Music Education Commons^™

Making Music Theory Fun, Jordan E. Montana Richards

Masters Theses

This curriculum project will attempt to demonstrate how having fun can facilitate learning music theory. Furthermore, in this project, I also propose that using games, songs, mnemonic devices, and other types of wordplay and edutainment (the marriage of education and entertainment) can combat summer learning loss and other learning gaps or school breaks, in addition to inspiring the motivation, interest, and desire within students to learn. My curriculum project will also claim that by having fun and enjoying their learning, students will be more likely to improve and develop their musicianship skills. Within this curriculum project, I will attempt to …

Haydn’S Schemata And Hexachords: Two Analytical Case Studies, Gilad Rabinovitch

HAYDN: Online Journal of the Haydn Society of North America

Two analytical case studies, from Haydn’s minuet al roverso (from the Symphony Hob. I: 47) and the opening movement of the String Quartet Op. 50, no. 6, show the interaction of galant schemata (Gjerdingen 2007) and the hexachordal solmization of the solfeggio tradition (Baragwanath 2020). Haydn plays upon conventional galant schemata—presumably elements of style shared by listeners who are closely familiar with the idiom (even if they do not have explicit schema labels); he also plays upon a more esoteric element of his own training and that of many other musicians in the period: hexachordal solmization. By considering both schemata …

Biblical Principles To Prevent Burn-Out For The Music Educator Based On Paul Tripp's Book, "Lead", Shannon Leigh Forester

Masters Theses

The Christian music educator and worship leader have common leadership roles where music and faith collide. Research and studies have been produced regarding the application of biblical principles to the role of the worship leader and other church leadership positions, but there is little information on how they apply to the role of the Christian music educator. This curriculum project was created to provide Christian music educators with a strong foundation for growing and maintaining spiritual wellness as they enter the field of music education and assist them in developing a plan for integrating these concepts into their everyday teaching …

Do The National Core Arts Standards (Ncas) Make A Difference In Music Education?, Jordan Mikaela Dues

Masters Theses

Fine arts advocates have pushed for arts to remain a foundation of education for decades Arguments have been made and published that participating in music courses increased scores in other subjects. A change occurred in the realm of music education when assessment-based learning and standardized curricula were introduced. The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS) was assembled to revise standards for the arts and create a way to assess them. The NCCAS presented the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) in 2014 which led to its adoption in most states. There are many schools, however, that do not adhere to …

Songs Of Travel: An Analytical Study Of Ralph Williams’ Compositional Styles, Jonathan Jacobs Lawton

Masters Theses

Ralph Vaughan Williams is perhaps one of the most prolific and diverse composers from the British Isles to grace the world with his compositions. He was born in the middle of the English Musical Renaissance, a time of musical rejuvenation of the British Art Song that embraced the principles of the Romantic period and placed significance on the importance of national identity. Ralph Vaughan Williams was the embodiment of musical citizenship – a musical philosophy that leans heavily on national identity for inspiration of word and song. In 1901, a young Ralph Vaughan Williams began writing music for Songs of …

The Importance Of Regional Music To Music Education: The 1927 Bristol Sessions, Valerie E. Pickard

Masters Theses

It is widely accepted that the culture in which one lives is important to his/her understanding of self. Likewise, it has been shown that a working knowledge of cultural music aids in developing one’s musical identity. Although research indicates that there appears to be a gap in cultural music education, there has been little written as to how that gap can be filled, especially with respect to Appalachian cultural music. The Southern Appalachian Mountains are rich in musical diversity. In addition to the already present Native Americans, settlers came from Ireland, Germany, Africa, and other European countries and brought with …

Curriculum Development For Beginning Band: Recruitment And Retention Of Minority Students Living In Poverty, Thomas Andrew Langford

Masters Theses

Despite efforts in many schools to offer quality music education to all students, issues still prevent many minority students from participating in band programs. There are important and unique implications for minority students and students who live in poverty and their ability or desire to participate in a band program. Developing curriculum and teaching strategies to reach minority students and students living in poverty is one way to bridge the educational gap and provide an avenue for students to make a better way for themselves. The study examined existing literature to determine factors attracting or retracting this student population from …

Social Emotional Learning In The Choral Classroom, Courtney A. Hulsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Middle school is a pivotal time for many students as they navigate through mental, emotional, and hormonal changes which affect various aspects of their personal and educational well-being. A teacher’s care balancing social and emotional aspects of learning can be catalyst that makes a profound difference for students. Social-emotional learning (SEL) under this title is still in its infancy as a tool for classroom engagement and management. Additionally, there is very little research in the way of SEL specific to the middle school choral classroom. The hope is that in a content analysis of the benefits of SEL through the …

Effect Of Vertical Alignment On Elementary, Middle, And High School Music Programs, Tamekia Denise Holliday

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the effects of vertical alignment on elementary, middle, and high school music programs. Thirty-five (n = 35) elementary, middle, and secondary music educators participated in the study. Of the 35 participants, 41% (n = 15) were high school music educators, 25% (n = 9) were middle school music educators, 27% (n = 10) were middle and high school music, and 2% (n = 1) taught elementary, middle, and high school. Analysis of survey data revealed significant relationships related to vertical alignment. The most significant relationship was between vertical alignment and retention (r = .643, p < .01), suggesting that student retention increases as vertical alignment increases. As well, results indicated that as vertical alignment decreases, the number of students “who wish to continue in music classes but cannot” increase (r = -.530, p < .01). Analysis of open-ended survey questions revealed valuable themes related to consistent band participation, music teacher expectations, and the effect of vertical alignment on music programs. Applying the results of this study may improve understanding of the effects of vertical alignment and enhance effective teaching and learning in music.

The Impact Of Kinesthetic Movement On Flute Performance Musicality And Performance Anxiety In Undergraduate University Flute Students, Regina Helcher Yost

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Kinesthetic movement has gained significant attention within the flute community over the last several decades as a performance enhancement tool. Somatic therapies such as the Alexander Technique, body mapping, Feldenkrais, and Dalcroze-Eurythmics incorporate kinesthetic movements into their practices. Although most musicians seek out these therapies solely to alleviate pain or injury, could these kinesthetic movements promote concentration and provide positive self-talk by decreasing mental distractions? Despite much research analyzing the impact of kinesthetic movements on reducing injury and pain, there is a lack of research explicitly regarding its abilities to enrich a flutist’s musical performances by reducing negative self-talk. This …

720-960 Steps: A Historical Review Of Contemporary Techniques And Pedagogies And How They Revolutionized Pageantry For The Modern Marching Band, Stanley K. Holloway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a need for new and innovative marching band techniques in the music field, and most band directors have limited capacity to instill these concepts. Texts from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s concentrated primarily on these concepts and techniques. Gradually, a comprehensive show concept became standard practice. Examination of the existing literature does not reveal a need for more research. Still, some literature demonstrates a need for new and innovative band techniques for marching band, particularly in band pageantry. Although these materials help create a foundation for marching band concepts and have proven effective. They are dated and do …

Development And Pedagogy Of Vocal Jazz Ensembles According To Illinois High School Choral Directors: Perspectives, Andrew Baguisa Evangelista

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to explore instructional strategies and participation concerns regarding vocal jazz ensembles according to high school choral directors in Illinois who lead their schools’ vocal jazz programs. High school choir directors without jazz experience often recognize the need to expand their performance and pedagogical abilities in jazz and access to vocal jazz repertory; however, professional development opportunities in Illinois’ music education organization have yet to offer guidance. This leaves choral directors without jazz experience little insight on how to familiarize themselves with jazz styles, pertinent pedagogical ideas, and how to apply available resources towards the …

Corrine Lanier Adams Music Education Collection, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

This collection contains materials created and collected by Corinne Lanier Adams in her role as a professional music educator in Evans County, Georgia. Materials are dated 1877 to 1951 and include elementary educational materials, school papers, sheet music on popular music, especially of the 1920s and 30s, music books, school plays, and an assortment of magazines.

Find this collection in the University Libraries' catalog.

Editorial, Volume 39: New Beginnings For Visions, Joseph Michael Abramo

Visions of Research in Music Education

Editorial, Volume 39

Dispositional And Trait Perceptions And Beliefs: A Snapshot Of Three Stakeholders, Natalie Steel Royston, Jill Wilson

Visions of Research in Music Education

The assessment of student dispositions is an important part of teacher preparation programs in the United States. To explore the beliefs and perceptions of in-service educators and teacher education students, we used a researcher-designed survey to examine responses of three groups: a) in-service music educators, b) collegiate music education majors, and c) collegiate education majors (not music) in a Midwestern state in the United States. The survey included questions that asked participants to describe dispositions, rank and rate the importance of the dispositional traits, and to rank their opinion on the importance of dispositions in comparison to content knowledge and …

An Exploratory Study Of The Relationships Between Teachers’ Beliefs About Musical Ability, Assessment, And The Purpose Of Elementary General Music, Heather N. Shouldice

Visions of Research in Music Education

Existing research suggests that teacher beliefs are powerful factors in teachers’ thoughts and actions and that connections may exist between elementary general music teachers’ beliefs about musical ability, assessment, and the purpose of elementary general music. Therefore, the purpose of this survey study was to examine relationships among and between elementary general music teachers’ beliefs pertaining to musical ability, assessment, and the purpose of elementary general music. Elementary general music teachers in Michigan (N = 156) completed an online survey consisting of Likert-type items pertaining to beliefs about musical ability, assessment, and the purpose of elementary general music. Analysis …

Comparative Analysis Of The Associate Board Of The Royal Schools Of Music Of The United Kingdom And The African Music Curriculum Of Kenya, David O. Akombo, Barbra A. Akombo

Visions of Research in Music Education

The music curricula and the pedagogical methods used in the United Kingdom and in Kenya share trends that are both common and diverse. In this article we present our comparisons of the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and the Kenyan music curriculum. We approach this comparative study using Ralph Tyler’s definition of curriculum as a theoretical framework. The paper evaluates how the two curricular are shaped by Tyler’s sociocentric model by addressing the following four question:(1) What are the roles of a music education curriculum in the United Kingdom and in Kenya?; (2) What factors influence …

Finnish Classroom Teacher Students' Experiences Of An Online Music Course During The Covid Pandemic, Katri-Helena Rautiainen, Mikko Vesisenaho

Visions of Research in Music Education

When studying music, skills are often practised with a teacher, face-to-face, in a classroom. What are the experiences of classroom teacher trainees when music teaching becomes asynchronous, i.e., an individually completed online course? This question, among other things, was explored at a Finnish University's Teacher Education Department in autumn 2020, resulting in the production of a two-credit online music course on the Moodle learning environment. It was implemented for the first time during the summer term in 2021. The students’ experiences with the functionality of the e-learning module were analysed through data-driven content analysis. The study represents an intensive case …

Planning For Multi-Modal Listening And Digital Meaning Making: Music Stream-Ing Literacy As A Didactic Activity, Cecilia Ferm-Almqvist

Visions of Research in Music Education

While “access models” represented by subscription services such as Spotify make vast libraries of music practically accessible to teachers, digital streaming programs also introduce new complexities to classroom settings. Therefore, the concept of digitalization in relation to listening requires the attention of researchers in education and didactics. This article examines the ways in which Swedish teachers use Spotify, including how usage influences teachers’ didactic choices and approaches to planning for music teaching and learning. Research participants included eight music educators with experiences in streaming music services in music classrooms. Findings show that digital literacy and the listening, teaching, and learning …

Lived Experiences: Music Educators’ Stress In The Covid-19 Pandemic, Karen Koner, Jennifer Potter Gee, Brianne Borden

Visions of Research in Music Education

The purpose of the study was to examine music educators’ stress and stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this multiple case study (Creswell, 2012; Merriam & Tisdell, 2016), we examined practicing music educators’ stress and stressors pertaining to teaching and life experiences. Participants all self-identified as females and were practicing music educators (N = 16) from various geographical locations in the United States, representing K-12 general music, ensemble conducting, applied lessons, and university instruction. All participants participated in weekly focus groups over a 12-week period during the spring of 2021. We analyzed data through open coding (Gibbs, 2007), yielding four …