Music Practice Commons^™

"Composers’ Intentions?: Lost Traditions Of Musical Performance," By Andrew Parrott, Colin Lawson

Performance Practice Review

Colin Lawson discusses Andrew Parrott's 2015 work.

Parrott, Andrew. Composers’ Intentions?: Lost Traditions of Musical Performance. Suffolk: Boydell and Brewer, 2015. ISBN 978-1-783-27032-3.

Love Sick The Musical - A Reflection Of My Undergraduate Studies, William Kelly

Senior Theses and Capstone Projects

No abstract available

The Benefits Of Music In Child Development, Dulce-Paola Ixtupe

Capstone Projects and Theses

Music is a subject that does not limit children to simply having fun, although “fun” is an essential component when trying to engage children in learning activities. Music further enhances a series of transferable skills and can help children with their learning experience in other subjects. By being part of a fun activity such as music, children are able to acquire affective, cognitive, and evaluative skills, which will further reinforce a variety of areas of their development. When engaged in an activity where recognition and expression of feelings are required, they learn that having feelings is perfectly normal and that ...

Music Therapy’S Impact On Substance Abuse Recovery, Justin Bishop-Williams

Capstone Projects and Theses

Music therapy has been a viable means of treatment for various medical conditions such as; treating PTSD, mental illness and even used alongside cognitive behavior therapy practices. Since the 70’s licensed therapists have been utilizing music therapy to combat the effect of addiction caused by substance abuse disorders. Addiction impacts the lives of one in ten Americans and only eleven percent seek help in forms of addiction treatment centers or 12-step-programs. With the combination of music therapy, addiction patients can discover feelings and emotions that have been suppressed through years of substance abuse. Forms of music therapy being examined ...

The Drums Throughout Time: Rethinking The Beat, Sal Alamillo

Capstone Projects and Theses

This paper will examine a variety of ways that drum makers approach their craft by comparing the processes of distinct forms of drum construction as well as the philosophies and aspirations of these artists. This dissertation will review the various choices of drum makers by: (1) providing a brief history of the drum set, (2) comparing the processes of manufacturers, both prominent and independent, and (3) narrating a firsthand project of making a drum with an independent drum builder while incorporating a handmade drum into original compositions and recordings. The paper will also explain the creative decisions of drum makers ...

Worship Renewal Through Discipleship: How Discipleship And Mission Affects Our Worship, Kevin Haglund

Masters Theses

Numerous articles, blogs, and books have been written in recent years about the lessening of congregational participation in singing and many have called for a renewal of worship and changes in worship practice within the church. Yet, most of the solutions offered are aimed at bettering what happens inside the worship event—singing songs with more theologically rich lyrics, incorporating more scripture and prayer, striving for more creative ways to engage the congregation, more resources and training for worship leaders, and many other valuable ideas. As excellent as those solutions may be, they are incomplete unless we also focus on ...

"Performance Practice In The Music Of Steve Reich," By Russell Hartenberger, Pwyll Ap Siôn

Performance Practice Review

Pwyll ap Siôn discusses Russell Hartenberger's 2016 work.

Hartenberger, Russell. Performance Practice in the Music of Steve Reich. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016. ISBN 978-1-107-15150-5.

"The Accompaniment In 'Unaccompanied' Bach: Interpreting The Sonatas And Partitas For Violin," By Stanley Ritchie, David Schulenberg

Performance Practice Review

David Schulenberg discusses Stanley Ritchie's 2016 work.

Ritchie, Stanley. The Accompaniment in “Unaccompanied” Bach: Interpreting the Sonatas and Partitas for Violin. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2016. ISBN 978-0-25-302198-4 (ebook: 978-0-25-302208-0)

Expressions Of Madness In Coloratura Mad Scenes Of Bel Canto Operas, Rachel G. Christenson

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis will explore the musical innovations in the mad scenes of the bel canto composers in the 1800s. It will analyze Gaetano Donizetti’s mad scenes in Anna Bolena (1830) and Lucia di Lammermoor (1835), and Vincezzo Bellini’s mad scenes in I Puritani (1835) to discover how each composer expresses madness through the high and virtuosic voice of the coloratura soprano. The subject of madness is not a new idea in opera. However, the mad scenes of Donizetti and Bellini are the most successful and are often performed in opera houses around the world. Specific attention is given ...

From Modal To Tonal: The Influence Of Monteverdi On Musical Development, Haley J. Perritt

The Research and Scholarship Symposium

In efforts to prove the transition from modality to tonality in the late Renaissance era, this paper uses examples from the works of Monteverdi to reveal the shift to tonal music. By examining his background in music theory and his involvement within the church, it is evident that Monteverdi’s upbringing in music later affected his musical compositions. Being raised in Cremona, a city in close proximity with Milan, he was exposed to a wide variety of music and excellent instruction, especially from the church cantor Marc’ Antonio Ingegneri. Through score study and evaluation of Monteverdi’s early madrigals and ...

The Science Of Singing: A Voice Lesson From Anatomy And Physiology, Gracie Bennett

The Research and Scholarship Symposium

The voice is the oldest instrument in existence. Throughout its history, there have been many vocal performances practices. The purpose of my research is to show the correlation between modern vocal practices and the current medical technology available to help us understand the physiology of the voice. I am studying and analyzing the vocal performance and pedagogical practices from the early church to present day. I want to know why these vocal strategies have changed over time. There have been several different schools of thinking in regards to vocal practices. From the Italian style bel canto singing that was widely ...

The Triple Harp: The Unsung Hero Of Harp History, Brittany L. Roberts

The Research and Scholarship Symposium

Graced with thousands of years of history, the harp has evolved and adapted to many different musical eras. A prime example of this is the triple harp, a precursor of the modern pedal harp. Before the invention of the pedals, harpists found it difficult to adjust to the increasing chromaticism found in the ornamentation and chord progressions of the Baroque era. However, harp builders were not deterred by this challenge. First built by Italian luthiers in the early 1600's, the triple harp featured three layers of strings stretched parallel to one another. The two outer layers were tuned diatonically ...

Musical Life In Russia From 1917-1953, Josiah Kenniv

The Research and Scholarship Symposium

This research focuses on Russian musical life in the Soviet Era, beginning in the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, to the death of the Joseph Stalin in 1953. Much of the information is taken from books written by Russian authors who attempt to take this massive cultural and political change from the perspective of both the artist and the everyday citizen in Russia. The purpose of this project is to show how governmental reforms change musical life in Russia, and how composers and performers alike adapted to that change.

The Partimento Tradition In The Shadow Of Enlightenment Thought, Deborah Longenecker

The Research and Scholarship Symposium

This presentation investigates the relationship between partimento pedagogy and Rameau’s music theories as influenced by Enlightenment thought. Current research on partimento has revealed its importance in Neapolitan music schools of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Along with counterpoint, partimento was a core subject in the study of composition in the Neapolitan schools; however, as pedagogy and theory began to be influenced by Enlightenment ideals such as the scientific method or a preference for clear systemization, the partimento tradition began to wane. In this presentation, I examine Rameau’s music theory as an example of Enlightenment thought in music, juxtaposing ...

A Blend Of Traditions: The Lute’S Influence On Seventeenth-Century Harpsichord Repertoire, Audrey S. Rutt

The Research and Scholarship Symposium

The close relationship between the harpsichord and lute traditions is commonly claimed but rarely elaborated upon, and many experts disagree on the manner in and extent to which the two are related. Often, texts covering the early harpsichord literature will limit discussion of the lute’s influence to a brief mention of the style brisé, if the important connection between the two traditions is even mentioned all. The lute’s impact on the harpsichordists of the seventeenth century is not a facet that can be ignored; rather, an understanding of the lute tradition is essential to an understanding of the ...

The Doctrine Of Affections In Music: Where Art Meets Reason, Sharri K. Hall

The Research and Scholarship Symposium

The Doctrine of Affections was a widespread understanding of music and musicality during the Baroque era. The Doctrine was a result of the philosophy of reason and science as it coincides with music. It aimed to reconcile what man knew about science and the human body, and what man thought he knew about music. It was a reconciliation of practical musicianship and theoretical music which had begun to rise in the time. Though it is generally understood as being apart from Enlightenment thinking, the Doctrine is a result of Enlightenment-style philosophy. As the Enlightenment sought to explain why things occurred ...

Scholarly Debates: The Development Of Early Polyphony, Eleanor G. Raquet

The Research and Scholarship Symposium

The records of early polyphony show development that progresses over time. How did these developments come about, and what caused polyphony to develop the way that it did? When one researches this topic, one discovers that most scholars have a different opinion on the factors that led to the development of polyphony. In this paper, I will prove that the development of early polyphony is not a simple linear process and is highly debated among scholars. Specifically, this paper examines and summarizes different scholars' opinions on the role of notation versus the oral tradition in the development of polyphony. It ...

A Personal Study On Music Performance Anxiety, Kate Schwarz

Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

The Makings Of An Ep: From Silence To Portable Sounds, Emily Ream

Senior Honors Theses

The creation of an EP is a process that requires skills in multiple areas. Once, creating an EP was only available to those who garnered resources and support from a record label. However, an increasing number of aspiring musicians are writing, recording, and making their music available for download or purchase without the assistance of a record label. Doing this successfully and excellently requires application of knowledge in areas such as literature, theology (for Christian artists), music theory, music technology, and marketing. This thesis will describe one process used to turn inspiration into a tangible product that one can purchase ...

The Suzuki Method: Influences Of Shinichi Suzuki On Japanese Music Education, Moriah L. Richards

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis will study the history of Japanese music education philosophies and pedagogy techniques. Specific focus has been given to the music education methods and philosophies of renowned Japanese music educator, Shinichi Suzuki. Suzuki’s views on the learning processes of children have greatly impacted the field of music education. Suzuki held the belief that the language acquisition process and the learning processes of children were intricately connected. He spent years applying his research to the field of music education. His resulting pedagogy techniques are now known as the Suzuki Method. The Suzuki Method, which has been adapted in various ...