Peter Nicolas is a professor of law and an adjunct professor of music at the UW. The class also covers subjects like trademark law and the right of personality and publicity. After building a fundamental understanding of music theory and copyright law, Nicolas asks students to examine court decisions that purport to rely upon principles of music theory. Music Law & Policy covers legal issues in the music industry, including intellectual property law as it relates to music and musicians. There are a lot of things I’ve learned about how they do things that I’ve incorporated into my teaching.” “By the time all is said and done, I probably will have experienced the equivalent of four full years of taking classes with very different types of professors. “I think going back to school made me a better teacher,” Nicolas said. Music Law & Policy launched this quarter as an interdisciplinary course, at the same time Nicolas was named the director of the law school’s graduate program in intellectual property. With his music education underway, Nicolas decided to combine his interests. Now a music history major with a focus on vocal performance, Nicolas expects to earn his second bachelor’s degree this year.

Still eager to learn more, he applied to the UW School of Music and auditioned as a vocalist.

Soon, Nicolas started taking classes at Shoreline Community College, where in 2021 he earned a degree in music performance. That lesson turned into continued private instruction in voice and piano and then a spot in a church choir.

It also inspired Nicolas, who has always loved music, to pursue a new path.ĭuring one of the classes, Nicolas noticed a flyer for a free 30-minute music lesson and decided to take a chance. Nicolas’ formal music training began just six years ago, not long after he enrolled his daughter in a class designed to awaken a love of music in children. Music Law & Policy is open to students in the UW School of Law and in the School of Music.

Class notebook