His special interest in developing Web-based instructional materials has resulted in the creation of many new online resources for his music theory and bassoon students. He is also founder and president of SightReadThis.com, a Web site devoted to improving music students’ sightreading skills. Hammel received his Doctor of Music in bassoon performance at Florida State University where he studied with William Winstead. His other degrees were earned at the University of Michigan (Master of Music in wind instruments), the Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam (Bachelor of Music Education) and Hamilton College (Bachelor of Arts in biology).