My name is @buckydurddle and I am also Andrew Mercer. I would like to put my name forward to be considered as a Moderator for Utopian.io. - https://utopian.io/@buckydurddle

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I am a musician and music teacher. I hold a Bachelors Degree in Music where my main focus of study was classical violin. I also hold a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. The focus of this degree was kindergarten to grade 12 music education. I have also completed a Masters Degree in Education (fellow) in which my focus was the study of Internet-based music education. 

I have been heavily involved in Internet-based education since 1995. In the mid-1990's I developed software technology which allowed musicians to collaborate in near real-time over the Internet using MIDI controllers. I have had the honour of having my work in music, learning and technology has been featured in media sources such as [Wall Street Journal *article*](https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB962836733217085494), Popular Science, Keyboard, [Wired.com *article*](https://www.wired.com/1999/04/tickling-the-ivories-from-afar/), CNN, and Nippon TV. 

My passion is teaching music and I have been a music teacher since 1994. In 2001 I joined the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation and began teaching music entirely over the Internet to students in rural and isolated communities in our province of Newfoundland and Labrador. [CDLI](http://www.cdli.ca)

I have taken part in a wide variety of curriculum development for the arts and technology both locally and across Canada. I have also had many publications in this regard in book form and journals. I have also held Board of Director seats on national educational organizations such as Canadian Music Educators Association and the [Coalition for Music Education in Canada](https://www.musicmakesus.ca/connect/staff-board/). I have also presented at many international conferences such as NAMM, MENC and ISME.

I became involved in YouTube in the early days and began using the platform as an integral part of my teaching. I have been a YT Partner for many years now and my educational YT content has received 4.5-milllion views and has 19k subscribers.  

I continued to research and develop educational practices for teaching and learning music via the Internet and in 2012 I was invited to give a TEDx talk on the effects of Internet education on youth empowerment. 
<center>![tedx logo.jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPJou6uKB4xqYZiNkgHHbQfUMz5SFacsnJCviDxHGBz36/tedx%20logo.jpeg)</center>
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I have been on the Steem blockchain since August 2017 and love it here. I have attained a reputation level of 62, 1260 follows and have made 2544 posts. 

I have been very active with interactions in communities such as PAL and the Steemit music community. I have taken part in dozens of musical collaborations. [Christmas Sing-Along Collaboration](https://steemit.com/music/@buckydurddle/final-mixes-blue-christmas-steemit-holiday-sing-along-2) I also have a weekly radio show on MSP-Waves radio network - [Backstage with Bucky](http://mspwaves.com/show/backstagewithbucky/)

From a research and education standpoint, I believe that the blockchain has unique opportunities for education. It is exciting to be on the forefront of these new educational developments. Utopian.io is a prime example of new ways to engage educationally. 

I have submitted 84 pieces of content to Utopian, mostly in the area of video tutorials. This is a medium I have been working in for 10 years and feel that I have a good grasp of how to create an educationally sound piece of learning content. 

I am interested in being considered for a role of a Moderator for Utopian.io. As I mentioned earlier, I do believe that Utopian.io is the sharp edge of the educational wedge as we consider what learning will look like. There are many exciting innovations which will take place on these new platforms and I would be honoured with the opportunity to contribute in some small way. 

Thank you, 
@buckydurddle