Music Commons^™

European Jazz Does Not Exist, Wouter Turkenburg

The IASJ Journal of Applied Jazz Research

Marion Dunkel and Josiah Boornazian have critically analyzed and evaluated important questions such as: What is jazz, and what it is not? How have its histories been written in the past? What are the various approaches in jazz historiography? Both authors provide useful suggestions to move past the confusing, standard teleological presentation of jazz history, and the methods used in the construction of jazz historiographies. I argue that jazz history must function as a dynamic and life-long applicable tool assisting the jazz musician in the decisions to be taken in musical, social, and cultural interactions.

Toxic Jazz Narratives - Dispelling The Illusory Relationship Between Suffering And Creativity, Rob Foster

The IASJ Journal of Applied Jazz Research

The trope of the suffering artist is a persistent theme in discussions about jazz, often overshadowing the music itself. The focus on the negative aspects of an artist's biography can inadvertently shape students' perceptions, leading them to associate artistic greatness with personal turmoil rather than with the technical and expressive aspects of the music. The emphasis on tragic life stories in introductory jazz courses can detract from a holistic understanding of the genre. Jazz should be explored as a rich tapestry of musical innovation, cultural expression, and collaborative effort, rather than through the lens of individual suffering. Highlighting the achievements …

Chenoweth Prevails: The Connection Between Social Standards And The Marimba’S Development In The Western Art Music Tradition, Jackson Hall

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Among percussionists, the names of many marimbists come to mind before that of Vida Chenoweth (1928-2018), the pioneer of the modern marimba recital. Chenoweth began her first recital tour in the early 1950s at a time when the marimba did not yet have a dedicated solo repertoire, and women were largely excluded from performing on orchestral instruments. This thesis explores the musical and social contexts in which Chenoweth performed and worked, with particular attention to her recital history, critical reviews, and, through works written specifically for her performance, her technical abilities. She not only sparked the evolution of marimba technique …

Sleep’S Impact On Music Processing In The Developing Brain, Rigel Leonard Baron

Theses and Dissertations

Sleep plays a crucial role in human development, particularly in early childhood. While its influence on brain function is well documented, the relationship between sleep and auditory processing in the developing brain remains underexplored. The present study aimed to investigate how sleep duration impacts cortical responses to music, focusing on children aged 5 to 10. Using a six-feature passive listening oddball paradigm, analysis was conducted on event-related potentials (ERPs) across six music conditions: intensity, location, pitch, rhythm, slide, and timbre. Participants were divided into two groups based on average sleep duration (more or less than 10 hours per night). ERP …

“Et Les Filles”: Le Féminisme Subtil De Françoise Hardy, Charlotte Aexel

World Languages and Cultures Senior Capstones

This article focuses on “yéyé” music, in particular the music of Françoise Hardy. I examine the feminist themes in the songs found on her first album, Tous les garçons et les filles. The majority of critics view her first album as immature, but I suggest that it shows a subtle but powerful feminism. For me, Françoise Hardy’s first album shows depth and advanced perception of social dynamics. In particular, Hardy demonstrated an awareness of the experiences of young women in her time. From her first album, Hardy presented herself as independent and intelligent. I cite critics from Hardy’s time and …

Overture: Dj Methodology: Resounding The Past, Paul Db Watkins

WLU Press Books

"Overture: DJ Methodology: Resounding the Past" is the introductory chapter to Soundin' Canaan: Black Canadian Poetry, Music, and Citizenship by Paul db Watkins.

Part exploration of a key group of Black Canadian poets, part literary, cultural, and musical history, Soundin’ Canaan demonstrates how music in Black Canadian poetry is not solely aesthetic, but a form of social, ethical, and political expression.

Soundin' Canaan refers to the code name often used for Canada during the Black migration to Canada. The book analyzes the contributions of key Black Canadian poets, including their poetic styles and their performances. The book has several key …

Mentoring And Training In Performance Librarianship, Mallory Sajewski

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Performance librarians, or ensemble librarians, consist of a subset of music librarians who serve the music and information needs of orchestras, bands, and other performing ensembles. As there is no formal training system for performance librarians, the skills required to win an audition for a job must be learned by working with a mentor. This study investigated the mentoring process experienced by both mentors and mentees in the training and career preparation of performance librarians. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the researcher conducted semistructured interviews with 21 performance librarians in the United States and used thematic analysis to analyze the …

Notes From The Editor

Research & Issues in Music Education

No abstract provided.

Taking It To The Limit: Curricular Responses To Credit Hour Caps In Music Teacher Education Programs, Phillip D. Payne, Edward C. Hoffman Iii, Aaron T. Wacker, Ashley D. Allen

Research & Issues in Music Education

As tuition rates continue to rise, credit hours required for degree completion emerges as a primary topic of concern. Undergraduate music education programs (or degrees) typically require a high number of credit hours which may also necessitate student class overloads, summer coursework, and/or program completion that could exceed the expected term of four years. To better understand the extent of current degree requirements and offerings, we examined credit allocation practices at 100 randomly selected NASM institutions. Specifically, we focused on emerging trends, commonalities, and potential insights to better guide policymakers when addressing legislative mandates focused on credit hour caps. Findings …

Guide To The Warrick L. Carter Collection, Columbia College Chicago

CBMR Collection Guides / Finding Aids

Contains the original scores, arrangements, and teaching materials created by Dr. Warrick L. Carter, an educator, musician, performer, administrator, drummer, and composer, who served in leadership roles at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, Walt Disney Entertainment, and as the first African American president of Columbia College Chicago in Illinois. The collection holds his jazz compositions and arrangements for small and large ensembles.

Guide To The Talib Rasul Hakim Collection, Columbia College Chicago

CBMR Collection Guides / Finding Aids

Talib Rasul Hakim, born Stephen Alexander Chambers, was an educator, musician, and composer. The collection contains his early scores and performance notes about his compositions, as well as recordings and research notes.

The Youth Music Institute At The University Of Wisconsin, Summer 1969, Phillip Hash

Faculty Publications - Music

The purpose of this historical study was to examine the planning, implementation, participants, and activities associated with the Youth Music Institute (YMI) held at the University of Wisconsin from July 7 to August 1, 1969. Organizers hoped this event would bridge the communication gap between society, educational institutions, and youth through a collaborative learning environment involving students, music educators, guidance counselors, and professional recording artists. Participants used the term “youth music” to encompass multiple genres that captured the interest of young people, including various forms of rock, blues, soul, country western, jazz, and ethnic styles. The program consisted of lectures …

Sights And Sounds Of Veteran Identity: The Use Of Photovoice Technique And Lyric Analysis In A Community-Based Participatory Action Research Framework, Stephanie Jett Ph.D., Laurie Peebles

Academic Affairs

Researchers often attempt to define what it means to be a Veteran; however, there is a dearth of research where that question is directly asked of Veterans. Instead, a traditional approach to research is taken where the experimenter defines the variables and asks the participants to provide responses without being included in the research process or reaping any direct benefit from participation. We assert that in order to better understand this unique population, it is vital that we elevate their voices by employing more qualitative, community-based participatory action research (CbPAR) models where Veterans are empowered to use their voices to …

Discovering My Sonic Identity Through Intent And Self-Belief: A Portfolio Of Compositions, Addison J. Bird

Theses and Dissertations--Music

An analysis and overview of a master’s degree electroacoustic composition portfolio. These works represent significant benchmarks in terms of musical development and composer intent. Each piece is analyzed for its musical methods and inspirations as well as the non-musical ideas surrounding them. The pieces covered are a mixture of fixed media electroacoustic works and live electronic works incorporating popular and folk music influences.

Play, Then: Reimagining The Classical Music Film, Isabel Li

Scripps Senior Theses

Play, Then is a 8-minute short narrative classical music film that centers on a young Chinese American cellist who must face his relationship with music when his mother asks him to play for his ailing grandmother. The prevailing context of my film is the genre of what I call “classical music films,” which are narrative films, usually fictional, that explore cultural depictions of classical music and musicians through a visual cinematic story. Play, Then subverts expectations in classical music films by positioning an Asian American classical musician as the protagonist of the film and featuring a lesser-known classical piece. As …

Songwriting In Music Therapy Clinical Practice, Kinneret Rivka Weiss

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Songwriting is a technique used in music therapy practice that has been documented since 1950, and has been used in a clinical setting in many countries where music therapy is a fully developed profession. There are many different types of therapeutic songwriting experiences used in music therapy practice, to accommodate for the many different needs and abilities of clients. Additionally, therapeutic songwriting is used to help achieve many goals, and is used in a wide variety of settings. These settings include the pediatric hospital, a setting given particular attention in this paper. This paper will also include the author’s own …

Youth Vocal Pedagogy: An Overview Of Teaching Voice To Children Lecture And Recital, Juliette Love Harrison

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Youth vocal pedagogy is an under-researched subject that creates much controversy, and the goal of this honors senior creative project Youth Vocal Pedagogy: An Overview of Teaching Voice to Children Lecture & Recital was to address this area within the field of vocal instruction that is in desperate need of study. The research presented in this project is significant because it offers the reader a compilation of information from the limited resources available on youth vocal pedagogy. Courses, several books, and a research article were carefully studied to form the culmination of the lecture portion of this project. The recital …

Personification: A Short Film, Charles R. Adams

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Personification follows a group of college students as they receive news that mysterious shape-shifting creatures are posing as humans. They quickly turn on each other, realizing there is no one they can trust. In the style of mid-20th - century horror films, notably Don Siegel’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), the short film explores themes of paranoia and the value of human expression in a time when generative AI seeks to replace the creative method. In keeping with this theme, the emphasis for this project was on the act of creation. Pre-production—which included scriptwriting, casting, and various organizational tasks—ran …

Drawing Sound In Space: Digital Spatial Notation As Constitutive Audiovisuality, Cat Hope

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper examines how the design and realisation of a concert presentation entitled Drawing Sound in Space led to the concept of digital spatial notation. Seven Australian composers were commissioned to create digital scores for an electroacoustic chamber music ensemble, and scores were shared with the audience. The author argues that contemporary digital notation practices enhance live performances of new music by expanding concepts of the audiovisual to include alternative notational approaches engaging with space, creating a ‘spatial notation’. Further, Drawing Sound in Space aimed to transform musicianship and audience experience by offering a more immersive encounter with music notation …

You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby: Authenticating Popular Music Tribute Shows, Colin James Outhwaite

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article forwards an alternative perspective on how authenticity can be constructed through popular music tribute show performances. It adopts Edward Bruner's (1994, American Anthropologist, 96, 397-415) categorisation of authenticity in relation to the replication of 'historical sites' in museum exhibitions. It argues that rather than focusing on sonic and historical 'accuracy', tribute musicians strive to curate their history and personal experiences with the music they play to prove their 'authority' as cultural ambassadors. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Perth, Western Australia, and a case study of a UK-based international touring tribute to The Smiths, this article highlights how …