Dr. Strauman earned his Bachelor of Music degree at Temple University, where his composition studies included work with Clifford Taylor, Paul Epstein and Robert Morgan, as well as piano studies with George Sementovsky and Marion Filar.

Additionally, he completed private study in jazz with Adolph Sandole, Jim McNeely and Manny Albam.

Through the years, Dr. Strauman has attended Master Classes with

• George Crumb (University of Pennsylvania),
• Milton Babbitt (Princeton University),
• Vincent Persichetti (Curtis Institute of Music) and
• Gunther Schuller (New England Conservatory of Music).

Dr. Strauman is an Assistant Professor of Music at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, where he teaches music theory, counterpoint and orchestration. Since his appointment at Chestnut Hill College he created several new courses, which include:

• "A Critical Survey of Music in Film,"
• "Broadway Bound,"
• "Introduction to Music Theory" and
• "Jazz Improvisation."

Additionally, he founded the "Jazz Improvisation Ensemble Workshop" - an ongoing performance-oriented forum that invites seasoned professionals and music faculty to form a mentor-apprentice relationship with students.

Presently, he is completing work for an interdisciplinary course entitled "Psychology of Music."

Dr. Strauman has been the recipient of two National Endowment Awards and a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Additionally, he has received

• a Rogers Phelps Award from New York University
  for an outstanding dissertation,
  
  
• a Telly Award for contributions to
  children's educational video,
  
  
• several Popular Music Awards from the
  American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and
  
  
• the Margaret Jory Award from the
  American Music Center.

He has been the beneficiary of residencies at the ASCAP/NYU Buddy Baker Film Music Symposium and the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.

He has presented papers throughout the country at conferences held by American Culture and Popular Culture Associations on such diverse topics as

• "A Historical Overview of
  the Modern Dance Suite",
  
  
• "A Critical Analysis of the
  Film Music from 'The Natural' " and
  
  
• "An Eclectic Analysis of
  Harold Arlen’s 'Over the Rainbow'".

Willis Music, Hal Leonard, Glory Songs, the School Musician, Pedalpoint and A Circle of Fifths Music have published Dr. Strauman’s music.

His music has been recorded on the MMC (Master Musicians Collective), Concert Jazz, Casablanca, Unidisc and Marlin record labels.

He has received commissions from the Philadelphia Film Festival, Interlink Video and WHYY Public Broadcasting.

He holds professional teaching certificates in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and is a composer member of

• the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers,
• the American Music Center,
• Kappa Delta Pi,
• the American Culture Association,
• the Popular Culture Association

and has affiliations with

• the College Music Society,
• Chamber Music Society,
• Dramatists Guild,
• International Association of Jazz Educators,
• Music Educators National Conference, and
• the Philadelphia Independent Film and Video Association.