About Dr. Anthony Fesmire

Dr. Anthony Fesmire is a versatile guitarist, composer, and music educator based in Redlands, California. His musical projects include the band Outside Pedestrian along with his own solo work. Both projects demonstrate a command of a broad range of contemporary music styles from jazz to metal in both performance and composition. His current releases include Outside Pedestrian's fourth album, Time Zones.

Dr. Fesmire has three decades of experience in the field of music education including work at the elementary through collegiate levels. Currently a Professor of Music, former department chair (2019-2025), and founder of the Jazz Studies program at College of the Desert, Dr. Fesmire directs the Jazz Combos and Jazz Guitar Ensembles, teaches guitar and the full sequence of music theory courses, and coordinates the music major transfer program.

He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music and a Master of Music degree from the USC Thornton School of Music, both in guitar performance. He earned his Doctor of Arts degree in Music Education and Music Composition from the University of Northern Colorado and his California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Music from California State University Dominguez Hills. He has additional training in Kodaly methodology, Orff Schulwerk, and Suzuki guitar. Prior to joining the faculty at College of the Desert, Dr. Fesmire coordinated the music education program at Ohio Wesleyan University where he taught upper division music methods courses (Elementary Methods, Secondary Methods, Music for the Elementary Teacher, and Guitar Methods) and supervised student teachers at all levels K-12 in instrumental, choral, and elementary general music. Other college teaching experience includes work at the University of Northern Colorado, Aims Community College, and the University of La Verne.

For more information, check out Dr. Fesmire’s artist website.

Professional Credentials

Notable Experience

2008 — PRESENT

Professor of Music at College of the Desert: Fundamentals of Music, Music Theory I-IV, Jazz Combos, Jazz/Rock Guitar

1998 — Present

Guitarist and Composer with Outside Pedestrian, including four albums: Pedestrian Crossing, Sunless City, Reclaimed, and Time Zones

2006-2008

Assistant Professor of Music Education at Ohio Wesleyan University: Elementary Methods, Secondary Methods, Guitar Methods, Teaching Music, Student Teacher Supervision

1999-2004

Secondary Music Teacher at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School: Guitar, Music Theory AP, Advanced Jazz Band, Musical Theatre Orchestra, Concert and Marching Bands.

Education

Doctor of Arts in Music Education with a secondary emphasis in Music Theory and Composition, University of Northern Colorado
Master of Music in Guitar Performance, USC Thornton
Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance, Berklee College of Music
California Clear Teaching Credential in Music