Music Commons^™

2023-2024 Master Class - Andres Cardenes (Violin), Laura Gonzalez, Isabella Swalm, Li Yang Liu, Miriam Smith, Sheng Yuan Kuan, Yu-Hsuan Feng, Elizaveta Goryunova, Dina Bikzhanova

Master Classes

No abstract provided.

2023-2024 Master Class And Piano Recital - Sean Kennard (Piano), Sean Kennard, Elisabeth Thomashoff, Reagan Nguyen

Master Classes

No abstract provided.

2023-2024 Master Class - Robert Walters (English Horn), Robert Walters, Hoon Chang, Olivia Oakland, Kari Jenks

Master Classes

No abstract provided.

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 …

2023-2024 Master Class - Arnaud Sussman (Violin), Arnaud Sussman, Miriam Smith, Amelia Dixon, Victoria Bramble, Eliza Willett, Sheng Yuan Kuan

Master Classes

No abstract provided.

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 …

Reviews Of A New Approach To Sight Singing, 7th Edition By Sol Berkowitz; Gabriel Fontrier; Leo Kraft; Perry Goldstein; And Edward Smaldone And Progressive Sight Singing, 4th Edition By Carol Krueger, Karin Buer

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

Review Of Improvising Fugue: A Method For Keyboard Artists By John J. Mortensen, Bryan Espinosa

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

The Hip Hop Collective, Veronica Bjorkman

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

THE HIP HOP COLLECTIVE

Veronica Bjorkman, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Gudrun Nyunt, Director

This qualitative case study, guided by Gloria Ladson-Billings’s culturally relevant pedagogy, examined the pedagogical approaches in a Hip Hop music course called the Hip Hop Collective, at a large Midwestern predominantly white public institution. Data was collected via interviews and focus groups with 13 university students, one university faculty member, and two community members along with in-class and out-of-class observations. Three primary themes emerged from the research: (a) the Hip Hop Collective course fostered students’ collaboration skills and their …

Purpose Makes Practice: Testing The Efficacy Of A Proposed Framework For Teaching Self-Regulation Skills In The Violin Lesson, Hannah Kabrick

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Development of self-regulatory (SR) skills in musicians is crucial for the self- examination necessary for successful practice. Teaching methods that facilitate SR skills can help musicians become independent in the practice room. The first aim of this study was to design a framework for teaching that includes a five-step thinking-action sequence that will allow participants to evaluate their own playing during practice and equips them to enact necessary changes to their technique to bring their playing closer to a more proficient result. The second aim of this study was to use microanalysis with a cross-case comparative design to test the …

An Analysis Of Traditional Pedagogical Practices With Innovative Strategies For Beginning Band Students With A Focus On Assessment, Higher-Order Thinking Skills And Differentiation, Cole Woods

Music Theses - Archive

Instrumental education is a field rich in tradition, with a strong foundation of methodology being codified in method books used by band directors around the country. Equally rich is the vibrant research community found within music education, and innovative techniques for teaching band are being presented yearly in both journals and conventions. These new strategies and additions to curriculum supported by recent research could potentially deepen the learning taking place in the instrumental music classroom. Nowhere is this more visible than in the wealth of new research, curricula, and literature that has been published regarding beginner instrumental music instruction in …

Gender Associations Of American Band Instruments: Exploring And Comparing The Perceptions Of Three Age Groups, Kevin R. Merkel

Music Theses - Archive

This collection of three related studies explored the current gender-related perceptions of American band instruments. The first study investigated adults’ perceptions, as they were asked to rank instrument preferences for their hypothetical son and daughter. The second study examined the perceptions of seventh- and eighth-grade band students by allowing them to rate band instruments based on their gender perceptions. The third study investigated the perceptions and experiences of university band students related to gender norms and instruments utilizing a survey and interview process. The results provided evidence that instrument gender perceptions and stereotypes can change, and they suggest that intentional …

Surviving Pandemic Practicum: Early Career Music Teachers' Perceived Self-Efficacy Following The Covid-19 Pandemic, Aubree Pacifico Windish

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This qualitative study examines early career music teachers’ perceived self-efficacy following teacher practicum during a global pandemic. I conducted focus group conversations with undergraduate music education alum (N=16) from Southeastern State University (SSU) at the end of 2023. Participants described the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their music teacher practicum and overall experiential learning at SSU. The focus group questions, and subsequent deductive coding of their answers, aligned with the four roles of Bandura’s (1977) Self-Efficacy Theory. Participants reported low perceived self-efficacy in their first year of in-service teaching, with variations based on the stages of the COVID-19 pandemic …

Facilitating Children’S Musical Development, Andrew Aprile

Open Educational Resources

In this course, early childhood teacher candidates will explore significant issues and current research regarding the musical development of young children, as related to emotional, cognitive and physical musical growth. Observations of natural music-making behaviors, interactive music making experiences, as well as integrative pedagogy focused on children’s engagement with music and movement will be salient to teacher candidates’ learning process.

Volume 38, Various Authors

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

“Duet Me”: Music Theory Pedagogy In The Age Of Social Media, Alyssa Barna

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

In this article, I outline a possible use of social media platforms in the music theory and ear-training classroom using a model assignment on (but not exclusive to) TikTok. I show how students can work collaboratively and musically in a platform they may use in everyday life to promote collaboration and engagement with musics and people outside the walls of the university. From this study, I extrapolate themes that illustrate both the benefits and pitfalls of social media use (pedagogically and otherwise). The first section situates social media platforms among the variety of technologies used in theory classrooms in the …

Ungrading In The Music Theory Classroom: A One-Year Case Study, David E. Orvek

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

In this paper, I present a summary of and critical reflection upon an alternative assessment practice known as “ungrading” that I used during the 2023–24 academic year. My version of the practice involved providing students with feedback without grades and letting students determine their own final grades through a process of guided self-assessment. Many students’ reactions to ungrading were positive. Some reported being able to focus on learning rather than grades, and even skeptical students admitted some benefits. Ungrading benefited me in various ways as a teacher, but there were challenges as well. Some students struggled with the lack of …

Engaging Aural Skills Students With Model-Eliciting Activities, Aaron Galliher

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

This mixed-methods study explores how using Model-Eliciting Activities (MEAs) in an aural skills classroom can promote student motivation and engagement. MEAs require students to create models to solve progressively complex problems. As students develop and refine their models, they engage in a testing and iteration process that prioritizes learning over final outcomes, which fosters student empowerment. The specific MEA implemented was focused on music transcription skills and used the MUSIC Inventory of Motivation survey to assess student motivation and engagement, complemented by follow-up interviews that explain the results of the survey. Many students scored high on this survey and expressed …

Conference Review: Society For Music Theory Annual Meeting, Jacksonville, Florida, November 7–10, 2024, William Marvin, Jeremy Orosz

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

Harmony, Texture, And Timbre In Popular Culture: Undergraduate Edition, Alexa Valles, Sophie Andersen, Aidan Ramos, Leonardo Huerta-Lina

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

The purpose of this study is twofold: 1) to compare the way students describe their favorite music with observable musical parameters such as harmony, texture, and timbre, and 2) to develop a database of current music that can be used in the theory classroom to study harmony, timbre, and texture. We seek to contribute to a growing body of work that debunks stereotypes such as popular music is too simple and therefore not productive to study within the music theory curriculum. However, we believe that musical fluency is strengthened when students study a variety of music styles. Our study identifies …

The Heyman Project: A Multimedia Anthology For The Undergraduate Classroom, Anna Stephan-Robinson

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

The Heyman Project is a multimedia anthology designed for flexible use throughout the undergraduate core music theory curriculum. It is also appropriate for use in high school music theory classes. Featuring music by American composer Katherine Ruth Heyman (1872-1944), the resource consists of four pdf documents: a student packet and a sample worksheet/lesson, along with instructor’s editions of the same documents. The student packet contains sheet music for 13 songs, each preceded by a brief note giving historical and/or theoretical background. The worksheet, designed for a first-year theory class, features the song “Elysion,” and focuses on diatonic modes, melodic construction, …

Dimitris Kafyris: The Legacy And Pedagogy Of A Trailblazing Greek Trumpeter, Stephen M. Wadsack

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Dimitris Kafyris (Δημήτρης Κάφυρης, 1932–2020) is regarded as one of the most talented trumpeters of the twentieth century, within his native homeland of Greece. From the early 1950s into the mid-1980s, Kafyris performed with the Athens State Orchestra (Greece’s premier orchestral ensemble), the Greek Radio Symphony, and the National Opera. During this period, Kafyris also maintained a teaching position at the Hellenikon Conservatory (Ελληνικόν Ωδείον) in Athens. Following what many would already consider to be a robust career, Kafyris returned home to the Greek island of Corfu, where he assumed the roles of Bandmaster and Director of the Corfu Philharmonic …

Understanding The Effects Of Hormone Treatments On The Transgender Singer: A Pedagogical Study And Voice Studio Guide, Erin M. Hannon

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Transitioning from one gender to another can be an arduous and emotionally charged experience, accompanied by many physical and mental transformations. The journey of self-discovery and vocal explorations is both unique and deeply personal. Modifications that emerge in an individual's vocal characteristics have a profound influence on their capacity to communicate and express themselves.

Transgender vocal students and professional singers must navigate the delicate balance between their vocal and gender identities while considering the possible risks of Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy. Though these therapies may significantly alter one's appearance and overall well-being, they are also capable of causing notable declines …

The Trombone In Wind Band: An Analysis Of Excerpts From Seminal Works By Dr. David R. Holsinger, Kyle Aaron Davidson

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The preparation of excerpts from the orchestral canon is a standard part of musical pedagogy. For trombones, the “standard, first-round” excerpts come from a selection of orchestral masterworks, including works such as Mozart’s Requiem, Ravel’s Bolero, Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, and Saint-Saëns’ Third Symphony. Such excerpts are often used for wind band auditions despite being rarely, if ever, performed in a wind band setting. Rather than only learning excerpts written for an orchestral setting, the author proposes that excerpts from music written for wind band be used as well.

Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive overview of …

Piano Wisdom From Two Great Masters: Heinrich Neuhaus And Walter Gieseking, Xiaohan Hu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation explores the pedagogical insights and piano techniques of Heinrich Neuhaus (1888-1964) and Walter Gieseking (1895-1956), two iconic figures in 20th-century piano performance and education. Through a detailed analysis of their writings and teaching methods, the research highlights their shared focus on the foundational principles of piano technique, as well as their unique contributions to interpretation and musical expression.

Neuhaus’s The Art of Piano Playing provides an in-depth discussion on the importance of artistic imagery, posture, sound production, and emotional depth in performance. Gieseking, along with his former teacher Karl Leimer, emphasizes ear training, mental visualization, and technical precision …

Mapping The Double-Tongue: Incorporating Body Mapping Into The Double-Tonguing Learning Process, Camilla Yoder

Theses and Dissertations--Music

As the articulation technique of double-tonguing is becoming more necessary and desirable for oboists to learn, this document explores the benefits of incorporating Body Mapping methods and kinesthetic awareness exercises into the double-tonguing learning process. These methods of body exploration are applied only to the areas of the body deemed highly relevant to accomplishing double-tonguing: the atlanto-occipital joint, the temporo-mandibular joint, the throat, the tongue, and the roof of the mouth. To explore the effectiveness of this approach, an Institutional Review Board approved research study was conducted, in which eight oboists learned double-tonguing with a preliminary iteration of this method. …

How Age And Vocal Health Affect The Voice, Emily Barron

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Our vocal tract ages just like our body does. This research paper hopes to bring attention to the changes that happen within the cartilages and the vocal folds located in the larynx caused by aging. There will be four age groups that will be discussed: newborn and toddlers, adolescents and young adults, adults, and senior singers. Inspired by Karen Brunssen’s book The Evolving Singing Voice, each section will go into detail discussing the biological changes that happen to the cartilages and the vocal folds during these time in our lives. A few changes that will be mentioned throughout these stages …

The Perceived Effects Of Peer-Assisted Learning In A Collegiate Instrumental Pedagogy Classroom, Hannah Wagoner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Peer-assisted learning (PAL) is an approach that teachers can use in the classroom to increase students’ ownership of their learning. Besides increased autonomy, PAL can provide several other academic and social benefits, such as increased achievement and fostering a sense of community. This study aimed to examine the effects of PAL on college students’ performance on a secondary instrument. Five students in a collegiate instrumental pedagogy course experienced PAL activities in class while learning secondary instruments. After a statistical and content analysis of all the data, results showed that 1) all but one of the participants improved in their performance …

When The Right Man Rings Them?, Alan Wayne Cline

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research aims to outline the suitability of Vaughan Williams’s songs to a broader selection of performers, including singers in academic settings and professional musicians around the globe. The significance of Ralph Vaughan Williams's impact on the music world is difficult to question. Among his considerable accomplishments are the editing of the Anglican English hymnal, the advocation for traditional British folk songs as national works of art, the composition of the same number of symphonies as Beethoven and Dvořák, and, most notably for singers, the writing of song cycles and collections of songs. While these accomplishments are significant, his songs …

Incorporating Keyboard Literature In The Undergraduate And Graduate Piano Performance Curriculums, Yangyang Cao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research paper presents suggestions for the incorporation of piano literature and performance practice courses into university curricula. The prevalence of piano literature in American universities is examined, highlighting the necessity to promote its inclusion in Chinese universities. The significance of piano literature and performance practice courses for piano performance students is explored for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Included are selected readings and detailed sample syllabi of potential courses to be offered by college and university music programs.