Digital Commons Network^™

Research-Based Music Composition For Anxiety Reduction, Carly Crusius

Honors Theses

The following undergraduate honors thesis utilizes the Therapeutic Function of Music (TFM) Plan worksheet conceived by Dr. Deanna Hanson-Abromeit as a template to guide research and analysis for how the musical elements should be structured to support the goal of anxiety reduction for college-aged students. Anxiety is a mental health concern that is prevalent among college students due to the variety of social, environmental, and academic stressors that affect their day-to-day lives. The TFM was established to provide transparency and a common language within the field of music therapy and beyond when discussion the elements of music. Research was conducted …

Nostalgia And Music-Evoked Autobiographical Memories: Salience And Content In Musicians Vs. Non-Musicians, Taylorlyn Mehnert

Honors Theses

This paper examines a subsection of data from a larger study conducted by Alycia Sterenberg titled, “The determinants of affect, emotional arousal, and autobiographical memories on music-evoked nostalgia”. The question being examined was: when examining musicians and non-musicians, what difference is there in the intensity of nostalgic memories between the two groups; what elements of a memory are either group more likely to be nostalgic about when listening to music they have labeled as nostalgic for themselves? The data was acquired from questionnaires participants filled out after listening to music generated to be similar to that which they had labeled …

Music Evoked Nostalgia And Mood States, Bailey Schulte

Honors Theses

This study was in collaboration with the study titled “The determinants of affect, emotional arousal, and autobiographical memories” by principle investigator, Edward Roth, and student investigator Alycia Sterenberg. It addresses two questions examining the impact that music evoked nostalgia has on mood states and if this difference varies between musicians and non-musicians. The study included 19 participants ranging in age from 18-28 and used a multilevel model design. Participants completed a Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) pre and post listening to nostalgia evoking music. Results revealed a decrease in negative affect pre to post-test, also showing a difference between …

The Use Of Neurologic Music Therapy And Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation As Treatment For Parkinson’S Disease, Shaima Shebrain

Honors Theses

Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a progressive, neurodegenerative disease, is common in people who are 50 years of age or older. It is characterized by the loss of function of the substantia nigra in producing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that allows for smooth and coordinated movement. Due to the lack of dopamine, an individual with PD experiences involuntary and stiff movements such as tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability, and abnormal gait patterns along with other motor symptoms. Over the years, the motor symptoms that are associated with PD progressively worsen; thus, limiting the individual’s independency and ability to perform daily tasks. Those with …

Psychophysiology In Relation To Music And Behavior, Chloe Heintz

Honors Theses

This thesis was based off of my experience as a research assistant in a study conducted by principle investigator Edward Roth and student investigator Alycia Sterenberg entitled “The determinants of affect, emotional arousal, and autobiographical memories on music-evoked nostalgia.” Roth and Sterenberg investigated the relationship between nostalgic music, autobiographical memories, and the physiological response of electrodermal activity (EDA). This was done by recruiting 30 college students between the ages of 18-28 to listen to music based off of five songs they listed as being nostalgic to them. They would then rate how familiar, nostalgic, and enjoyable each song was, in …

Georgiy Borisov, Clarinet 12/2, College Of Fine Arts

School of Music Faculty Recitals

• Georgiy Borisov, Clarinet
• with Negar Afazel, Viloin and Chris Gray, Piano
• featuring Igor Cetkovic, Cello

The Determinants Of Affect, Emotional Arousal, And Autobiographical Memories On Music-Evoked Nostalgia, Alycia Sterenberg

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to further explore both person – level and context – level constructs established by Barrett et al. (2010) in relation to music-evoked nostalgia. This study also measures the strength of the relationship between self-reported arousal levels and electrodermal activity (EDA) as well as if they are good predictors of nostalgia. Methods include listening to personalized playlists to elicit feelings of nostalgia while electrodermal activity collects changes in arousal. Participants then answer questions of song familiarity, pleasure, arousal, and autobiographical salience to gather context – level constructs. Results indicate that both person – level and …

The Effect Of Patterned Sensory Enhancement On Balance And Ambulation In Persons Diagnosed With Parkinson’S Disease, Brittany Barko

Masters Theses

One rehabilitation protocol effective in delaying the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is Lee Silverman Voice Training BIG (LSVT BIG), comprising pre-gait exercises and gait training. This study seeks to determine if combining Patterned Sensory Enhancement (PSE), a music therapy intervention, with LSVT BIG will improve quality of movement. During physical therapy sessions with three participants, a music therapist adapted the PSE stimuli to support each patient’s motor needs, which were then recorded on CD and sent with patients to exercise with at home. Results showed improved balance and ambulation comparing pre- and post- measures of the BERG balance scale …

Senior Recital, Jaron Kirshenbaum

Honors Theses

This recital, although it featured works learned over the last six months, is really a culmination of all the work I have put in over the last three and a half years here at the Western Michigan University School of Music. It is a program that brought together friends and colleagues, and featured solo works that show just how far I have come since I arrived here as a freshman clarinet player in the Fall of 2015. Although the diverse music selection and the decision to do mainly single movements from larger works is not what you would typically see …

The Miala Fine Arts Interest Group: Making Connections Across The Mitten State, Michael J. Duffy Iv, Grace Haynes, Laura Thompson

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Presentations

The Michigan Academic Library Association (MiALA), established in 2014, is the leading professional organization for academic librarians in the state of Michigan, and a chapter of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL). Within the organization are several established interest groups that reflect a wide variety of interests across academic librarianship. The MiALA Fine Arts Interest Group was formed in 2017 to serve as a forum for academic librarians who work with users and collections in the fine arts, including but not limited to, visual art, creative writing, dance, film, media production, music, and theatre to share ideas, collaborate, …

An Examination Of Age Labels In Music Related Dissertations And Theses: 2009-2016, Phillicia Jackson

Masters Theses

The life expectancy rate of advanced age individuals has increased dramatically in recent years, creating a greater need for research topics related to this segment of the population. Smith (2009) completed a content analysis of the use of age labels describing this advanced age group using dissertations and theses produced between 1983 and 2008. This current investigation replicated the process used in the earlier study using dissertations and theses completed between 2009 and 2016. The same search procedure, inclusion criteria, and analysis protocol was used, in order to be able to evaluate changes which may have occurred over time. A …

Implications Of Theory Of Mind, Feelings Of Connectedness, And A Flow State Of Mind Through Active And Passive Music Improvisation Experiences., Samuel Panicacci

Honors Theses

This study is an introduction examining the relationship between a performer and the audience in a musical improvisation context. Current research exploring performer-audience interaction in improvisation experiences is scant and typically framed in a purely narrative context. This study seeks to evaluate four different components of the performer and audience relationship; amount, or level, of experience with improvisation and comfort levels, flow, theory of mind, and emotional connection. A survey was generated and given to students in an improvisation class to collect results based on these four components. This study found that improvisation experience levels were low but comfort with …

Implications Of Theory Of Mind, Feelings Of Connectedness, Flow State Of Mind Through Active And Passive Music Improvisation Experiences, Rebecca Lint

Honors Theses

This study is an introduction examining the relationship between a performer and the audience in a musical improvisation context. Current research exploring performer-audience interaction in improvisation experiences is scant and typically framed in a purely narrative context. This study seeks to evaluate four different components of the performer and audience relationship; amount, or level, of experience with improvisation and comfort levels, flow, theory of mind, and emotional connection. A survey was generated and given to students in an improvisation class to collect results based on these four components. This study found that improvisation experience levels were low but comfort with …

Implications Of Theory Of Mind, Feelings Of Connectedness, Flow State Of Mind Through Active And Passive Music Improvisation Experiences, Jessica Kociba

Honors Theses

This study is an introduction examining the relationship between a performer and the audience in a musical improvisation context. Current research exploring performer-audience interaction in improvisation experiences is scant and typically framed in a purely narrative context. This study seeks to evaluate four different components of the performer and audience relationship; amount, or level, of experience with improvisation and comfort levels, flow, theory of mind, and emotional connection. A survey was generated and given to students in an improvisation class to collect results based on these four components. This study found that improvisation experience levels were low but comfort with …

Implications Of Theory Of Mind, Feelings Of Connectedness, And A Flow State Of Mind Through Active And Passive Music Improvisation Experiences., Megan Nicodem

Honors Theses

This study is an introduction examining the relationship between a performer and the audience in a musical improvisation context. Current research exploring performer-audience interaction in improvisation experiences is scant and typically framed in a purely narrative context. This study seeks to evaluate four different components of the performer and audience relationship; amount, or level, of experience with improvisation and comfort levels, flow, theory of mind, and emotional connection. A survey was generated and given to students in an improvisation class to collect results based on these four components. This study found that improvisation experience levels were low but comfort with …

Teaching Body Mapping In The Orchestra Classroom, Gretchen Clemans

Honors Theses

For young string musicians, it is easy to fall into the habit of playing with improper body alignment and unhealthy technique. In response, this study investigates the ways in which the teaching of healthy body techniques can be taught in the orchestra classroom, in order to prevent students from experiencing pain, tension, and muscle strain while studying their instrument. Overall, the results from the research group of students showed that over half of the students have experienced pain while playing their instrument. Furthermore, the results indicated that students responded positively to the content presented. After being introduced to the material, …

The Litmus Initiative - Enabling Teachers To Recognize Domestic Human Trafficking, Bethany Hansen

Honors Theses

Every day, an estimated 100,000 residents of the United States are sold for sex. At least half of these victims are under the age of 18. Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) has tragically plagued the U.S. for decades and even centuries, but it has only come into the public spotlight within the last fifteen years. As a result, there are few widespread sources of information about DMST, and even fewer resources for victims and survivors. DMST is a branch of human trafficking, which the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 defines as “(A) Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex …

A Four Year Moment, Hannah Truckenbrod

Honors Theses

A senior recital can prove to be a daunting task, due to the overwhelming and irrational feeling that it must perfectly represent oneself as their fullest and truest artistic selves. I wanted to explore how I could balance this need for personal representation while simultaneously keeping a level head about professionally producing a recital and preserving my physical and mental health and wellness in the process. The first thing I set out to do when beginning this capstone project was figuring out what was important to me about music, and the study of music. It was imperative that I represent …

A Study Of The Effect Of Socio-Cultural Demographics, Health Status, And Use Of Music On Music Preferences, Kaitlin Mckinley

Masters Theses

There have been varying studies seeking to find links between a wide range of individuals’ personality, gender, age, or well-being on one’s musical preferences. These studies have brief suggestions of some characteristics, however, the amount of studies are scarce and have limited results to show substantial influence of specific demographics on music preferences. The present study aimed to explore possible similarities between one’s music preferences and the sociocultural background, their use of music in daily life, and their health status. 173 respondents participated in a brief online survey which consisted of rating seven music samples and then followed by 12 …

Further Exploration Into The Coma Recovery Scale - Revised And The Music Therapy Assessment Tool For Awareness In Disorders Of Consciousness, Alika D. Seu

Masters Theses

Due to the high rate of misdiagnosis of individuals with disorders of consciousness (DOC) it has been a priority to develop clinical tools to accurately diagnose and assess these individuals (Seel et al., 2010). The Coma Recovery Scale – Revised has been regarded as the gold standard assessment for this population, however, a recent pilot study has shown that the Music Therapy Assessment Tool for Awareness in Disorders of Consciousness (MATADOC) may have increased sensitivity in several assessment domains (auditory, visual, arousal, and verbal commands) in relation to the overall diagnostic outcome. The data sets from this pilot study were …

Professional Preparedness: A Satisfaction Survey For Music Therapists In The United States, Xueyan Hua

Masters Theses

This study investigates the satisfaction level among undergraduate or equivalency students, who have completed their degree program, in regards to their professional education and preparedness for professional practice in the United States. Out of a sample of 7,183 Board- Certified Music Therapists (MT-BC) invited to complete an online research survey, 777 (n=777) MT-BCs completed the survey. Due to time limitations, qualitative data was not analyzed.

Major findings include: (1) 8.79% of respondents completed no more than two preinternship clinical practica; (2) 88.46% of respondents were satisfied with their clinical practicum settings; (3) 92.72% of respondents were satisfied with the relevancy …

Effect Of Social Feedback On Emotions And Preferences In Music, Megan Dillon

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research project was to investigate whether social feedback had an effect on individuals’ emotional ratings of and preferences in music. The current study recruited 173 participants and was based on a study by Egermann, Grewe, Kopiez, and Altenmüller (2009a) that surveyed individuals on their reactions to music when presented with falsified social feedback. The research hypothesis was that participants who were exposed to manipulated social feedback would report emotional ratings and preferences more closely aligned with the social feedback than when not exposed to the feedback. Results showed significant differences in participants’ reported ratings of music …

The Sunlight Cycle, Michael Flynn

Masters Theses

The Sunlight Cycle is a work in four movements which evokes certain time periods within a 24-hour day. In order of number, the movements are meant to represent dawn, daytime, twilight, and night, respectively. Each movement transitions seamlessly into the next, with Mvt. 4, “Nocturnal,” transitioning back to the beginning of Mvt. 1, “Matutinal”. This cyclical nature allows for a performance of the cycle to begin with any of the four movements. Theoretically, the work can repeat indefinitely.

Musically, the work develops in three main areas: harmony, rhythm, and timbre. Harmonically, the work is tonal, featuring extended and altered triadic …

A Collection Of Three Pieces For Solo Instrument And Electronics, Carolyn Borcherding

Masters Theses

This collection of three musical compositions for solo instruments and electronics explores the interaction between acoustic instruments and electronic media with a specific focus on musical form. The musical form is apparent due to clear musical segmentations, and the coherence of each work is maintained by the inter-contextual relationships evident in the musical material. Each piece is divided into three parts: beginning, middle, and end. Each beginning sets up a strong relationship between the two media by using closely timed action-reaction gestures. The middle section diverges away from these reactionary gestures, while the ending then brings about a short return …

Stifling The Subversive Swing: An Austrian Perspective On The Nazi Jazz Ban, Colin J. Rensch

Masters Theses

This research investigates the rationale behind the Nazis’ suppression of jazz music during the Second World War. Existing scholarship explains the circumstances surrounding this suppression, but it does not explore why the Nazis did not completely eradicate jazz. The goal of this research is to reveal which aspects of jazz the Nazis particularly disdained and why they allowed this music to continue while they so vehemently suppressed other forms of art that they deemed undesirable.

In order for the arguments to be viewed in their proper context, the thesis first discusses the rise of jazz in Austria and the Austrian …

A Survey Of Perceptions And Professional Boundaries Between Music Therapy And Speech-Language Pathology, Jennifer Rose Fromius

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between music therapists and speech-language pathologists in order to gain a better understanding of professional boundaries within each profession, frequency of co-treatment between the two professions, and perceptions of referral in clinical practice. Data for this research were collected through two online questionnaires with parallel sets of questions, which were distributed to a sample of boardcertified music therapists (MT-BC) and speech-language pathologists (CCC-SLP). Quantitative and qualitative data collected from the survey (N= 283; n = 45 MT-BC, n = 238 CCC-SLP) are analyzed to determine if there are correlations and …

Information Literacy For Music Graduate Students: A Framework Application, Michael J. Duffy Iv

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Presentations

The syllabus for a graduate-level bibliographic research course in music at Western Michigan University (WMU) provides an opportunity to link Frames of ACRL’s Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, as reflected in the WMU Libraries’ recently developed Information Literacy Core Competencies (ILCCs), to graduate instruction in music. I have had multiple opportunities to teach this graduate-level bibliographic research course, Introduction to Research in Music. Over the course of the semester, the course includes activities related to each of the Frames in the Framework.

These activities include in-class evaluation of reference and research resources, comparison of articles from Grove Music …

Contemporary Analysis Of Information Literacy In Music: A Literature Review And Selected Annotated Bibliography, Michael J. Duffy Iv

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications

Since 2004, the body of literature dedicated to information literacy in music has expanded, reflecting themes of definitions and standards of information literacy, the role of information literacy in accreditation and assessment, instructional relationships with faculty and students, and online instruction. In addition, the literature also explored themes of information ethics, embedded librarians, unconventional instructional modes, and the implications of user behavior for information literacy. This literature review and selected bibliography traces these themes across 57 writings, published or in-press, highlighting potential application of some of the ideas in these writings as well as potential for further exploration.

2018 School Of Music News, Wmu School Of Music

School of Music News

• Oboist joins percussion duo in free concert
• Tom Rainey Trio to entertain audiences in free recital at WMU
• Distinguished alumnus joins free University Symphony Orchestra concert
• Jazz performance will feature digital processing and live electronics
• Chicago-based Kontras Quartet returns for free performance
• 'Fantasies for the Piano' presented by new faculty member
• Student and faculty join forces to offer varied musical program
• Critically acclaimed jazz and world music all-star band comes to Dalton Center
• Horn Day open to anyone who wants to learn more about the horn
• Alumnus Matt Giraud joins Gold Company's 40th-anniversary show
• Trombone alumnus returns for solo recital …

In Old Bruges: Two Pieces For Chromatic Carillon, Emmanuel M. Dubois

Emmanuel Dubois Compositions

Op. 15/54: 1 score (iii + 6 pages) ; includes foreword

The two carillon pieces Op. 15/54, "In Old Bruges", are written for a non-transposing chromatic 48-bell instrument, ranging from c3 to c7, where c#3 is omitted, or, in organ notation, ranging from c to c4, where c# is omitted.

Movements:

1. Prelude – Sunday market (Three-part canonic palindrome)
2. Allegretto – Promenade