Music Commons^™

Music Isn’T Just A Special: Amplifying Music's Power In Fostering Social-Emotional Skills In Students, Angelina Davis

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

For this Capstone Project, the researcher investigated how Dream Academy and Little Foot Elementary educators view music's impacts on social-emotional learning and what they thought could be done to improve it. Based on an analysis of the data and the relevant research literature, the researcher used what they have learned to formulate an action that responds to the impact of music on social-emotional learning in a way that inspires, informs, or involves a particular audience. This is an important issue for students and teachers because music education allows educators to teach social-emotional skills. It is argued that music fosters social-emotional …

A Bright Point In A Dull Day: A Qualitative Exploration Of Middle School Students’ Perceptions Of Music Ensemble Participation, Kailee Amburgey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Music participation, specifically in an ensemble setting, is known to promote learning and social skills and to contribute to a well-rounded overall education. With this in mind, this qualitative, constructivist grounded theory study explored the impacts that participating in chorus, band, or orchestra has on students’ overall experience in middle school, with a focus on joy and identity development. The researcher interviewed fifteen students about their personal experiences and feelings about their lives as middle schoolers and musicians. The findings, shared in six theoretical concepts tied to the research question, reveal important facets of these students’ experiences that shed light …

Making Czech Art Song Accessible For Novice Singers, Rachel Jane Sweeney Green

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Czech art song is often overlooked by vocal instructors while assigning music for the novice singer. The repertoire of Czech art song is vast, yet seldom used in vocal studios in America. Though some consider the language difficult, when approached in the correct manner it is easy for a novice to sing in Czech. This document advocates for Czech art song to be assigned and selected for the novice singer. Each chapter serves as a tool to understand and navigate Czech repertoire. The last chapter provides five examples of Czech art song selected because they align with the guidelines of …

Preparing The Next Generation Of Music Teachers: Illuminating Motivations Of Nebraska Preservice Teacher Mentors, Emily Marie Chapman

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This mixed methods study examined factors influencing practicing educators' decisions to mentor preservice teachers in Nebraska. Guided by Expectancy-Value-Cost Theory, the study utilized a sequential explanatory design, integrating a quantitative survey design and qualitative phenomenological interview. Findings indicated that educators' belief in their mentoring ability or Expectancy-Ability Belief (EAB) significantly predicted their willingness to mentor, with PK-12 music educators exhibiting higher EAB scores than elementary or high school music educators. Qualitative insights highlighted reciprocal benefits of mentoring, such as skill development and professional growth. The impact of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on mentoring experiences varied among participants. Recommendations included …

Early Career Teachers’ Readiness To Teach Students With Exceptionalities, Delaney Schiefen

Honors Scholar Theses

Over the past decade, the majority of music educators in the U.S. have reported working with students with exceptionalities (VanWeelden & Whipple, 2014). However, literature suggests that many early career teachers do not feel prepared to engage with exceptional students, largely due to gaps in their undergraduate exceptionality courses. These gaps appear wider for preservice music educators as opposed to other content areas. Strategies and examples traditionally discussed in these courses are not always applicable to the wide range of classes that music educators teach, particularly ensemble classes. The purpose of this study was to explore early career teachers’ perceptions …

The Support Of Participation In Music Education, Karsten C. Wimbush

Masters Projects

Music programs within most public schools struggle with adequate support and participation. Increasing demand for advanced placement courses, perceived financial commitments, cultural barriers, family history, district course offerings, local interpretation of education policy, and other factors impact what students and families participate in school music. The music teacher’s situation has further impact on the issue, as the unique characteristics of a music teacher’s responsibilities create stressors that reduce effectiveness and increase burnout. This project searches the research on this issue and provides a guide for the music teacher to better facilitate a supported, growing music program. In order to create …

Chaconnes, Sonatas, And Fugues, Oh My: A Study Of The Influence Of Baroque, Classical, And Romantic Musical Forms On Today's Media, Cadence A. Graves

ATU Scholars Symposium

As a future music educator, it is my duty to have not only understanding and knowledge of composers, music history, and compositional techniques, but to also have an appreciation, passion, and interest in what music is, where it has been, how it has changed, and where it is going now. With this research, I deepened my appreciation for the evolution of music over the course of history, expanded my understanding of how and when they came into existence, and broadened my understanding and appreciation of music that draws on those techniques today.

In the comparisons I made between compositions of …

Self-Compassion And Perfectionism In College Music Students: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study, Celeste Uhl

Honors Projects

Perfectionism is a complex and multidimensional psychological phenomenon which is a proximal predictor for music performance anxiety, a risk factor associated with poorer musical performance. While existing literature emphasizes music performance anxiety as a deleterious outcome of perfectionism, less information exists regarding the relationship between perfectionism, self-compassion, and performance. There may be high levels of non- self-compassion in this population due to a folk belief that being self-critical is the best path to optimal performance. This study used a single-subject design to explore how self-compassion and perfectionism were related and if the use of daily self-compassion exercises would be linked …

Jazz Ensemble One At The University Of North Florida, University Of North Florida

Flyers, Playbills, Posters, and Programs

Flyer for the 36th Annual Great American Jazz Series presenting Jazz Ensemble One at the University of North Florida, Lazzara Performance Hall.

Mr. J.B. Scott, artistic director

Seeking A Uniform Approach To Trumpet Sound Concept, Coleman T. Scott

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

One of the most challenging aspects of trumpet playing that pedagogues must teach is how to produce a professional tone. Trumpet students are often good musicians, play correct notes and rhythms, and even have proficient technique. However, many are unable to consistently produce a tone comparable to that of a professional. There are a number of methods that can be utilized to improve a student’s tone quality. In my own teaching and in the teaching of many professionals, tone concept has been used as a catalyst for the improvement of tone quality. A students’ exposure to a professional-quality trumpet tone …

City Boy By Judd Greenstein: A Transcription From Chamber Quintet To Full Wind Band, Emmanuel Rodriguez

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The goal of this project is to create a wind band transcription of the chamber work City Boy by Judd Greenstein. Greenstein describes his own music as being “built on contrasts and juxtapositions between the jittery, competing pulses of the New York City streets where he grew up and the placid landscapes of the rural farm land he now calls home.”1 His music is also influenced by his passion for contemporary popular music genres, specifically hip-hop and rap. This duality is a major aspect of Greenstein’s musical language, which he describes as “a genre- fluid musical infrastructures that endeavors to …

Soundscape - A Guided Approach To Post-Tonal Horn Repertoire, Selena B. Boyda

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

More modern post-tonal works are being composed and it is imperative that horn players interpret the music as accurately as possible. Analyzing the music is a way one can interpret the music accurately. The purpose of this research is to develop a guided approach for interpretation of post-tonal horn repertoire using analytical techniques. Selected works analyzed and used are Olivier Messiaen’s “Appel Interstellaire,” Stanley Friedman’s Topanga Variations, and Jenni Brandon’s Dawn. Analytical techniques used include set theory, limited modes of transposition, contour relations, motivic patterns, modal analysis, and motifs.

Sequencing Orchestral Repertoire For Collegiate Orchestras: Addressing The Educational Needs Of Students In Various Stages Of Development, Cheuk Nok Francis Ku

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Sequencing is a fundamental aspect of music education, not only in individual instrumental teaching but also in large-ensemble instruction. Collegiate orchestras, like other educational ensembles, experience turnover of students each academic year, and face unique challenges in repertoire selection due to the diverse skill levels and experience of their members. This document presents a case study of the LSU Symphony Orchestra program spanning from 2021 to 2024, and complements a performance featuring works by Amy Beach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Joseph Haydn, and José Pablo Moncayo. The document also delved into the study of performance practice during the Classical period and …

Effects Of Music Instruction For 3-4-Year-Old Children On Cognitive Development And Spatial Skills, Veronica Perez Espinosa

LSU Master's Theses

The impact of music instruction on child cognitive development has been examined by researchers in many contexts, but not as often in very young children. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of music instruction on the spatial and cognitive skills of preschool children ages 3-4. Participants in the study were 68 three- to four-year-old students who received weekly music instruction at a private school in South Louisiana. Of the 68 participants, and using a quasi-experimental design, 30 students in three intact classes were randomly assigned to receive a movement song treatment and the other 38 …

Terry Riley's "In C" For Mobile Ensemble, David B. Wetzel, Griffin Moe, George K. Thiruvathukal

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

This workshop presents a mobile-friendly Web Audio application for a “technology ensemble play-along” of Terry Riley’s 1964 composition In C. Attendees will join in a reading of In C using available web-enabled devices as musical instruments. We hope to demonstrate an accessible music-technology experience that relies on face-to-face interaction within a shared space. In this all-electronic implementation, no special musical or technical expertise is required.

Hidden Meanings In Elementary Instrumental Music Method Books: A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis, Mara Hope Thompson

Education Doctorate Dissertations

Textbooks serve as the primary resource utilized to deliver curriculum in a variety of subject areas and educational contexts. However, much previous research has found that texts often convey concealed meanings in the form of hidden and null curricula. This Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis (MCDA) explored the musical discourses and cultural contexts of musical examples in two elementary instrumental music textbook series to investigate whose values, cultures, perspectives, and knowledge are conveyed by the texts and whose are excluded or misrepresented. Framed by the social theory of Postcolonialism, the research revealed binary ideologies of exoticism embedded in many aspects of …

Gestural Temporality In Sciarrino’S Recitativo, Antares L. Boyle

School of Music + Theater Faculty Publications and Presentations

Sciarrino’s writings describe a compositional philosophy that prizes multidimensionality and spatiotemporal discontinuity (1998, 2004). Yet his simultaneous allegiance to teleology, holism, and fractal hierarchies reveals an underlying unifying organicism with which these qualities may initially seem to conflict. I take Sciarrino’s 1999 piano concerto Recitativo oscuro as a case study for examining the composer’s gestural organicism and its various contradictions and double meanings. First, close analysis of the opening piano solo demonstrates how seemingly contradictory aesthetic priorities—organic unity and temporal multiplicity—co-exist within a single passage. Drawing from Kramer’s (1988) concept of “gestural time,” Hatten’s (2004) theory of gesture, segmentation theories, …

Music Performance Anxiety: Should It Be Addressed In Music Curricula And By Whom?, Kaitlynn Kamer

Honors Projects

Music performance anxiety (MPA) impacts musicians of all skill levels, as demonstrated by existing research on both student and professional musicians. Although most musicians experience MPA, it is not formally addressed in music curriculum. This study seeks to evaluate the views and discourse around MPA in the collegiate music community through a survey of 66 college music students, 17 faculty members, and a series of secondary interviews. Through the results of the surveys and interviews, the thoughts on MPA from both the faculty and student perspective will be discussed. Upon reviewing the results of study, possible avenues for addressing MPA …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Factors That Challenge And Advance Music Education In K-12 Schools: A Qualitative Study In Lebanon, Khaldoun Abou Dargham

Theses and Dissertations

Music education plays a crucial role in developing students on the individual level and societies on the communal level. Despite its benefits on the human brain, student learning, physical and mental health, and its contribution to culture and the creative economy, music education still faces challenges that prevent it from fulfilling its potential. Due to scant research on the factors that impact music education in Lebanon, this phenomenological study explored the perceptions of six K-12 music teachers in Mount Lebanon through in-depth interviews regarding the issue. Drawing upon the constructivist and humanistic learning theories, the research investigated how the Lebanese …

Senior Recital, Concetta Brehmer

Honors Theses

My honors thesis was presented in the form of my senior clarinet recital. It was performed on Sunday, February 4th at 3pm. The music in this program consisted of unaccompanied solo repertoire such as Blush by Jean Ahn, and a Bach Cello Suite on bass clarinet. There will be accompanied works such as the Mozart Clarinet Concerto 1st movement, and Premiere Rhapsodie by Claude Debussy. Lastly, the recital will also contain chamber music, such as my clarinet quartet playing Histoire Du Tango by Astor Piazzola, and a vibraphone/clarinet duo called Oil & Water by Josh Gottry. This recital encompasses works …

Speed-Testing In Audio Engineering Education: An Imperative Assessment Tool, Barry G. Atticks

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

Multiple choice tests, fill-in the blanks, and essay question assessments do have their place in academia, but for students preparing for careers as studio engineers, live engineers, and producers, other assessments that test readiness for troubleshooting “real-world” problems in audio technology are needed. Being able to quickly solve signal flow issues is crucial whether it is for a high paying client in the studio or a rock band during a live show for 10,000 fans. It is well-documented that experiential learning is key in audio education, but I argue that it is not just the ability to complete hands-on tasks …

Examining The Influence Of A Mariachi Program On Hispanic Students’ Cultural Identity And Schooling Perceptions, Martin Cantu

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a mariachi multicultural program influenced the students’ formation of their cultural identities and schooling perceptions. The study was grounded on the cultural identity theoretical framework. Employing a qualitative narrative research design, the study was informed through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and classroom observations. Four significant themes emerged from the data: cultural identity, cultural consciousness, social connectedness, and student engagement at school. The findings suggested that mariachi education influenced the participating students’ cultural identity formations by fostering cultural awareness and social connections. Additionally, mariachi programs also positively influenced the students' academic …

Reflection, Reflexivity, Learning And The Influence Of Formalised And Experiential Piano Training, Dorothy Li

The Qualitative Report

This autoethnographic study examines how music learning is influenced by teachers and socio-cultural environments and how this influences not only our musical journeys but the way we view our lives, of the progress we have made, the goals in which we hope to achieve, and the way we perceive we will achieve them. This study explores how my musical background, understanding, learning, music-making abilities, and skills have shaped my present beliefs, attitudes and identity as a musician, educator, and researcher. Focusing on teacher pedagogy and practice, the study reveals how prevailing teacher-centred and didactic approaches to teaching impact the perspectives …

Text And Data Mining For Pianists? Bringing Digital Humanities To A Graduate Music Research Methods Course Through Topic Modeling, Taylor J. Greene

Library Articles and Research

This article provides an example of the successful integration of text and data mining (TDM) into the Research Methods for Performers course, a required course for students in the Keyboard Collaborative Arts (KCA) Master of Music (MM) program at Chapman University. This course is similar in scope and content to the course frequently titled Music Bibliography at other institutions, and the methods described also apply to such courses. Incorporating TDM into this course effectively introduced data-focused research methods to performing arts students and expanded the students’ understanding of the scope and possibilities of research in music through the application of …

An Assessment Of The Utilization Of The National Opportunity To Learn Standards In Middle-Level Music Education, Taylor Brooke Browning

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this research was to gain the music educators’ perspectives on the implementation of the 2020 National Opportunity to Learn Standards in West Virginia’s public middle school general music programs. A qualitative phenomenological approach was utilized to gather music educators’ perceptions of whether music programs in West Virginia are providing curricula aligned with the National Opportunity to Learn Standards. Through a combination of convenience and snowball sampling, 20 West Virginia public middle school general music educators were identified, and one-on-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted. Findings indicate a majority of the music programs were somewhat aligned with the National …

Closing The Gap In Performing Music Ensembles: A Study To Examine Barriers Of Access To Equitable Participation, Caitlin Hale

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine if there is a significant difference in student participation in the music courses of band, chorus, orchestra, and general music as related to race/ethnicity, ELL status, and free and reduced lunch status. The participants in the study included 389 eighth-grade students from a suburban middle school in the northeastern United States, located near a major metropolitan city. The school district maintains a nationally recognized music program. The quantitative study used archival data including student music course selection, GPA at the end of 8th grade, and 9th grade music course selection, race/ethnicity of …

Teaching Improvisation To Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Misha F. Guderian

Graduate Research Showcase

It is the music teacher’s duty to provide their students with opportunities to express themselves through the creation of music. This literature review explores the current research about teaching musical composition to students with intellectual disabilities. Each article selected for review was published in 2015 or later in a music education journal sharing peer-reviewed scholarly articles about current trends and issues in music education. Though only Clipper & Lee’s study (2021) relates exclusively to teaching composition, many of the best practices for teaching general music to students with intellectual disabilities can be directly applied to teaching composition. This review analyzes …

Exploring Inequity Of Preparation In Elementary General Music Methods Among Undergraduate Music Education Students, David Destefano

Graduate Research Showcase

Most instrumental music education students plan to teach secondary music (orchestra/band). In reality, some instrumental music education graduates end up teaching elementary general music (EGM). Because of traditional university programs that separate music education students into tracks based on instrumental or vocal specialization, instrumental music education students might not receive adequate training in elementary general music methods (EGMM). The purpose of this paper is to show the need for equity of EGM preparation for both vocal and instrumental music education students. In addition to reading current research on this topic, I collected data about undergraduate training in EGMM through a …

Proactive Classroom Management In Elementary Music, Gregory Jacot

Graduate Research Showcase

The elementary music classroom is a different environment than the normal elementary classroom, and requires careful attention to classroom management. Rather than only focusing on reactive classroom management, teachers should consider using proactive strategies to enhance their teaching and the classroom experience. Building positive relationships with students, both in and out of the classroom, will make them more receptive to corrective actions if necessary, and building strong relationships with parents and guardians can help address individual challenges that may arise. Designing lessons with thought towards student interest, visuals, pacing, teacher proximity and participation, and physiological needs of students will help …

An Examination Of The Strategies And Limitations For Engaging Parents In Urban Music Programs, Cory Spencer Robinson

Graduate Research Showcase

Urban music educators face unique challenges not encountered by their suburban and rural counterparts. A challenge that many urban music educators face is that of consistent and meaningful parent engagement. Urban music educators face issues engaging parents such as a lack of communication, cultural barriers and a lack of action that is ultimately out of the educator’s control. This can lead to low retention of students in the urban music program, difficulties managing negative student behavior, and overall poor program outcomes. Some possible solutions that may assist the urban music educator in engaging parents are engaging the community of the …