each experience marked by Alex’s unwavering commitment to excellence, equity, and community respect.
What stands out most about working with Alex is his rare blend of humility, professionalism, and creativity. He approaches every project with a deep sense of integrity, prioritizing justice and fairness over personal gain, and his reflective, thoughtful nature ensures that the work is not only rigorous but also meaningful to the communities we serve. His expertise in research, evaluation, and program implementation is world-class, yet he remains personable, artistic, and open to collaboration at every turn.
I would highly recommend Alex to anyone—whether they’re seeking a meticulous researcher, a compassionate collaborator, or a visionary leader. His wide-ranging skill set, excellent interpersonal abilities, and dedication to ethical, impactful work make him an invaluable partner in any setting. If you’re looking for someone who combines expertise with empathy and innovation with reliability, Alex is the ideal choice.