Music Education Commons^™

Church Musicians’ Participation Perceptions: Applications To Community Music, Debbie Rohwer

Research & Issues in Music Education

The purpose of the study was to describe the participation perceptions of church choir musicians. Twenty-two choral musicians in 3 churches were interviewed. The results align with past research on community music ensembles in terms of musical and social perceptions of the participants, including concepts of recruitment, attendance, and diverse musicianship levels. There was, however, a notable difference with past studies in that worship was an interwoven, integral component of the members’ perceptions. Because of this worship component, church music may have a different feel than other community groups, with an emphasis on an external, unifying force making the activity …

Rhythmic Characteristics Of Improvisational Drumming Among Preschool Children, Rachel Whitcomb

Research & Issues in Music Education

A call-and-response drumming activity was carried out to determine the rhythmic characteristics of improvised patterns created by preschool children. Specific goals of the study were to: (1) determine the durations, start and stop times, and rhythmic patterns of improvised responses to a simple given call using drums; (2) determine the presence or absence of steady beat in improvised responses; and (3) describe the social factors that may affect the improvisational choices of young children. Six 4- and 5-year-old children participated in the activity over five weeks. Each week, the researcher played a four-beat rhythmic call and invited each student to …

The Piano Laboratory As An Interlinking Resource In The Development Of Keyboard Skills For Young Pianists, Elaine Gordon

Theses

This study presents an account of practice-based educational research that was conducted during three half-year cycles between 2008 and 2010 in the CIT Cork School of Music (CSM) piano laboratories with Junior piano pupils and their teachers as participants. The study sought to explore teaching approaches in the PianoLab classes and to evaluate interlinking resources for young pianists in the context of their wider music education.

In line with action-oriented qualitative methods, the first cycle involved preliminary data gathering, through questionnaires and interviews, from musicianship and piano teachers on topics related to teaching materials. Subsequently, a Focus Group was set …

Shifting Slides: The Effect Of John Cage's "Solo For Sliding Trombone" (1957-58) On Modern Trombone Literature And Pedagogy, Andrew Michael Shelton

Theses and Dissertations

The trombone has a limited history concerning literature and technique development. A turning point for the literature of the trombone was with John Cage's Solo for Sliding Trombone. This composition brought about new techniques that would permeate throughout subsequent literature. These new techniques would also impact trombone pedagogy and accepted technique. This paper explains the impact Solo for Sliding Trombone had on the development of the instrument including literature and pedagogy.

Historically Informed Performance Practice Of The Baroque Era, Amanda Beard

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, much debate has ensued regarding the level of consideration that should be given to the historical context of musical compositions that were written and performed during the Baroque era, which extends from 1600 to 1750 CE. The question arises as to how closely we should strive to emulate the performance conditions that would have been present during the Baroque era. Robert Donington, an English musicologist and author of two definitive texts on Baroque performance practice, suggests in his Performer's Guide to Baroque Music that we can meet the expectations of the Baroque composers to a greater degree …

Musically Mainstreamed: Mainstreaming In Elementary General Music Classrooms, Kelsey Rae Ternes

Honors Program Theses

Music educators interact with a wide range of students with varying levels of abilities. Numerous research studies outline a variety of teaching models and methods aimed at creating a successful classroom environment for all children, regardless of their capabilities. This survey research investigated current practices in which special education teaching methods pertain to elementary music educators in Iowa and the relationship of these practices to the current research literature. Research participants anonymously responded online regarding the atmosphere of special education in their school and music classroom, the support given to them in regards to mainstreaming efforts, and the strategies that …