Music Commons^™

"Heil, O Sonne, Heil!": Schemata And Semiotics In Haydn's Oratorio Sunrises, Michael D. Slattery

HAYDN: Online Journal of the Haydn Society of North America

Both of Haydn’s late oratorios, The Creation and The Seasons, contain depictions of sunrises, a subject matter that Sisman (2013) has characterized as “Emergent Light,” in contrast with the famous “absolute” creation of light at the opening of The Creation. In addition to their shared object of representation, the four sunrise passages I identify in these two works all use a phrase-level schema Gjerdingen (2007) has christened the Do-Re-Mi. In this paper, I enrich our cultural understanding of Haydn’s sunrises by attending to nuanced semantic implications of the Do-Re-Mi, illustrating how phrase-level schemata can construct extramusical meaning.

Work on phrase-level …

Memorandum From President Norton To The Athletic Committee, Director Of Athletics, The Coaches, And The Director Of The Band, 1949, E. B. Norton/President C.B. Smith, Troy State Teachers College

Correspondence

A memorandum from President Norton on the excellent record and good behavior of the new football team and marching band members, 1949.

Correspondence between Troy State Teachers College president, C.B. Smith, and President Norton, 1949.

2026-2027 Performance Forum - September 25, 2026, Aidan Quintana, Ana-Maria Uzunova, Zion Pe Montebon, Joseph Gould, Rebeca Sierra, Mia Cotton, Noah Suarez, Kallen Hanzsek-Brill, Tayor Shorey

Performance Forum

No abstract provided.

Rossetter Gleason Cole: His Life And Work, Noah J. Seim

Student Summer Scholars Manuscripts

Rossetter Gleason Cole (1866-1952) was born near Clyde, Michigan, to a relatively musical family. Two years after graduating from the University of Michigan in 1888, where he had studied music and philosophy, he left for Berlin, studying composition with Heinrich van Eycken and gaining entrance to the Königlich Meisterschule für Komposition, where he studied with Max Bruch before returning to the United States. After a decade of teaching in the Midwest, he settled in Chicago in 1902, where he gained national fame as a composer and educator. Cole was a member of the Peterborough MacDowell Colony, nearly all of his …

The Caged Canary: Compounded Discrimination And The Female Jazz Vocalist, Isabella Eaton

Master's Theses

While women have historically represented the overwhelming majority of jazz vocalists, they have also experienced a unique legitimacy gap in a culture that traditionally grants the status of authenticity to the masculine instrumentalist. This study explores the experiences of mid-twentieth century female jazz vocalists, arguing that they faced compounded discrimination within American jazz culture as a result of gender marginalization and the devaluation of their vocal instrument. The intricacies of this phenomenon necessitate a multipronged qualitative approach by employing historiographical analysis, synthesis of existing scholarship, and qualitative case study research methods. Beginning with the dichotomy between the jazz “cat” and …

2026-2027 Performance Forum - September 18, 2026, Owen Chen, Roberta Rust, Ian Lewis, Rebeca Sierra, Santiago Moreno, Sheng Yuan Kuan

Performance Forum

No abstract provided.

A Christian's Formative Years And Their Worship Music Preferences, Cara L. Coffey Hall

Masters Theses

This study examines how Christians’ formative faith experiences influence lifelong worship music preferences. While discussions of worship music often emphasize generational differences or stylistic preferences, this study investigates whether formative spiritual experiences provide a more meaningful explanation for long-term worship preferences. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between formative faith experiences, age of conversion, and lifelong worship music among adult members and attendees at Northwest Hills Global Methodist Church. A convergent mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data was collected through an anonymous survey completed by 102 qualified participants and qualitative data was gathered through interviews with …

Fostering Meaningful Relationships In Middle School Music Ensembles And The Impact On Student Retention, Michael Andrew Murphy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although participation in music ensembles varies from school to school in the United States, many directors struggle to retain, let alone grow, the number of members that comprise their performance ensembles. This is often the result of scheduling, time constraints, financial obligations, and understanding the needs of student engagement. The purpose of this qualitative, ethnological study is to explore the impact of fostering meaningful relationships in middle school music ensembles and what role those relationships play in the retention of students. This study also investigates how students and teachers determine the meaningfulness of their relationships, the importance of those relationships …

The Effects Of Elementary Music Scheduling And Vertical Alignment On First-Year Middle School Ensemble Readiness: A Study Of Music Teacher Perceptions, James Mock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students entering middle school encounter many changes in how music is taught and organized. During this transition, music students are introduced to a greater emphasis on ensemble performance. These students enter middle school with diverse backgrounds in musical training and knowledge. Additional factors affecting students’ musical development include funding, socioeconomic background, and demographics. Elementary music scheduling and program vertical alignment may also influence students’ preparedness as they enter middle school. To become highly successful in music ensemble performance, students must have appropriate prior musical training before entering middle school.

This qualitative study will examine how elementary music schedules and vertical …

The Predictability Gap: A Correlation Study Of Supporting Pillars And Repertoire Success In Abrsm Practical And Performance Grades Piano Examinations, Arthur Chit-Ho Ng

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the structural predictability trajectories within the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) graded piano framework. Utilizing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, the project analyzed a longitudinal dataset (N = 449) to investigate variance in student achievement and the emergence of developmental plateaus, conceptually identified as the “Reading Wall.” Quantitative modeling revealed distinct structural divergences within the syllabus architecture: the traditional Practical Grades maintained a stable correlational signal between technical components and outcomes (r = .826 at Grade 7), whereas the digital Performance Grades yielded a non-significant association (p = .355). Furthermore, Grade 5 Music …

Music Educators’ Perceptions And Implementation Of Multiculturalism In The Classroom, Kennedy Mae Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study is to determine teachers' perceptions of multicultural education and its potential benefits in Sumter County. The purpose of this research is to understand the perspectives and approaches to preparing for the implementation of multiculturalism among public school music programs in Sumter, South Carolina. The rationale for this research is that there is a gap in the literature on multicultural implementation in music education in South Carolina. With proper technological implementation, multiculturalism could help prepare music educators to teach a culturally diverse group of students. As a result of the study, the researcher aims to gain …

Recommendations For Improving Undergraduate Music Education Student Teaching Opportunities At A Faith-Based College In The Southeastern United States, Molly E. Stephens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Student teaching opportunities are the most valuable and foundational experiences in a music educator’s pre-service training. Foundational skills are often refined during student teaching experiences. These skills include critical thinking, pedagogical strategies, classroom management, and effective communication—all key elements of successful teaching. Student teaching opportunities serve as the bridge between course content and real-world application for young educators. The purpose of this study was to provide recommendations for strategies to improve student-teaching opportunities in the undergraduate music education program at a faith-based college in the southeastern United States. The problem was the limited scope and frequency of student teaching opportunities …

Exploring The Role Of Mentorship For Urban African American Underprivileged Students Who Participate In Band Programs: A Case Study, Tyreese Lamar Pleasanton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Underprivileged urban African American students who participate in band programs benefit from transformative mentorship within a culturally relevant support system. By providing access to environmental resources and equitable opportunities, mentors play a critical role in promoting academic achievement, social-emotional growth, and cultural pride. This study investigates the impact of mentorship on student outcomes in urban settings, highlights distinctive African American experiences, identifies structural barriers, and proposes relationship-based strategies to advance educational equity through culturally responsive support. Data will be collected through surveys, interviews, observations, and thematic analysis, with a specific focus on current band directors. The findings will contribute to …

Teaching French Horn: A Review Of Literature For The Beginning Horn Student And Best Methods For Application, Anna M. Schmitz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There are many beginning French horn method books available to students and teachers today, divided into two main categories: whole-band integration and private-lesson instruction. There is little agreement between the methods on which elements of playing to emphasize and how to sequence instruction. Some whole-band method books start in an uncomfortable range for the beginning horn player, either too high or too low, in order to accommodate the fundamental harmonics of the majority of the other concert band wind instrumentalists. To mitigate this problem, some method books offer a “horns only” option with the same exercise transposed either up a …

An Applied Study Of Mentorship Structures For Early-Career Secondary Choral Directors In A Texas School District, Kasie D. Kline

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite established preservice choral music education curricula in higher education, many early-career choral directors report feeling underprepared for the practical demands of professional teaching. Research in music education has documented challenges related to classroom management, administrative responsibilities, budgeting, and professional support during the transition from university training to classroom practice. While these concerns are well-documented, less attention has been paid to district-level structural factors that may either diminish or intensify early-career challenges. This applied study examines mentorship structures for early-career secondary choral directors within Liberty Hill Independent School District, with particular attention to differences between choral and band program staffing …

Harmonies Of Healing: A Secondary Data Analysis On Music Engagement And Quality Of Life In Older Adults, Theophilus Eben Nartey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional secondary data analysis was to examine the relationship between music engagement and self-reported quality of life among adults aged 60 years and older, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Guided by the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) framework, the study explored whether music engagement significantly predicted perceived well-being in later adulthood while accounting for chronic health conditions. Secondary data from the HRS public-use dataset were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 29. The final analytical sample consisted of 1,582 adults aged 60 years or older with complete data on all variables included in the …

Exploring Burnout, Isolation, And Support Among Middle School Music Educators In Georgia: A Hermeneutic-Phenomenological Study, Jameson T. Meadows

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of middle school music educators (MSMEs) in Georgia to understand how burnout, professional isolation, support, and advocacy influence their professional experiences and sustainability. These educators navigate instructional tasks, program administration, and responsibilities beyond the classroom. 10 MSMEs, including 5 band directors, 3 orchestra directors, and 2 chorus directors, participated in virtual semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed through an inductive coding process to identify patterns across participants’ experiences. 4 themes emerged from the findings: (a) relational and musical growth sustains the work, (b) burnout accumulates through role overload and personal investment, (c) discipline-specific professional …

2026-2027 Philharmonia Season Program, Lynn University Conservatory Of Music, Lynn Philharmonia, Guillermo Figueroa, Kenneth Amis, Jon H. Robertson, Aidan Quintana

Philharmonia

Lynn University Wind Ensemble ("The Wind Symphony: Movement 4)

• Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
• Kenneth Amis, conductor

Lynn Philharmonia No. 1 ("Mystery and Revelation")

• Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
• Guillermo Figueroa, conductor
• Kenneth Amis, tuba

Lynn Philharmonia No. 2 ("Halloween Spectacular!")

• Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 at 3 p.m.
• Guillermo Figueroa, conductor

Lynn Philharmonia No. 3 - Concerto Competition Winners' Concert

• Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026 at 3 p.m.
• Guillermo Figueroa, conductor

Lynn Philharmonia …

Lesson Plan: What Is Mei?, Jennifer Jolley

Open Educational Resources

This lesson plan provides background on the Music Encoding Initiative (MEI) and the process for converting digital .wav files from the Deborah Pacini Hernandez Bachata Music Collection housed at the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute to .mei using the application Sonic Visualizer.

Sunday Music Series: Carla Trynchuk & Elena Braslavsk, Andrews University

Concerts and Event Programs 2026-2027

Professor of Music and renowned violinist Carla Trynchuk and the equally renowned international pianist Elena Braslavsk present a joint recital under the Sunday Music Series.