The sound of whirring printers hummed in the background of the Academic Tech Commons on the first floor of the Pius XII Memorial Library. Behind the glass walls, Ted Rubright leaned back in his chair, drawing pictures of a computer with his hands.
“These were ancient computers with floppy disks, and I loved that right away,” Rubright said.
He mimicked the clunky rhythm of the old matrix printers, “ggh ggh ggh,” before jumping to the price of the first Macintosh computer and grinning.
“I still have mine,” Rubright said, “I tried to make it into an aquarium, well… it’s not big enough. So, it ended up being a terrarium.”
Rubright blends curiosity, creativity and genuineness in a way that defines both his career and personal interests. At Saint Louis University, he holds two titles: instructional technologist senior and adjunct percussion instructor. Whether he is helping students with Canvas, performing with the orchestra or teaching in the classroom, Rubright brings an artist’s imagination to every conversation, always finding the rhythm in the mundane.
Rubright’s fascination with the world of art and technology began early. He described having these big “wow” moments where something just clicked, the first beingwhen he initially heard the Beatles.
Inspired by the band’s drummer, Ringo Starr, Rubright followed a rhythmic path of percussion that led him to New York City. There, he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in percussion performance at The Juilliard School.
“I had to work very, very hard because I’m not from a musical family at all,” Rubright said. “I see people who come from a musical family. I see how much easier it is that your parents can tell you how to practice.”
After years of performing and studying, Rubright joined the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra in Indiana while teaching at the University of Evansville. In the school’s music office sat these small boxes with even smaller screens, which would spark another “wow moment” for Rubright.
“[The first Macintosh computer] was just, you know, such an ancient thing by today’s standards, but it was so exciting,” Rubright said.
Using it, he began experimenting with simple black-and-white computer graphics. Eventually, he started using it to write music, combining his newfound passion with his already formed one.
Recognizing his knack for technology, Rubright said his mom suggested he enroll in a new interactive media program at Webster University, where she was an instructor. .
“It was great. I loved everything about it,” Rubright said.
He went on to earn his master’s in media and communication, blending art, music and technology into one path.
That blend opened the doors to opportunities that eventually led him to SLU.
Rubright’s teaching role at SLU came about unexpectedly when a friend who was leaving the music department asked if he’d be interested in taking her students. He took the offer and continues to teach one-on-one lessons, sharing his expertise and passion for rhythm with the next generation of musicians.
One of Rubright’s former students, recent SLU graduate Jackson Ryson, said working with Rubright helped him refine his self-taught drumming skills.
“He would tailor the lessons to me personally, which was really nice,” Ryson said, “and I always really appreciated that.”
Rubright focused on identifying each student’s specific areas for improvement.
“I know now, especially because of Ted, what I’m not good at,” Ryson said.
Ryson said that kind of honest, constructive feedback pushed him to keep growing as a musician.
“He probably didn’t know he was a big help to me,” Ryson said. “He is kind of a light, you know, he’s just a very nice person, and I admire that.”
Rubright’s attention to rhythm and detail does not stop at music. The same timing and flow that guides his percussion lessons also shapeshis other creative outlet, writing.
When his son was younger, the two began working on a fantasy series known as “The Dire Skies Trilogy.”
“He aged out of it, and I kept going,” Rubright said. His son’s name, however, still appears on the cover “because it wouldn’t exist without him.”
One of the first readers of the series, Ted Stahl, who is a technologist for TeamDynamix and a knowledge admin here at SLU, gave praise to Rubright’s imagination and storytelling.
“When I think of some of these great fantasy writers, I think of the imagination and creativity that Ted Rubright has in his writing as being literally in that echelon,” Stahl said.
He described Rubright’s writing style as equally engaging and skillfully crafted, noting how the story seamlessly rotates between the A and B plots.
Stahl’s admiration for Rubright, however, goes beyond writing. Over the 20 years they have known each other, he said the two have developed a friendship built on their shared passion for creativity and technology.
“I have had the joy of having been in a few art exhibitions with him,” said Stahl, “and I take great pride in having my stuff alongside his work. It’s never about showing off. It’s about sharing and lifting each other up, and that’s the kind of person Ted Rubright is.”
With Rubright’s background in orchestra, it is no surprise that creating music remains one of his lasting pursuits.
He and his brother, Dan Rubright, formed their own band, The Wire Pilots, playing what he calls “hypermelodic jazz,” weaving together complex notes and rhythms into something uniquely their own. This is especially true because Rubright’s brother writes all of their music.
“His tunes are very singable; they’re beautiful,” Rubright said. “You can go out humming them, which is not always true with jazz.”
Now, as he begins work on a prequel to “The Dire Skies Trilogy” and experiments with the melodic sounds of the handpan, Rubright continues to create harmony with both art and technology. Yet, beyond his talents, those who know him say it is his character that stands out most.
“There are not a lot of people on this planet that are as kind and compassionate and understanding and respectful as Ted Rubright,” Stahl said. “I am honored that he considers me a friend.”
