For almost a decade, Aiken taught the sequence's capstone music recording class at his home studio in Guysville, Lost Nation Sound. Students recorded local bands, gaining experience in microphone techniques, multitrack recording and mixing. Some went on to successful careers in the music recording industry.

"Dave was a teacher who let students discover their own potential," said Media Arts and Studies faculty member David Mould, who directed the audio sequence in the '80s. "He allowed them to experiment, learn from their mistakes and critically analyze their own work. He was doing project-based learning long before the term was in vogue in media education."

Aiken, whose full-time job was teaching business management at Hocking College, also helped students understand the business side of the music industry and the relationships between artists, recording studios and record labels.

Aiken is survived by his wife, Nancy, and two daughters, Jessica and Marianne.

Services were held Saturday in Athens. Jagers and Sons Funeral Home handled arrangements.