Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Effect Of Auditory Stimuli On Test Performance: Testing The Arousal Hypothesis, Ian Thomas Kells

Masters Theses

Since the publication of Rauscher, Shaw, and Ky’s study in 1993 on the “Mozart Effect”, the study of music and its effect on cognition and performance has gained significant attention. Roth and Smith (2008) investigated this “Mozart Effect” and suggested a continuation of research and interpretation through an arousal theory. This study examined the effects of a subject-identified arousing stimulus on performance on the Verbal Reasoning portion of the GRE, analyzed through an arousal theory framework. A sample of 24 non-music Western Michigan University students took part in one 60-minute testing period using subject-preferred music, which was then analyzed across …

Gradus Ad Parnassum: A Reader's Edition And Commentary, Sara Miller Schulte

Masters Theses

The seminal eighteenth-century counterpoint treatise Gradus ad Parnassum by Johann Joseph Fux exists in Latin, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and a host of other languages in its entirely, but in English only the second book of two has been translated, and even that is available only in a collection of partial translations. While a complete English translation is well beyond the scope of this project, toward that end, this research makes a case for its completion and provides a modernized edition and commentary of the as-yet-untranslated first book.

Testing The Arousal Hypothesis: The Effect Of Music On Arousal As Measured By Electrodermal Activity During Verbal Processing, Meghan E. Feeman

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis project is to assess the arousal hypothesis by implementing an auditory stimulus (music) at various times during a task (Verbal Processing section of the GRE) to analyze changes in arousal, as measured by electrodermal activity (EDA). Testing is administered for one hour with music implemented before testing and twice during testing. EDA levels are used to measure physiological response and are collected over the one hour testing period. For analysis, testing material is broken into different time blocks to assess arousal levels through mean slope, mean skin conductance level (SCL), mean skin conductance response (xSCR), …

Carl Ratner, Baritone, 9/17, College Of Fine Arts

School of Music Faculty Recitals

• CARL RATNER, Baritone
• with Rhea Olivaccé, Soprano Meredith Arwady, Contralto Barry Ross, Violin Jane Kenas, Piano John Griffin, Piano Yu-Lien The, Piano

Perspectives On Satisfaction For The Clinical Internship In Music Therapy: Differences Between American And International Music Therapy Students And Music Therapists, Wang Lu

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to survey music therapy intern students and professionals across the United States to evaluate their satisfaction regarding their internship experience. 465 responses were collected for this study, 50 American music therapy interns, 353 American music therapy professionals, 12 international music therapy interns, and 50 international music therapy professionals. Data indicated that in the areas of “therapeutic relationship”, “professional role/ethics”, “therapy implementation,” and “documentation”, which are categories of the AMTA competencies, over 91% of the participants indicated that their expectations were mostly or completely met during internship. In contrast, the competency that respondents felt was …

Williams Syndrome And Music: A Systematic Integrative Review, Donovon Thakur

Masters Theses

Researchers and clinicians have often cited the curious relationship between individuals with Williams syndrome and music. This review aimed to systematically identify, analyze, and synthesize research and findings related to Williams syndrome and music. Thirty-one articles were identified that examined this relationship and were divided into seven areas by their findings. This process covered a diverse array of methodologies, with aims to: 1) report current findings; 2) assess methodological quality; and 3) discuss the potential implications and considerations for the clinical use of music with this population. Collecting and analyzing available research on the relationship between Williams syndrome and music …

A Comparison Of Concerns Related To Internship Preparation: A Survey Of International And American Music Therapy Students And Professionals, Fei Wang

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the different perceptions of internship between International and American music therapy students and professionals. There were 465 participants enroll in this study, and divided into four groups base on their own identification. Group AI (American Interns, n1=50), Group II (International Interns, n2=12), Group AP (American Professionals, n3=353), and Group IP (International Professionals, n4=50). The different perceptions include (a) primary criterion when choosing internship, (b) most confident areas when entering internship, (c) most want to improve during internship, (d) perceived strength related to internship preparedness, (e) primary concerns/worries related to internship preparedness. The …

The Effectiveness Of Music Therapy To Reduce Agitation Among Persons With Alzheimer’S Disease, Caroline Mazon

Honors Theses

According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2016), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is diagnosed every 66 seconds resulting in this disease being the 6^th leading cause of death in the United States. Among other signs and symptoms, agitation is one of the most challenging symptoms that patients and caregivers must try to control using nonpharmacological therapies or prescribed pharmacological treatments. Among many professions, music therapy has been used to specifically lower the levels of agitation in AD patients. Live music, “sing a long’s”, using instruments, and listening to a song of the patients’ choice have all been shown to reduce agitation behaviors …

The Bended Tree, Graeme Shields

Masters Theses

The Bended Tree is a multi-movement, 40-minute cantata for chorus, organ, piano, flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, violin, and percussion. It explores timbral, textural, and harmonic development within loosely a symmetrical form divided in the center by 30 seconds of silence. The text for the cantata stems from a series of Lutheran hymns and Biblical passages, set to original music.

In the interest of facilitating flexibility for performances, the movements are written so that they can be performed individually, in any subset, or in the piece’s entirety. The instrumentation is also variable: the core ensemble is comprised of chorus, piano, and …

Lori Sims, Piano, 3/23, College Of Fine Arts

School of Music Faculty Recitals

• LORI SIMS, Piano

What High School Students Want To Know About Music: An Information Literacy Instruction Course For A High School Music Camp, Michael J. Duffy Iv

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Presentations

This program will present the results of a case study of an information literacy course offered to high school students during the SEMINAR High School Summer Music Camp at Western Michigan University in July of 2016. The curriculum of the course is geared toward the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner, the information literacy standards of the American Association of School Librarians for grades K-12, and informed by the MLA Information Literacy Instructional Objectives for Undergraduate Music Students. Teaching this course offers an opportunity to teach pre-collegiate information literacy skills, and to demonstrate the potential of our information resources in the …

2017 School Of Music News, Wmu School Of Music

School of Music News

• PEN Trio to present new works for oboe, clarinet, bassoon and electronics
• Renowned trombonist to perform at WMU
• Stulberg silver medalist to perform with University Symphony Orchestra
• WMU baritone presents free recital of operatic excerpts
• Capitol Quartet to perform standard works, new music and jazz
• Technology-based music performance featured at WMU
• Accomplished trombonist Brad Edwards to perform in free recital at WMU
• Vocal supergroup MOSS to perform with WMU jazz ensembles
• Trio performs with WMU emerita in free concert
• Prism Quartet to perform free recital and with Symphonic Band
• Electric guitarists take the Dalton Center Recital Hall stage
• MacArthur Genius …

Morgen : Melody For Soprano And Piano, Emmanuel M. Dubois

Emmanuel Dubois Compositions

Op. 48 : 1 score (ii + 3 pages) ; includes the poem "Morgen" by John Henry MacKay, in German.