About Shawn…
Shawn L. Copeland, founder of mBODYed, LLC, is a multidimensional musician, pedagogue, and entrepreneur whose talents have made him a leader in both the performance and musician wellness spaces. Copeland joined the faculty of the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho, where he held the position of Associate Professor of Clarinet from 2014-2024.
A staunch advocate for new music, Copeland is a founding member of TOSCA DUO, Hammers & Reeds Trio, and Relevents Wind Quintet. These chamber groups seek to champion new music by creating innovative performances and commissioning projects. His ongoing work with composer Carlos Velez has resulted in a growing body of solo and chamber music for clarinet, including three quartets, two duos, a sextet, a solo suite, and Pulse: The Collected Works of Carlos Velez. Copeland has also been featured on two albums with TOSCA DUO: a self-titled debut album and another, entitled Dimensions, with Rajung Yang (piano).
Copeland is a strong supporter of creating equity in the arts. His upcoming projects celebrate diverse people groups and voices, including the recording of works by Nansi Carroll and a recording project entitled Heroes and Icons that commemorates the LGBTQIA Fight for Civil Rights.
Clarinetist, Educator, Hiker, Wine Enthusiast, Dog Dad
In addition to his vibrant performance career, Copeland is an accredited teacher of the Alexander Technique and a specialist in Body Mapping. His interest in Alexander Technique and Body Mapping began in 1997 at the Brevard Music Center. It was here where Copeland’s passion surrounding holistic teaching began. He believes in the inclusion of the body in the creative process and strives to create a safe place for the whole person to learn. His pedagogy teaches that the body represents lived experiences and seeks to affirm these experiences while helping students grow. Through his work with performing musicians, he has helped hundreds of musicians improve their performance and understand the nature of their performance-related injuries. He currently serves as a training mentor and Chair of the Diversity and Belonging Committee, with the Association of Body Mapping Education, is a sponsoring teacher with Alexander Technique International. He is also the Co-Founder and Co-Director of InterMountain Alexander Training, a program that trains teachers of the Alexander Technique and Energy Healing. He is co-author of Body Mapping for Clarinetists: New Frontiers in Clarinet Teaching published by GIA Publications, and the upcoming publication, The mbodyed Breath: Body Mapping, Balance, and Breathing for Musicians, the first publication from mBODYed Press, coming in 2024!
“Movement is the pathway between imagination and performance. ”
Copeland holds degrees a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master in Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Bachelor of Music from Stetson University, and a Master of Arts in Non-Profit/Arts Management from the University of Central Florida. He has advanced certificates in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University, Somatic Trauma Therapy from The Embodied Lab, and Performing Arts Injury Prevention Education from the Performing Arts Medical Association. His primary teachers include Kelly Burke, Lynn Musco, and Frank Kowalsky.
Dr. Copeland is a Performing Artist and Clinician for Buffet Crampon, Silverstein Works, and Gonzalez Reeds. My instruments of choice are Buffet Legendes Clarinets.
Shawn lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he enjoy hiking, kayaking, PNW wines, and 360-degree views of snow-covered mountains year round.