Music Commons^™

Music Therapy And Rett Syndrome: A Survey Of Music Therapy Practitioners, Stacy S. Gay

Masters Theses

Music therapy practitioners residing in the United States and known to have experience with Rett Syndrome were surveyed to better understand how music therapy aids in the treatment of clients with Rett syndrome. The survey was designed to learn if there were general trends in goals/objectives addressed, session structure used, vocal response to music intervention, strategies toward encouraging independent hand usage, and preferred instruments and adaptive equipment.

Of the 73 sent out to NAMT and AAMT members, 36 questionnaires were returned. Question items that received a 50% or higher response rate by the participants included session structure involving a set …

Amethyst Remembrance, For Mezzo Soprano, Chamber Choir And Orchestra, Laurie A. Jarski

Masters Theses

Amethyst Remembrance for mezzo soprano, chamber choir and orchestra is comprised of two texts from two different sources. The text The Jewel: a poem written by Emily Dickinson and Mary Ann: a traditional Scottish ballad are interwoven and shared by the chamber choir and the mezzo soprano. This work explores the relationships between the folk and artistic modes of expressing similar human experiences. A love's sad farewell is the chosen subject of both texts. Specific melodic material designated for each text is introduced separately at the beginning. "Tune I", representing the Dickinson text is composed of original material, whereas …

The Effect Of Music Therapy On The Perceived Quality Of Life Of Patients With Terminal Illness In A Hospice Setting, Caroline Marie Abbott

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study was to determine if there were any significant differences in perceived mood states between patients in hospice care who received music therapy services and patients in hospice care who did not receive music therapy services.

Twenty-eight participants were surveyed using the Profile of Mood States (short form). Fourteen participants received music therapy services for a minimum of five hours, and fourteen participants did not receive music therapy services. The participants were matched in pairs by gender, location, diagnosis, and age, and were patients in one of three hospice locations in the United States which agreed …

The Effects Of Music With Cognitive-Behavioral Relaxation On The Focusing, Passivity, And Receptivity Of Clients With Paranoid Symptomatology, Pearl Abraham

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether music paired with cognitive-behavioral relaxation was effective in enhancing the focusing, passivity, and receptivity of clients with paranoid disorders.

Seventeen clients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of paranoid delusional symptoms consented to participate in this study spanning three conditions: (1) music paired with cognitive-behavioral relaxation, (2) cognitive-behavioral relaxation, and (3) control condition.

All clients were administered the 16 PF-Autia Scale, Form A (Cattell, 1962) at the beginning, midway, and at the end of the study. A two factor split-plot repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze raw scores, …

A Comparison Of The Differences Of The Chinese Language And The English Language Using Voice Analysis, Chia-Lin Hsieh

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to see if differences exist in Taiwanese students when speaking in their native Chinese language as compared to a secondary language (English) using voice analysis. Not only was the study intended to compare pitches and octaves of 2 languages, but it also hoped to identify the possible factors that influenced the voices of 2 languages.

Fifty Chinese students were randomly selected from a population of 84 Chinese students who were from Taiwan, had established residence in the USA for at least 6 months, and were enrolled in WMU with TOEFL score of at least …

Homo Tonos For Orchestra In Three Movements, Stephen C. Talaga

Masters Theses

Homo Tonos is a work for large orchestra. The entire piece stems from a dodecaphonic system in which each family of instruments is assigned its own unique 12-tone row. The rows are constructed in such a way that when they are written out and stacked one atop the other, they create 12 unique vertical rows.

Throughout the work, the basic rules of 12-tone row manipulation were used as a foundation for organization of pitches. Each family of instruments adheres strictly to its own row except in passages where there are unisons across families. In these instances, the vertical 12-tone rows …

Continuous Quality Improvement And Music Therapy: An Analysis Of Importance, Training, Familiarity, And Involvement, Jane E. Mclaren

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Offense Perceived, Appropriate Actions And Possible Solutions: A Research Of Censorship, Sharon K. Van Poolen

Masters Theses

Students at Western Michigan University were asked via a survey to read lyrics and indicate an offensiveness rating. Lyrics containing vulgar or sexual language or derogatory statements about religion received higher offensive ratings. Actions deemed acceptable in response to offensive lyrics include picketing and boycotting. Prevalent themes identified in the lyrics are antagonism toward religion, sexism and unhealthy sexual relations. Groups cited most frequently as potentially harmed by lyrics are children 5-12, adolescents and women. Respondents were questioned about participation in certain activities and what alternatives to direct censorship are acceptable. Most would prefer to be involved indirectly, for example, …

The Use Of Music Therapy To Influence The Self-Confidence And Hostility Of Adolescents Who Are Sexually Abused, Joy Clendenon-Wallen

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether music therapy would be an effective therapeutic medium for reducing hostility and increasing the self-confidence of sexually abused adolescents. The study utilized an experimental and control group which is unique in the sexual abuse literature. Most studies are descriptive or quasi-experimental in nature. Some of the subjects increased their self-confidence and decreased their hostility although no statistical significance was achieved for either group. This study describes the treatment problems of sexually abused adolescents and offers examples of non-confrontational and goal directed treatment strategies which can be achieved through music therapy. Music …

The Effects Of Music Listening And Progressive Muscle Relaxation On The Anxiety Level Of Adjudicated Adolescent Males In A Residential Treatment Setting, Ned David Gladfelter

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of music listening and progressive muscle relaxation on the anxiety level of adjudicated adolescent males. Sixty-five delinquent, adolescent males in a residential treatment facility took part in either a music listening treatment, a progressive muscle relaxation treatment (Bernstein & Borkovec, 1973), or a combination of both methods, and the effects of each approach on the self-perceived anxiety level of the subjects were determined.

The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983) and a Subjective Units of Discomfort Scale were used to measure levels of anxiety. Data gathered from these instruments revealed that …

Effects Of Music As A Conditioned Stimulus And Progressive Muscle Relaxation In Reducing Anxiety, Marie Elaine Clarkson

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether music could become a conditioned stimulus for lowered muscle tension and/or reduced anxiety.

There were three groups: (1) the PMR group receiving PMR alone, (2) the MUS group receiving music alone, and (3) the PMRM group receiving PMR followed by music. After four training sessions, a posttest was conducted in which all of the groups were given five minutes to relax. The PMR group had silence, the MUS group had music and the PMRM group had music which had previously been heard after relaxation training. Tension and anxiety reduction were …

Rose, Lily, Spring For Chamber Orchestra, Thomas M. Bourcier

Masters Theses

The compositional use of Guillaume de Machaut's rondeau Rose, liz, printemps (Rose, lily, spring) is intended to be a modern reflection of the social, religious, and political trends of fourteenth century Europe.

While the thirteenth century witnessed the perfecting of a universal philosophy that reconciled revelation and reason, the divine and the human, the religious and the political in one unbroken and harmonious order of thought, the fourteenth century perceived each arena of thought as independent in itself and not subject to the others.

Similarly, through isolation and independent use of Machaut's melodic and rhythmic motives in composition for chamber …

Catch Of The Day, For Symphony Orchestra, Angela Lynne Jones

Masters Theses

In "Catch of the Day," the music is centered by a time-line, a feature of African ritualistic music. West African ritualistic music is often performed by large drum ensembles, each playing a different rhythm. In order to stay together properly, each musician listens to a time-line, or a rhythmic pattern which beats out the basic rhythm and keeps time for the whole group. The time-line also has special significance because it is heard even when it is not actually played. While the time-line is used to define the rhythm, the most important element in ritualistic music is the text, which …

The Effect Of Live Music Versus Tape-Recorded Music On Participation Rates Of Two Populations, Sara F. Flink

Honors Theses

For a number of years, differences have existed in the training of music therapists. In some countries, music therapists are trained first and foremost as musicians, and secondly as therapists. Other countries allow music therapy to be practiced by music psychologists, physicians, or educators. Both sides employ varying arguments. Bunt (1988) feels that therapists are either experienced musicians with minimal training in developmental, therapeutic skills, or experienced clinicians lacking in many areas of musical expertise. Bunt further delineates between the two schools of thought by describing how one music therapist may use improvisation to interact with a client and his …

Variants On The Holiday Season, Gary Powell Nash

Masters Theses

Variants on the Holiday Season is a symphonic poem for full orchestra. This composition is based on five Christmas songs including three Medieval tunes, "Nowel Syng We Bothe Al and Son," "Riu Riu," and "Two French Dances," along with "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Deck the Halls." Most of the music is derived from motives, rhythms, harmonies, and interval patterns of the original songs. The harmonies employed are created from the modes of the original tunes. Although there is no program supporting this work, it is considered a symphonic poem because it incorporates chimes, glockenspiel and sleigh bells which …

Origins A Symphony For Orchestra, Thomas E. Haupt

Masters Theses

ORIGINS A SYMPHONY FOR ORCHESTRA is a three movement work composed entirely with an arbitrarily derived system of harmony and melody. AH three movements are based upon ten sovereign groupings of notes, each group displaying its own specific charactor of harmonic/melodic tension and release.

It is this harmonic structure, plus an Idee’ Fixe based on one of the groupings that binds the three movements together.

ORIGINS was written according to conventional symphonic outlines, but is strictly intended for an ensemble of high technical prowess. While it is a highly complex work, it is still designed to be relatively accessable to …

The Use Of Musical Wind Instruments As An Expiratory Therapy With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients, Ellen R. Griggs Drane

Masters Theses

The use of musical wind instruments as an expiratory therapy with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients was compared to the traditional inspiratory treatment of the Inspiratory Muscle Trainer (IMT) during a twelve week pre - posttest study. Sixteen subjects, attending an out patient respiratory rehabilitation program, were randomly assigned to either the experimental group, receiving musical wind instruments, or the control group, receiving the IMT.

Measures for the study were: Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) as measured by the Pulmonary Function Test; physical endurance measured by the Twelve Minute Walk Endurance Test; …

Concerto For Euphonium And String Orchestra, Steven Dale Sudduth

Masters Theses

The purpose of this concerto is to add substantial literature to the limited repertoire written for euphonium. Each of the three movements explores a different medium of music. The first movement is strictly developmental material based on a five-note motive taken from the end of an ascending melodic minor scale. The second movement uses an unusual five-voice passacaglia. The last movement is a cadenza shared by both the solo euphonium and the string orchestra with both parts having equal importance. Characteristic of all three movements is the blending of the voice ranges and the use of complex rhythms.

The Effects Of Performance Anxiety Management Training On Musicians’ Self-Efficacy, State Anxiety And Musical Performance Quality, Nancy Barnes Mansberger

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Performance Anxiety Management Training (PAMT) on levels of perceived self-efficacy, state anxiety, and performance quality of undergraduate musicians performing under stressful conditions. Nineteen undergraduate music majors were selected for this study. Ten received PAMT, and nine received no treatment. Subjects were tested immediately prior to a stressful evaluative performance jury on self-assessed measures of self-efficacy and state anxiety. Adjudicating music faculty determined subjects' level of performance quality. Analysis of variance revealed that subjects in the PAMT group had significantly higher scores on measures of self-efficacy, and significantly lower scores …

Sonic Sculptures For Flute, Cello And Computer Processed Sounds, Randy S. Rowan

Masters Theses

Sonic Sculptures is a musical work for flute, cello and computer processed sounds. The processed sounds are different samples taken from the following sources: piano, flute, and cello. The samples consist primarily of special effects created by the three instruments. A description of the processed sounds can be found in the explanation of sounds. All together there is a total of 52 digital samples; 22 samples are taken from the inside of a grand piano, 18 are created by a cello and 12 by the flute.

There are three pieces in Sonic Sculptures. The first consists of a jaunty melodic …

Magnificat, Julie A. Gummert

Masters Theses

Magnificat is a five-movement setting of the "Song of Mary" as recorded in Luke 1:46-55. The Latin text was used because of its historical, liturgical significance. The musical resources required are a 3-part women's chorus, soprano soloist, organ, flute, violin, and horn in F.

The individual movements and timings are as follows: (I) Molto maestoso - Poco meno mosso - Tempo (1'15"), (II) Languidly - Andante non troppe - Come prima (2'55"), (III) Briskly - Un poco piu maestoso al fine (3'00"), (IV) Andante sostenuto - Recitative - Tempo (3'00"), (V) Vigorously (2'45"). The performance time of the entire work, …

The Effect Of Range Training On The Vocal Accuracy Of Restricted And Complete Range K -3 Singers, Jane Mary Rooks

Masters Theses

The study investigated the effects of remedial vocal training on inaccurate singers. A pretest given to inaccurate singers in kindergarten through third grade differentiated inaccurate complete range singers from inaccurate restricted range singers. Three equivalent groups of these singers were given vocal instruction through a Systematic Vocal Training method in either their low, high, or high/low range. A posttest was administered to ascertain gain scores.

The results demonstrated that the gain scores of the restricted range singers were significantly greater than those of the complete range singers. The results also indicated that the scores in the low range of the …

The Effects Of Music Video Violence On The Aggression Level Of Emotionally Disturbed Adolescents, Kathleen Jo Young

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of violent music videos on aggressive behavior in psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents. Associations between male and female responses were investigated as well as responses between high-aggressive and low-aggressive subjects.

Subjects were 30 in-patient emotionally disturbed adolescents, 13 to 17 years of age. Subjects served as their own controls. Treatment consisted of the viewing of a violent video with violent lyrics, a violent video without violent lyrics, and a non-violent video. Aggression was measured prior to the treatment with a 23 True-False questionnaire completed by subjects and Behavior Rating Forms completed by …

Fables: Love, Life, Heroes, Jeffrey Neal Woodson

Masters Theses

"Fables" is a creative work which combines music, dance, and theater into a complete multi-media event. The musical portion of the work, the texts, and stage directions are documented in this the sis. The music was realized on electronic tape using the analog Moog synthesizer and the digital Apple lie computer. The tape and slides used for performance are available through arrangement with the composer.

The focus of "Fables" is a story of two characters and a day in their lives. This story line is interspersed with dances which comment on and are a diversion from the dreamlike atmosphere of …

A Study Of The Reliability And Validity Of A Social Skills Rating Scale For Use With Chronically Mentally Ill, Susan J. Egeler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and concurrent validity of the Social Skills section of the Day Treatment Client Assessment, a series of rating scales used to assess behaviors of chronically mentally ill adults. Forty-one clients enrolled in a day treatment program formed the 4 subject groups. Each group met for three 1-hour music therapy sessions specifically designed to foster social behaviors. Three observers participated in each group and rated the clients' behaviors using the Social Skills scale. The observers' ratings were correlated with each other to determine the scale reliability and were correlated with staff …

The Hamilton Rating Scale For Depression And Rhythmic Competency: A Correlational Study, Michael J. Migliore

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a relationship between a test of rhythmic competency and the psychomotor retardation subtest of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Twenty-six endogenously depressed inpatient adults participated in a medication-free pretest. Posttests were administered When a) values reached therapeutic blood levels and b) subjects were clinically observed to have improved. Results demonstrated modest correlations between the Hamilton scale and several subtests of the Rhythmic Competency measure; however, based on this study, the Rhythmic Competency Test could not be recommended as an indicator of psychomotor retardation.

Vista Forms For Orchestra, Monte Schwarzwalder

Masters Theses

Vista Forms for Orchestra is in three movements and is approximately 17 minutes and 34 seconds in duration. The first movement, "Zupkoiana", derives much of its melodic content from the following motive, taken from Ramon Zupko's piano concerto "Windsongs":

Several lesser ideas used in the first movement are 1) the sounding of dense vertical sonorities in rapid succession 2) double-dotted rhythms 3) the juxtapositioning of linear and harmonic sections, and 4) the Snare Drum motive stated in the first measure. All of these elements may be found in "Windsongs". The second movement, entitled "Monteana", derives much of its harmonic content …

The Musical Sturm Und Drang, Linn Vanmeter-Drew

Masters Theses

This paper presents information regarding the validity of applying the term Sturm und Drang to music. In it, opinions of English speaking musicological authorities regarding various aspects of the musical Sturm und Drang are discussed and compared.

Each aspect of the musical Sturm und Drang is discussed in a separate chapter, along with parallel information on the literary Sturm und Drang. Then the various aspects of the musical Sturm und Drang are systematically compared with those of its literary namesake. This comparison makes it possible to reach certain conclusions regarding the validity of applying the term Sturm und Drang to …

The Effects Of Directive And Non-Directive Techniques And Locus Of Control On Preference For A Therapist, Perceived Therapist Effectiveness, And Attendance Rates Of Geriatrics In A Music Therapy Setting, Katrina Alison Picha

Masters Theses

It was hypothesized that external locus of control subjects would prefer directive techniques and perceive them as more effective while non-directive techniques would be preferred and perceived as more effective by internal locus of control subjects. Nineteen external and internal geriatric residents in a healthcare facility were divided by randomized matched pairing into two groups, both led by the same therapist. Subjects participated in either a directive or non-directive group and rated the therapist on bipolar semantic differential scales for perceived effectiveness and preference. No significant main or interaction effects were found for type of treatment, locus of control, or …

Progression For Chamber Orchestra, David Edward Hansen

Masters Theses

"Progression” is a musical composition in three movements written for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two violins, two violas, two cellos, double bass, and percussion. The instrumentation was chosen for the purpose of providing a balance of many timbres without employing an ensemble of large proportions.

"Progression" was composed with a concept in mind. That concept involved the interaction of mankind and nature, and was simply the creative inspiration for the piece. No attempt should be made to extract the concept from the piece upon hearing it, since it is music to be enjoyed and appreciated.

Musically, …