Arts and Humanities Commons^™

"Sounding The Nile" In Nubian Musical Expression, Regan L. Homeyer

Shared Knowledge Conference

Nubians are indigenous peoples of the Nile River Valley whose ancient civilization parallels that of ancient Egypt. In 1964, 50,000 Egyptian Nubians were removed from their homeland along the Nile because of President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s initiative, the Aswan High Dam Project. With fertile lands and sacred temples doomed to inundation by the waters of what is now Lake Nassar, Nubians were resettled in government built villages that promised both preservation of culture and modern conveniences. What these riverine people received, in fact, were poorly constructed, unfinished dwellings located in the desert, more than five miles from the Nile. A …

A Brain-Friendly Approach To Music Literacy, Taylor Davis

Posters-at-the-Capitol

The purpose of this study was to explore how the brain processes information, stores it in long-term memory and then applies that knowledge to teaching music in a classroom/rehearsal setting. We observed how the working memory, the system responsible for processing information from short-term and long-term memory can function with greater efficiency. We observed how the number of items available for processing in the working memory may be increased through a process identified as “chunking.” Chunking is when short patterns, or bits of information, are combined to form longer sequences. When applying these brain-friendly learning concepts to music, the instructor …

Concerto Competition Final Round, Roberta Rust

Concerto Competition

Competition Coordinator

• Dr. Roberta Rust

Jury

• Borivoj Martinic-Jercic, violin (Concertmaster, Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and former concertmanster Phoenix Symphony, Iowa State University)
• Lydia Artymiw, piano (Avery Fisher Career Grant Recipient, University of Minnesota)
• Frank Epstein, percussion (Former member Boston Symphony Orchestra, Co-chair Brass & Percussion, New England Conservatory of Music)

Piano Accompanists

• Joshua Cessna
• Feruza Dadabaeva
• Guzal Isametdinova
• Olga Konovalova
• Dr. Sheng Yuan Kuan
• Kristine Mezines
• Dr. Marina Radiushina

Schedule

9:30 am Session

• Shuyu Liu - Brahms, Violin Concerto (Dadabaeva)
• Melanie Riordan - Berg, Violin Concerto (Dr. Kuan)
• Shuyi Wang - Vieuxtemps, Violin Concerto No. 5 (Cessna)
• Yue Yang - …

Practice Makes Perfect: Creating Information Literacy Modules For Learning Management Systems, Paula L. Hickner, Elizabeth J. Weisbrod

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Many institutions now use learning management systems (LMS) such as Blackboard and Canvas to deliver class content for distance learning programs, online-only classes, or to supplement face-to-face courses. Learning management systems offer the librarian a remarkable opportunity to reach students in new and exciting ways. The restraints of the traditional one-shot session in which the instructor expects the librarian to impart all knowledge about the online system, e-journals and databases, and the physical collection no longer need define the limits of information literacy.

Music students find that they need to be able to navigate a library’s music collection very early …

Music Therapy In The Modern Era: Three Discussions, Kate Pisarczyk, Sean Harty, Victoria Kleeman

Celebration of Learning

This Senior Inquiry presentation includes the findings of three Pre-Music therapy senior’s research. The three projects delve into very different, but important aspects of music therapy in our modern era. Sean Harty's Memory and Music delves into the impact of music on different parts of the aging brain in regards to memory recall. Music therapy is one avenue in order to assist this type of clientele. Victoria Kleeman's Synergy Should Tell the Story in Music Therapy explores the idea of creating synergy within the world of music therapy. Her discussion leads with the idea that the creation of synergy comes …

Transformations Of Chant In Marcel Grandjany's Rhapsodie Pour La Harpe, Caitlin A. Thom

Celebration of Learning

Marcel Grandjany’s Rhapsodie pour la Harpe is a standard in pedal harp literature. This essay explores Grandjany’s use of the Gregorian Easter Chant Salve festa dies.

Newfoundland And Irish Music: Synonymous Or Similar?, Kathryn E. Krajewski

Celebration of Learning

This paper explores how Newfoundland music was influenced by not only Irish music, but English music as well. Some background on the connections and relationship Newfoundland had with England and Ireland is provided before delving into the influence these countries had on Newfoundland music. Musical examples are included to illustrate how the songs of Newfoundland have both similarities and differences to the music of Ireland and England.

A Quiet Mind: The Key To Musical Performance, Rebecca Ann Percy

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

In this day and age, many people believe they can multitask. From texting and driving to watching television while studying for a test, we always want to accomplish many things at once. Musicians often try to multitask while practicing their instruments. They think about breathing, articulation, jaw movement, finger technique, and more. However, research has proven that multitasking is impossible. According to Christine Rosen in “The Myth of Multitasking,” time and efficiency are actually lost while the brain decides which task to perform. Practicing with a “quiet mind” will lead to peak performance and avoid the detrimental effects of trying …

Origin Of Bay Area Hip Hop, Alexandra Schumacher

Scholarly and Creative Works Conference (2015 - 2021)

There is minimal scholarly research on the origin story of Bay Area hip hop, despite various articles and books by hip hop experts and artists. The overall viewpoint that emerges from secondary literature is that hip hop originated on the East Coast and eventually emerged on the West Coast with it’s own unique style. These accounts, while well researched only include a few mainstream figures and styles related to the Los Angeles hip hop scene. Looking past mainstream hip hop, this study pieces together the origins of Bay Area hip hop through both mainstream and underground key figures of the …

The Compositional Influence Of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart On Ludwig Van Beethoven’S Early Period Works, Mary L. Krebs

Young Historians Conference

In the early period of Ludwig van Beethoven's life (1775-1802), his compositions exhibited the Classical style and showed hints of the expressivity to come in the Romantic Era. His music was no doubt influenced by many musical figures around him at the time, including Joseph Haydn, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and Beethoven's own father, Johann van Beethoven. But who exerted the strongest influence on Beethoven's early period works? An analysis of Beethoven's studies and his Sonata No. 5 in C minor offers compelling evidence pointing towards Beethoven's role model, a fellow Classical composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

"If Only I Could Get A Job Somewhere:" The Emergence Of British Punk, Nina Fletcher

Young Historians Conference

In the seventies, Great Britain was crippled by a widespread recession during which more than a million people were out of work and the inflation rate rose to above 18 percent, a stark contrast with the generally prosperous economy of the sixties. The conditions of this difficult decade would result in lasting social and cultural developments — including, of course, punk rock in all its loud, cynical, and spiky-haired glory. This paper examines the economic origins of the punk movement and argues that it was, at heart, the unique product of a generation raised in times of hardship and scarce …

Benefits Of Incorporating Health Promotion Courses For College Music Majors, Cassandra Debolt, Polina Golubkova, Matthew Maglaya, Myriam Apollon Vixamar

Undergraduate Research Conference

Our purpose for this project was to explore correlations between music study and health and wellness. Music study involves auditory, mental, physical, and emotional health. It can also cause performance injury. In an effort to reduce performance injuries and encourage good auditory, physical and emotional health in their students, the Music Teacher National Association advocates for wellness, stating that, “music teachers need to become substantially involved in injury prevention by teaching health-conscious music-related practices to students.”

Palestrina’S Polyphony, Dawson Tillman Dowdy

Undergraduate Research Conference

The intention behind my composition (Kyrie) was to emulate Palestrina’s style by following a set of specific guidelines derived from the common characteristics of his compositions. Ultimately, my goal was to craft a piece that served as a 21st century interpretation of Palestrinian polyphony. Although I took some liberties in terms of harmonic language, I ensured that the essential elements of textual clarity, imitation, stepwise motion, and fluid melodic structure were strictly executed.

Music And The Brain: How Music Affects The Work Of The Brain, Chloé Anne Elois Lance

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Music is a part of everyday life for many individuals. Whether they are listening to it on their phone or the radio, or they are rehearsing a piece with an ensemble. If individuals are constantly around music and absorbing it, does it have any effect on their body? Yes, and more specifically, music has the greatest effect on an individual's brain. This paper will explore each part of the brain and how it reacts to music, the role that music plays with the intelligent individual's brain (ex. IQ levels), and how music interacts with the brain throughout everyday life. Music …

The Electric Guitar And Its Changing Role In Popular Music, Brendan Orchard

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The electric guitar is a worldwide icon. It is widely renowned by cultures from every part of the world, and recognized by musicians and non-musicians alike. It is associated with popular music and can be heard on a countless number of famous songs. For the amount of fame and recognition the electric guitar has received, it has not been around for a significant amount of time, rather, just under a century. Upon its conception came bountiful new musical timbres, ideas, and inspirations. It has grown and adapted much through its lifetime, and continues to do so in order to stay …

Music Next To Theology: The Impact And Influence Of Martin Luther's Reformation On Johann Sebastian Bach, James Ryan

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The artistic figure and music of Johann Sebastian Bach looms large in the history of Western arts and culture. His influences were many, but one strong influence in his life’s work was that of the Protestant Reformation and the theology of the Lutheran church. Through this research, it is evident that Bach strongly held to the doctrines and theology of the Lutheran church and that his employment in the Lutheran church was not merely a vocation for him, but an outward expression of his inward religious and theological conviction. This position is evidenced by the writings and teachings of Martin …

Film Music And The Cinematic Experience, Brian Campbell

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Ever since the invention of cinema, film producers have always played music with movies. The addition of quality music to a well-crafted film can change the feel of the entire film. Over its one hundred and thirty years of existence, cinema has evolved into an extremely diverse art form that addresses a wide array of subjects. Given all these factors, this paper explores how film music is extremely diverse and can be used in a wide variety of ways to enhance, affect, and contribute to the way we experience a film. It explores storytelling methods as a narrative device, mood …

Sondheim: His Influence On Musical Theatre, Jordan Fredericks

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Since its beginning with The Black Crook in 1866, American musical theatre has undergone huge directional shifts. Conceptually, the music and story of Oklahoma! from the 1940s is almost entirely different from the music of [title of show] and Ordinary Days from the mid-2000s. When investigating this dramatic transformation of the genre, the root of the change appears strongest at the 1950s. These years were the beginning years of Stephen Sondheim’s entrance into the realm of musical theatre. Comparatively, Sondheim brought in a new approach to the genre and published shows that revolutionized musicals that had not been seen before …

The Doctrine Of Affections: Emotion And Music, Kristen E. Jarboe

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The Doctrine of Affections originated in and is interpreted into the musical realm of the Baroque Era in the music of Bach, Handel, and others. The Doctrine of Affections is a theory created in the Baroque era that seeks to explain the effect that music has on the body. It seeks to personify music, and prove that music itself has the ability to produce a particular feeling, independent of the listener. This theory assumes that music has the ability to be an emotion, and that the particular emotion is located in the properties of the music itself. Johann Mattheson, the …

The Three Parents Of The Violin, Hanna Bahorik

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The history of the violin is one full of examination and documentation, and yet speculation as to it’s true ancestry remains at the forefront of research. While it can certainly be said that the violin was derived from multiple instruments, this paper seeks to answer the question of which instruments exhibit essential characteristics and should be considered as the violin’s direct ancestors. Theories concerning the violin’s family tree abound, such as the bow theory and the sound chest theory which each attempt to trace the ancestry of the violin down through dozens of instruments, focusing on one critical, structural element. …

The Unifying Strands: Formalism And Gestalt Theory Span Centuries Of Music Philosophy, Amanda N. Staufer

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

In every age, musicians and philosophers deal with inquiries concerning musical meaning and the effect of music on the listener. Musical formalism and Gestalt theory—two theories in musical aesthetics—demonstrate that aspects of musical perception and experience are enduring and comprehensive. Musical formalism is the theory that music’s nature is innate, self-evident, able to be systematically deduced, and rational. According to formalism, musical meaning is defined by things objectively ‘there’ in the music, musical experience relies on cognition, and music is less a matter of sense than of mind. Gestalt Theory holds that music is a unified totality—the whole gives meaning …

From Italian Opera To Estill: An Overview Of Bel Canto Style Singing Techniques From The Eighteenth Century To Modern Day, Phoebe R. Schoeneweis

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

This paper aims to communicate the ways in which the definition of Bel Canto style singing has changed and developed since the eighteenth century, as well as how the techniques of Bel Canto are still being used today and the way that they impact new and modern vocal techniques such as the Alexander Technique and Estill Voice Training. Solo vocal material has come a long way since the eighteenth century and vocal music has made huge strides in its difficulty and material. Old Italian School voice teachers used to teach the importance and proper use of such vocal features as …

The Inclusive Orchestra: Adapting String Instruments And Instruction For Musicians With Special Needs, Eric Baker

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

In recent years, there has been progress in strategies for teaching students to play string instruments in orchestra. However, special education in correlation with the string classroom is still lacking with useful information that can be used to aid our students and teachers. Due to this lack of information, it is difficult for teachers to have all their students feel involved in their class. After a thorough review of string special education literature, I compiled a list of resources that can be used to move this profession forward. These findings range from different teaching strategies to manipulating the instrument to …

How Does Music Connect The Artist And Fans?, Jacob Garringer

Ray Browne Conference on Cultural and Critical Studies

This paper discusses the connection that subcultures and fan-bases of certain musical acts feel with their favorite artists on an emotional and psychological level. Analyzing the lyrical content of rock artists Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, and Chester Bennington, all of which suffered from depression and/or addiction and eventually committed suicide, this paper aims to look at how the lyrics of their songs connect their experiences in real life to their fans who may be suffering the same illnesses, and how they could be seen as a cry for help.

Is It All In The Family?: What Does It Mean To Be “Fam” In The Jam Band Scene? A Case Study Of Northwest Ohio, Katelen Brown

Ray Browne Conference on Cultural and Critical Studies

The concept of family or “fam” has been associated with the jam band scene and hippie movements since the 1960s, specifically in relation to the Grateful Dead, the Rainbow Family, and the Brotherhood of Eternal Love. This concept’s significance has been widely debated by music journalists, biographers, and scholars. But what does family actually means to the musical experience of the individual? This paper is especially focused on the significance of musical and subcultural participation, as well as some of the complex intersectional issues of belonging to a family in the jam band scene. In this project, I will be …

“The Real Spice Girl, Hot Girl Power”: M.I.A. Singing The Subaltern Voice In The Euro-American Soundscape, Emma Niehaus

Ray Browne Conference on Cultural and Critical Studies

Gayatry Chakravorty Spivak’s seminal work of Subaltern Studies, “Can the Subaltern Speak?” analyzed the predisposition of the “Western” academy to ultimately silence the voices, experiences, and cultures of colonized, “third world” and non- European “others”. Following Spivak’s work, other scholars examined subaltern speech as it manifested in various other cultural products for instance, music. Notably, subaltern scholars such as Rebecca Romanow and Amanda Weidman in “Can the Subaltern Sing” argued that aural space for the subaltern musician was shrinking in the face of a rapidly globalizing Euro-American music industry. My presentation argues that it is not a question of if …

The Foundation Of American Flute Playing Told Through The Innovations Of William Kincaid, Grandfather Of The American Flute School, Kim Abeyta

Annual Graduate Student Symposium

Flutists have done extensive research into the teaching, techniques and styles of the players that significantly impacted the development of the instrument. While there is ample research into the French Flute School, less is understood about the unique flute playing in the United States. I sought to identify what made American flute playing so exceptional that a separate American Flute School formed. In order to identify and analyze the elements that differentiate the American Flute School, I studied the first well-known and well-respected flutist in the United States still relevant today, William Kincaid. He was taught the techniques of the …

Anxiety And Alternative Facts: An Arts-Based Critical Social Improvisation Project, Rebecca Zarate, Nancy Beardall, Talaye Zarafshandardaky, Brooke Rutstein

Lesley University Community of Scholars Day

According to Grayson and Meilman (2011) the stakes are too high in current campus culture to not acknowledge the social roots of mental health issues such as anxiety, and concerns of students as related to campus safety. This arts-based, music performance project responded to concerns on campus from recent political and social events. More specifically, it aimed to explore the concept of “alternative facts” and how this idea plays with the collective concepts of truth and falsifications. It explored applications of clinical improvisation and the concept of collective anxiety as a social phenomenon expressed through arts including music, dance, and …

Leading From The In-Between: Disability, Leadership, And Identity, Xochitl Mendez

Lesley University Community of Scholars Day

The daily lives of individuals challenged with physical disabilities shed light on the intersections, as well as the friction, between the identities we forge as individuals, and the social identities of the public space. In this interdisciplinary presentation, I will explore the fault lines between the social concepts of disability and the personal realities and specifics of biology and adaptation.

Exploring my own experiences with disability, pedagogy, and art, I will further delve on how the social realm (Arendt, 1958) evaluates and judges identity from expected modes of interaction that are often not available to the disabled person. Further, using …

The Effects Of Rhythm For Social Emotional Learning Skills Development, Jonathan O. Mande

Lesley University Community of Scholars Day

Many people talk about the importance of music in school and learning, we all know about its effects on cognitive development for children and adults. Though despite these universally known facts, music education programs are increasingly underfunded in schools, private lessons are not accessible to most people, while our country is simultaneously suffering from an increase in academic retention and destructive societal conflicts. Music brings all people together and at its core is rhythm. It makes available a space for joy; to fully express love, build bonds and strengthen our individual spirits. When used intentionally, music heals and is a …