Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Orchestrating Brilliance In The Recording Studio: Mixing Music To Record Music, Adrian Carroll

Imaginings: creative practice and inquiry

This paper is a report on a heuristic inquiry into music recording practice and workflow to arrive at the essence of experience. Through professional reflection on a music recording, we investigated the recording process and student experience; this was used to identify, explore and expose tacit professional practice. The central theme that unfolded revealed benefits in mixing music during a recording session. Other themes of workflow efficiency, and emotional expression, also emerged from the data collection. The research culminated in a creative synthesis in the form of a research question: Can live studio recordings be a viable option for artists, …

Considerations When Exploring One’S Arts-Based Practice As Research, David L. Page

Imaginings: creative practice and inquiry

This article shares insight into some of the knowledge gained on a higher degree research (HDR) study journey, which I wish I had access to prior to my commencement of that journey. I presented this on 8 July 2025 at the SAE University College Week 7 Forum, and trust this insight may be of interest to those SAE faculty who are new to higher education (HE) research, who have an interest in exploring one’s own arts-based practice as part of the Scholarship and Research activities now being encouraged at SAE University College.

The Methodological Approach Of My Emergent Auto-Ethnographical Journey In Arts-Based Practice As Research (Abr): Music & Sound-Making, Meaning-Making, Self-Making, David L. Page

Imaginings: creative practice and inquiry

This article discusses the methodological approach of my professional Doctor of Creative Industries (DCI) Research Project 1 study. The aim of higher degree research (HDR) Project 1 was to investigate my DIY music & sound-making practice and self as a practitioner, in the process of creating and producing a DIY music artefact. Specifically: to investigate why I as the practitioner felt an authentic connection with one form of music & sound-making (acoustic instrument-based), and not a connection with another form of music & sound-making (digital virtual-based).

The Abc's Of Memoir, Sharon K. Ferrett

Trade & Scholarly Monographs

Writing is a way to make sense and find meaning in your journey. Your story explores how you got to where you are and what it all means. It is a way to heal trauma and conflict and honor your inner life. You write to know yourself. Writing will transform you and inspire others in ways you cannot imagine.

Exploring The Meaning Of Moshing: An Ethnographic Study Of The Relationship Between Hardcore/Punk Culture And Catharsis, Clayton Kempf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research looks at “moshing,” an aggressive style of dancing that occurs primarily at hardcore/punk concerts. Moshing involves people at a concert throwing their bodies, swinging their limbs, running into people, and hitting one another. I aim to explore how mosh pits and hardcore/punk culture provide participants with an emotional release through catharsis. Catharsis looks at releasing emotion to help alleviate pent-up stress physically and emotionally. A cathartic release can temporarily offer peace of mind, clarity, and joy that overrides the feelings of negative emotions and stress. I will examine the process people go through to reach this cathartic release …

Putting It Together, Bit By Bit: Partimenti For Guitarists, James Renwick

Soundboard Scholar

A review of Fenaroli's Musicali per i principianti di cembalo [Naples, 1775], edited for guitarists by Nicola Pignatiello, with translations of Fenaroli’s text by Robert Gjerdingen (Independently published, 2023), PDF available online.

Dragon Guitars And Sexy Zombies: Tracing The Meta-Motion Of The Naga Motif In Northeast Thailand, Aaron Michael Stanley

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Abstract

This thesis traces the evolving symbolism of the Naga motif (a mythic water serpent) in Northeast Thailand through a framework I call meta-motion, which maps symbolic persistence of this cultural signifier and boundary marker across four cultural horizons—animist (Z), Hindu–Khmer (B), Buddhist (A), and modern/global (C). Like electrons in quantum super position, symbolic motifs circulate as overlapping “waves” of potential meaning and are concretized into cultural “particles” only when recruited for specific ritual, commercial, or political purposes. I add a bookend extension to Chang’s Hindu-Buddhist (B/A) typology with the addition of Horizons Z and C in order to make …

Capturing Magic: Recording Emily Lubitz’S Two Black Horses At Mix Artist Studio – A Reflective Case Study In Contemporary Recording Practice, Jan Muths

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This paper reflects on the recording of Emily Lubitz’s album Two Black Horses at Mix Artist Studio in early 2024. It outlines how I applied my core engineering values, technical precision, sensitivity to the musicians’ needs, and anticipatory readiness, to capture the energy of a live band with high acoustic separation. Beyond the technical aspects, it demonstrates how ongoing studio practice directly informs and enhances my teaching, keeping lessons current and relevant. The aim is to connect industry experience with teaching practice, showing how staying active in the field strengthens classroom delivery.

Harmonic Convergence

DePaul Magazine

Learn about the remarkable relationship between DePaul University's School of Musica and Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), which is anchored by the prevalence of CSO musicians who serve on the school's music performance faculty.

Full Issue: Summer 2025

DePaul Magazine

In DePaul Magazine's summer 2025 issue, we celebrate The Theatre School's centennial by asking past and present faculty and administrators and illustrious alumni to comment on the venerable institution's enduring legacy of hands-on learning, collaboration and critical dialogue. Plus, learn about the remarkable relationship between the School of Music and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra that connects music performance students to world-class musicians, see images of campus life snapped by a new student photo agency, and more.

Making A Difference

DePaul Magazine

Tom Mendel (SOM ’78), a veteran Chicago bassist who has plied his trade in musical theatre venues, jazz clubs, recording studios and school classrooms, creates a scholarship for DePaul music performance students pursuing a similar path.

Bob Becker: An Examination Of His Compositional Approach And His Chamber Work Never In Word, Kaipo Lan

Dissertations, 2020-current

In the late twentieth century, the dual role of percussionist-composer became more visible, supported by the growth of percussion ensembles, specialized university training, and musicians who embraced both performance and composition as central to their artistic identity. Bob Becker is such a musician, a world-renowned percussionist and composer notable for the fusion of North Indian classical music and Western music conventions. His chamber pieces are excellent additions to the repertoire and notable for his multicultural music aesthetic, orchestration, range of musical colors, and idiomatic writing for the performers. Moreover, Becker’s ongoing exploration of his interest in poetry has been reflected …

Key Center Workout: Scale Patterns For Trombonists, Ryan M. Heinlein

Sabbatical Projects

No abstract provided.

Jazz Scale Patterns With Abjad And Lilypond, George K. Thiruvathukal

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Background

Jazz method books often advise students to “learn it in all keys,” yet most present examples in only one or two keys (if that, as they start from C, the easiest key, and usually stop there). For many "classically-trained" players—especially those who check fingerings, enharmonics, and voice-leading by reading—the absence of complete, notated materials is a barrier. While most scales can be internalized as Whole (W) / Half (H) step patterns, important exceptions (e.g., harmonic and melodic minor, octatonic, whole tone, and blues) are aided by having notated patterns in front of us.

Aims

To generate clear, consistent notation-first …

Ferdinand Rebay And The Sonata Paradigm, Luiz Mantovani

Soundboard Scholar

With an output of over thirty sonatas or sonata-structured works, Viennese composer Ferdinand Rebay (1880–1953) may be considered among the most significant composers of guitar sonatas; as yet, however, little has been written to place Rebay’s sonatas in historical context. Departing from a review of a guitar concert held in Vienna in 1925, which clearly indicates a shift in the perception of the instrument’s role and capabilities among mainstream audiences, I begin this investigation exploring the guitar club environment in German-speaking territories around the turn of the century, with a focus on the activities of the IGV (Internationale Gitarristenverband; International …

Structural Models For Lyric-Setting Analysis In Popular Song, Matthew T. Hough

Gamut: Online Journal of the Music Theory Society of the Mid-Atlantic

Studies of English text setting have long focused on "well-formed" examples, typically in 4/4 time, in which syllabic-stress-to-beat matching is prioritized (Halle and Lerdahl 1993, Hayes and Kaun 1996, Hayes 2009). Evidence of this prioritization has been presented in Palmer and Kelly 1992 and Girardi and Plag 2019, and such examples are ubiquitous in English-language nursery rhymes, children’s songs, and folk tunes. The present study contextualizes this type of text setting as one of four models for the structural interaction of English lyrics and music in popular song: 1) unified ("well-formed"), in which musical considerations and a preference for stress …

Idiomatic Compositional Techniques In John Rutter’S Requiem, Marguerite Walsh

Student Publications

John Rutter is an extremely significant figure in choral music, and his 1985 Requiem is one of his most widely performed works. Despite this popularity, it has yet to be analyzed in a rigorous academic capacity. Requiem is a harmonically rich and sophisticated work, and said lack of previous analysis represents a gap in theoretical research. This thesis analyzes Requiem for significant harmonic structures and idiomatic compositional techniques and applies those techniques in an original composition. Subtopics of note included harmonic non-functionality, modulations, and orchestration. The original work is comprised of two movements for choir and piano respectively titled “Requiem …

Inclusion May Affect Marching Band Members Of Black Universities Differently Than Members Of White Universities: Narrative Inquiry: A Case Study, Derrick K. Yates

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a lack of research on the emotional connection and support students of Historically Black Colleges and Universities may seek through their band experience versus students of Predominantly White Institutions. Some studies demonstrate that those who participate in music ensembles express heightened self-esteem, a sense of connectedness, and a positive impact on their mental and psychological well-being. This narrative inquiry research study focuses on the unexplored perspectives of three band members from historically black and three predominantly white university marching bands, regarding their emotional connections to their programs and the emotional connections and support they receive from them. The …

Ethnic Diversity And The High School’S Band Repertoire, Shane Ryan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the development of strategies to increase diversity in the music classroom, there is still room for further advancement. Ensuring that each student is represented in the class allows everyone to feel appreciated and work together. Research has shown the current state of diversity and inclusion in band literature selections and has presented recommendations for the next steps. By modeling Whitmore’s diversity in band literature research, this mixed-method research study identified the criteria by which band literature has been selected over the past five years. Perspectives on social issues, database availability, and educators making changes have emerged as themes through …

Storytelling Pedagogy To Promote Musical Expression Through Community Building In The High School Ensemble Class, Hector E. Ayerdiz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite research on technical pedagogical techniques to improve musicianship in students, there are still some non-conventional pedagogical approaches that educators have not researched in detail. Among these is purposeful storytelling to develop community and vulnerability in students to enhance musical expression and technique. This study sought to understand the impact of the music teachers' use of storytelling on high school music ensemble students. It also investigated storytelling's usefulness in developing music skills and techniques in students by forming positive learning environments. Guided by narrative design, this qualitative research study looked at the phenomenon of storytelling in the high school music …

Sustaining The Score: A Narrative Inquiry Comparing California Teacher Induction And Adult Ensemble Participation For Music Educator Longevity And Growth, David Haley Green

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The relationship between music educators' participation in adult ensembles and any perceived benefits to their teaching careers remains underexplored. At a time when teacher recruitment and retention rates are unsustainable, this information can help provide ways to engage educators in a way that benefits both themselves and the academic success of their students. This qualitative study examines the perspectives of music educators across a wide variety of ages and grade levels. This study compares explicitly the formal, mandated support of California’s teacher induction program with the informal, voluntary support found in adult ensembles. Many music educators in California began their …

Novice Middle School Music Teachers’ Perspectives On Preservice Preparation In Title I Schools: A Case Study, Christopher M. Burns

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although considerable research addresses the unique needs of middle school learners and teaching music in low-income schools, there are insufficient studies that provide insight and strategies for teaching music in high-needs settings. Likewise, music teacher preparation programs leave gaps in preparation for prospective music educators, unaware of the challenges of teaching middle school music in a high-needs community. Novice music educators experience challenges that are often unaddressed in undergraduate programs. Experienced music educators with advanced degrees can also feel underprepared to teach in low-income schools. Music educator programs lack content that helps prospective music educators become change agents who can …

Real-World Opera Education And The Business Of Performance: Perspectives From Young Professionals, Sarah Beckham-Turner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the traditional practice of operatic vocal training in universities, many young operatic singers found that their education needed to be improved regarding the current demands of the business of being an operatic performer. Understanding the essential skills for operatic training in universities was crucial for preparing singers to handle the demands of a professional career. This qualitative study investigated the perspectives of professional operatic singers, university opera training educators, and professional opera companies to discover possible gaps in operatic training in universities. Through interviews with five professional opera singers, five trained singers who chose a different career, six current …

Catholic Mass Music And Spiritual Growth, Stephenie Dinah Mokriakow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Participation in music among Catholic grade school students is insufficient, despite research suggesting the importance of music at Catholic Mass. Student perspectives provide researchers with an understanding of music's connection to students' spiritual development. This qualitative experimental case study investigates fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade student perspectives of their spiritual development through worship music participation during the Mass. This experimental case study identifies perspectives not yet explored and documented concerning this group of students. This study focuses on students' social, emotional, and physical well-being throughout the study regarding the connection of music to spiritual development. Approximately thirty students participated in pre- …

Leadership, Personality Traits, And Teacher Training Characteristics Of Secondary Band Directors In Small Alabama Schools, Robbin Nicol Holder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, quasi-experimental study aimed to determine the disparities in the leadership, personality traits, and teacher training characteristics of successful public and private secondary band directors in small schools in Alabama. The study focused on identifying perspectives that have not been previously explored or documented. A survey was conducted among band directors at Alabama secondary schools with a daily average enrollment of 300 or fewer students in grades nine through eleven. This information was based on data provided by the Alabama Department of Education and reported by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The research encompassed dependent variables in leadership, …

The Competition Effect: Comparing Music Education Stakeholder Perceptions Of Success To Student Achievement, Jake M. House

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite numerous studies examining stakeholders’ opinions on the benefits of marching band competitions for students’ musical development, current research has not fully addressed how directors, parents, and administrators perceive musical success in relation to students' performance abilities. The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to identify previously unexplored perspectives and determine the relationship between stakeholders’ perceived musical performance success at marching competitions and students’ actual musical performance abilities, specifically in terms of tone, intonation, technique, rhythm, balance, and musicianship, across schools of varying sizes. This study gathered data from directors, parents, students, and administrators using surveys and interviews. …

A Diversity Dilemma: A Qualitative Research Study On The Past And Present Racial And Cultural Demographics Of Formal Music Education Students, Destiny Deberry Stone-King

Masters Theses

This thesis study examined the relationship between the preference for popular music, racial identity, and the decision to participate in school music courses and ensembles, aiming to understand how the interaction of these factors influences the demographics of music students. The researcher analyzed previous research on music preference, the history of music education in the United States, commentary on the music education system, and personal accounts of music educators and former music students. The researcher used a historical qualitative research design and meta-analysis to answer three research questions: 1) How does a musician’s racial identity, musical preference, and musical training …

Voice Of My People: An Expression Of Welcome And Liturgical Justice For Afrodiasporic People In North American Catholicism, Marvand Roger Holland Ii

Doctor of Pastoral Music Projects and Theses

Music has always been central to the lives of Black people. The Black religious experience is even more profound when expressed through music. It is therefore no happenstance that music is of great import as pertains to the spiritual lives of Black people, including Black Catholics. Faith is expressed through culture. It is through culture that the faith is realized and known. In this, is the essence of inculturation.

Anscar Chupungco states that if not inculturated, the liturgy of the local Church will remain at the periphery of people’s cultural experience. For this reason, it is imperative that Afrodiasporic music …

Integrating World Percussion Into Graduate Jazz Training: A Practitioner Reflection, Eugene Seow

Publications and Research

This reflection explores the pedagogical and artistic impact of a non-traditional instructional choice made during the author’s final semester of graduate study at Queens College (CUNY). Initially enrolled in the Jazz Studies: Performance Track (Drum Set), the author elected to substitute formal principal study lessons with a personalised programme of world percussion study under Professor Michael Lipsey. This decision, initially motivated by artistic restlessness, led to foundational experiences in frame drumming, South Indian rhythmic structures, gamelan ensemble, and classical snare etude work. The outcomes of this shift have since permeated the author’s teaching, performance, and curriculum development practice, including the …

Teaching Students Who Have Been Identified With Autism In The Private Piano Teaching Studio: An Application Of General Music Resources And Interviews With Specialists In The Field, Joy Parker

Dissertations

This dissertation is a practical resource for private piano teachers seeking to gain a better understanding of teaching students with autism. Resources used in general music instruction of students with autism were consulted, and relevant information was adapted for the private piano setting. Additionally, resources that are tailored to private piano teaching of students with an identified disability were consulted.

Interviews with three individuals who have experience working with individuals with autism were conducted, and methods and strategies that they found to be most successful were ascertained. One of the interviewees was Dr. Derek Polischuk, Professor of Piano and Director …