Music Commons^™

Teaching Jazz History Out Of Order, Josiah Boornazian

The IASJ Journal of Applied Jazz Research

Abstract: Jazz history unfolded chronologically, but chronology does not necessarily imply teleology or causality. In other words, the fact that certain jazz styles came after others does not unquestionably mean that jazz history followed a fixed course dictated by the perceived inevitability of artistic “progress.” Although it is important for jazz history students to have a foundational understanding of jazz history in a chronological fashion, presenting history on a straightforward, simplistic timeline defined by distinct style periods is not the only way to teach the music of the past. There may be significant merit in reorganizing the way jazz history …

Master And Apprentice: Lessons From Six Jazz Masters, Richie Beirach

The IASJ Journal of Applied Jazz Research

Jazz pianist and composer Richie Beirach, now a jazz master himself, learned important lessons from the masters he worked with. The lessons learned are of great value for anyone who wants to play jazz professionally.

Improvisation, Consciousness And Cosmos: An Integral View Of Jazz Research, Ed Sarath

The IASJ Journal of Applied Jazz Research

Ed Sarath on improvisation, consciousness and cosmos, as well on integral theory.

Introduction To The Iasj Journal Of Applied Jazz Research, Wouter Turkenburg, Kurt Ellenberger

The IASJ Journal of Applied Jazz Research

Jazz research started as a duplicate of classical music research. As became clear during the Ongoing Dialogues during the annual IASJ Jazz Meetings that started in 1990, jazz research needs a dimension and a dynamic of its own. This has become 'applied jazz research', the kind of research that is directly linked to jazz performance and jazz education. The IASJ Journal of Applied Jazz research offers the platform.

Digital Sociology And Online Music Communities: Models And Lessons From The Internet, Kari K. Veblen, Janice L. Waldron

Visions of Research in Music Education

With the rise of the internet, work from the of fields of digital sociology, communications/social media studies, and online research methods have become increasingly relevant for music education scholars both investigating and facilitating music teaching and learning in online contexts. While opportunities for online music making, teaching, and learning activities have grown exponentially, the number of online places dedicated to music making, learning, and sharing has exploded with the arrival of COVID as much of the world moves online. What was once an option – going online to teach and learn music – has now become a necessity for most …

Identity, Memory, And Performance In The Time Of Pandemic: A Duoethnography, Terry Sefton, Danielle Sirek

Visions of Research in Music Education

How can a musician maintain her sense of self in quarantine, a self that is constructed by intertwined strands of creativity, performativity, and relationship? The hiatus brought about during the pandemic has created a lack for musicians and music educators, an absence or loss of professional identity and personal meaning. On March 12, 2020, we found ourselves shut out of the classroom and barred from the performance stage. Over the course of a year, we two musician-educators engaged in duoethnography as a way of documenting our experiences. It became a site where we could provide each other with a “destabalizing …

Music Education And The Shrinking Public Space: Implications Of Richard Sennett's Sociological Ideas For Music Education, Paul Louth

Visions of Research in Music Education

Richard Sennett’s theory that industrial capitalism triggered the gradual elimination of shared cultural symbolism and thus contributed to the impoverishment of civic involvement deserves to be revisited in light of its implications for music education in an age of global information capitalism. In 1974 Sennett produced an extensive examination of the relationship between public culture and public space, arguing that our response to large-scale social and economic forces over which we have limited control is to retreat from public cultural expressions and consequently from public life. Extending Sennett’s sociological argument, I contend that the subjectivizing of musical meaning may lead …

Perspectives On Social Realism Within North American Higher Music Education, Kyle Zavitz

Visions of Research in Music Education

This article critically examines the suitability of Social Realist perspectives within North American higher music education, with a particular focus on its relationship with jazz musical knowledges. Social Realist scholarship continues to emerge within the field of education sociology, driven by claims to contribute to student access and opportunity. In spite of this, scholars have continued to critique Social Realist perspectives for various reasons including maintaining an ideological status quo and devaluing the experiences of students, going as far as argue that Social Realist frameworks may in fact limit the access and opportunity espoused by its proponents. Drawing upon past …

In Search Of A Better World? Reconsidering Sociology And Music Education As Utopian Fields, Alexandra Kertz-Welzel

Visions of Research in Music Education

Music education research has in recent years been interested in defining music education’s societal mission. Concepts such as praxial music education, artistic citizenship, or an activist approach tried to determine that music education’s foremost task would be to transform societies. This seemed urgent in view of global crises. But is music education’s foremost mission really social change? To a certain degree, this is a sociological question. To answer it, a look back to the beginnings of sociology as a field of research is a promising way to go. When sociology emerged as a specific field of investigation, it was not …

Developing Visions For The Future? A Reflection On Utopias In Music Teacher Education, Tine Grieg Viig, Silje Valde Onsrud, Judy Lewis, Catharina Christophersen, Øystein Røsseland Kvinge

Visions of Research in Music Education

As society changes, new challenges arise for education. Major social upheavals have led to increasing awareness of social justice issues and critical reflection within the field of music education, as well as calls for social and educational change. In this article, five music teacher educators discuss how music teacher educators and pre-service music teachers can develop spaces for envisioning future music teacher education through utopian thinking. We consider utopias as social dreaming reflecting a desire for a better way of life, and utopian pedagogy as experimenting to envision new alternatives, tell new stories and construct new realities. The article starts …

Editorial: Special Issue For Selected Papers From The 12th Biennial International Symposium On The Sociology Of Music Education

Visions of Research in Music Education

No abstract provided.

Necessary For Some, And Helpful For All: Preparing Music Educators To Reach Every Student, Rhoda Bernard

Faculty Works

The percentage of students in U.S. public schools who are classified as stu- dents with disabilities under the Individ- uals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has been steadily increasing in recent years, and continues to grow. Unfortu- nately, music educators are not adequate- ly prepared to teach disabled students. Pre-service music teacher education pro- grams do not provide course content in the pedagogy of accessible music educa- tion. Any coursework related to students with disabilities that is provided by these programs is limited to general studies of the historical and legal aspects of special education. As a result, music teachers …

Walking Carefully Towards Bridging The Gap: Exploring Australian Music Educator Voices About Teaching Indigenous Music, Dawn Joseph, Bradley Merrick

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Facilitating an inclusive pedagogy to close the gap that exists within the teaching of Indigenous Knowledge in Australia is a tall order for many teachers. This paper draws on responses to a national study and explores how music educators include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and culture into their practice. An online survey (December 2022-February 2023, N=109) informed the findings. Using thematic analysis, two themes (teaching challenges and opportunities, and bridging the gap) are discussed and key recommendations offered. Findings suggest that walking carefully towards bridging the gap is an opportunity for educational change in contemporary Australian classrooms.

Guide To The Robert Leigh Morris Collection, Columbia College Chicago

CBMR Collection Guides / Finding Aids

Robert Leigh Morris (b. 1941) is an American composer and music instructor. The Robert Leigh Morris Collection contains his personal music scores, from published works to drafts, and programs from his performances, as well as scores by other composers. Professional correspondences, documents, and some of Morris’s writings are also included.

Applications Of Video Game Music Theory For The Highschool/College Theory Curriculum, Daniel L. Thompson

Honors Theses and Capstones

This paper covers the origins of video game audio and the technical limitations that effected what composers could write. Several audio excerpts have been transcribed with roman numeral analysis. The goal of this project was to determine if musical excerpts from video games could supplement an existing highschool/college theory curriculum. Theory techniques ranging from simple cadences to secondary function chords are present throughout the pieces. The pieces are from a variety of games and composers from 1983 - 2014. Overall, many of the compositions contain excellent examples of theory techniques. These excerpts would best be utilized alongside existing theory material. …

A History Of Educational Concerts Of The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Sean Radermacher

Theses and Dissertations--Music

This project illuminates the history of educational concerts of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and reveals a legacy of performances for young audiences, today’s educational innovations, and the orchestra’s evolving mission to serve young people. Concerts for young people are an important facet of the history of American orchestras. Today, these concerts and other educational programs are essential to increase the accessibility of orchestral music.

The PSO’s history highlights the close relationship of American orchestras with an educational mission from their early years to the present. After an overview of the origins of permanent orchestras and the national context of …

Student Perspectives Of Music Courses In A Southwest Missouri School District: An Exploratory Case Study, Mary Elisa Wren

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate student personal perspectives (grades 8-12) of music courses, their value, and what music courses they might choose or recommend. Numerous researchers and educators have debated and researched how music course offerings and instructional approaches used are central to the relevance, inclusiveness, accessibility, and equity in music education (Abramo, 2011; Clauhs & Cremata, 2020; Cooper, 2013; Green, 2006; Kelly & Heath, 2015). However, few researchers have investigated how students think about the motivations and barriers to different types of music courses. A semi-structured interview was used to explore secondary music students’ (a) perceptions, …

American Art Songs In The 21st Century: A Catalogue Of Selected Works, Islei Mariano Correa Hammer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research explores American art songs of the 21st century. The paper provides a listing of 54 composers based in the United States and the art songs they composed from 2000 to 2023 which are available either through publishers or the composers’ websites. The research is divided into three categories: art songs with piano, chamber works with voice, and works for solo voice and large ensemble. The paper also includes biographies of each composer. This research provides singers, voice teachers, and collaborative pianists a useful resource to gain familiarity with the American art-song repertoire of the current century.

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences And Teaching Strategies Of Private Music Instructors Working With Elementary School Students, Ana Maria Fusu-Kommidi

Theses and Dissertations

The lack of consistent elementary musical education in the United States has sustained a steady demand for private music instruction. Private instruction, however, does not usually align with the general music education standards, or the school requirements. There is a lack of research about private music instructors’ role in music education for elementary-aged students. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and teaching strategies of private music instructors who supplement elementary students' school-based music education. The two research questions were

RQ1: What are the experiences of private music instructors who supplement elementary students' school-based music education?

RQ2: …

A Novel Generative Paradigm For Carnatic Rhythmic Composition, Jagdish A. Krishnaswamy, Robert L. Wells

Music

Mathematical structures are deeply embedded in the aesthetics of South Indian Carnatic music. Kōrvais, which are rhythmic compositions performed in triplets in various parts of a concert, are the culmination of this mathematical aesthetic. Each kōrvai has two parts, the first called the pūrvārdha and the second called the uttarārdha, both based on mathematical structures that are aesthetically acceptable according to certain constraints. These structures have evolved traditionally and can accommodate most rhythmic requirements. However, the traditional methods are inadequate in addressing certain specialized constraints. Therefore, this article revisits rhythmic composition through conceptualization of newer rhythmic patterns and …

Using Intentional Strategies To Promote Self-Efficacy In A Choral Classroom: An Action Research Study, Daniel Gutierrez

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

As a choral music educator, I investigated the impact of strategies I designed to foster self-efficacy in one of my choral classes. Drawing on Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, I used enactive mastery, vicarious experience, verbal/social persuasion, and affective/physiological states to design specific classroom tasks that would serve as critical influences on an individual’s self-efficacy. The action research study was conducted with a mixed-gender choir class of grades 10-12 students, using Michael Zelenak’s Music Performance Self-Efficacy Scale as a pre-and post-survey measure. Observational and qualitative data were also collected to enable a reflective examination of teaching practices and student-teacher interactions.

Finding Aid For The Guy Sterling Collection

Archives & Special Collections: Finding Aids (alphabetical)

The Guy Sterling Collection contains blues photographs, posters, newsletters, and festival programs, including a number of autographed items.

Julie Giroux’S Symphony No. 6: The Blue Marble Background, Analysis, And Conductor’S Guide, Josh Gillen

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Julie Giroux’s Symphony No. 6: The Blue Marble (2022) is an original work for wind band that is quickly rising in popularity among instrumental conductors and ensembles throughout the world. The purposes of this document are to

1) provide biographical details regarding Julie Giroux and her musical career;

2) provide a background of the work’s conception from a musical and multi-media perspective through interviews with Giroux and the first conductors of the work;

3) provide a multi-parametric structural analysis of the work and its companion film;

4) provide conductors with useful information for programming and rehearsing the work.

Chapter one …

Integrating Social Emotional Learning In The Elementary Music Classroom, Nicole Evans

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, many students demonstrated a need for further social emotional learning (SEL) support. The work of this project focuses on how to help support students’ SEL development through SEL integration into the elementary music classroom. An increased focus on integrating SEL throughout educational settings is relatively new, and thus the research into how to do this effectively is still emerging. Based on the principle of collective teacher efficacy, this project explores how to integrate SEL specifically aligned with the Second Step Elementary Curriculum into the kindergarten through fifth grade general music classroom. Utilizing the existing …

Culturally Responsive Teaching And Music Education, Katie Johnson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The United States’ music culture is predominantly focused on the Western music tradition. Yet, the population in the United States is wildly diverse and continues to become even more so at a rapid rate. Because of this, culturally relevant teaching has become an increasingly discussed topic in music education. Why do some music educators feel out of place with music outside of the classical tradition? It can be traced backed to the Eurocentrism of music schools in the United States. Music schools focus primarily on the classical Western music realm, including topics such as music theory, socially accepted ensembles and …

Secondary Traumatic Stress And Women Music Educators: A Phenomenological Study, Abigail Van Klompenberg

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is a phenomenon that affects individuals in helping professions, including educators. STS is a trauma disorder and results from one’s exposure to others experiencing trauma or who have experienced trauma. STS can affect physical health, well-being, and professional performance. Due to the profound effects of STS, there is a need for continued research to clarify this phenomenon in educators, specifically music educators. Furthermore, there is a need for research on STS in women due to women’s unique interactions with trauma and the potential for them to develop trauma disorders. At the time of this study, there …

Music Therapy At An Inclusive Early Learning Center: A Grant Proposal, Laura Elliott Buckner

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Music in early childhood can enhance the development of communication, language, cognitive, and social emotional skills. Music therapy administered by a board-certified music therapist can be tailored to fit the specific developmental needs of children with and without disabilities. The purpose of this comprehensive clinical project was to develop a music therapy program for the Early Learning Center at the Lexington Hearing and Speech Center and a grant proposal to fund this program. First, I piloted a mini program through my Graduate Clinical Placement in Music Therapy (MUS 633) and supervisory experiences through my teaching assistantship. I then developed a …

Defining Music Of A Questionable Past: A College Musician’S Approach, Noah Whetstone

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In recent years, social movements have raised awareness on issues like whitewashing and the oppression of minority voices in fields such as music. These social movements have drawn attention to the cultural appropriation that sometimes occurs in music classrooms. Outcomes from recent legislation proposals and social conflicts across the United States threaten to limit educational opportunities. Although many people have understood these pieces of legislation to affect topics such as history and English, it may also affect music education. When choosing music to teach their students, music educators are often challenged as many songs have questionable pasts and make references …

Liquid Tab, Nathan Hulet

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Guitar transcription is a complex task requiring significant time, skill, and musical knowledge to achieve accurate results. Since most music is recorded and processed digitally, it would seem like many tools to digitally analyze and transcribe the audio would be available. However, the problem of automatic transcription presents many more difficulties than are initially evident. There are multiple ways to play a guitar, many diverse styles of playing, and every guitar sounds different. These problems become even more difficult considering the varying qualities of recordings and levels of background noise.

Machine learning has proven itself to be a flexible tool …

A Music Teacher’S Use Of Informances With Primary Level Classes And Study Of Family Attitudes For Music Education: An Action Research Study, Joseph Cooke Emerson

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Concerts are often the summative project for the elementary music room. However, the emphasis on concerts creates challenges for music instruction. The preparation for a traditional concert often takes away from instructional time, which is already limited for music instruction. Second, the use of concerts conceals many aspects of the instructional process from students’ families. This results in a limited view and understanding of their child’s formal musical education. By designing opportunities for parents and other stakeholders to see students beyond a traditional concert, I thought that I could help to deepen families understanding of music education in my elementary …