Music Commons^™

The Influence Of A Worship And Arts Camp Experience As A Student On Future Worship Leadership: A Case Study, Rhea Marshall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The world began with God’s act of creation, and He made humans in His image, giving them the innate ability to create. The Bible shows many examples of this creativity in people’s lives. Worship arts allow believers to reflect God’s image through artistic expression. The apostle Paul encourages the church to dedicate their bodies as living sacrifices as an act of worship. Worship arts enable individuals to offer their creativity to God through their bodies. Significant progress has been made in how the church develops worship arts ministries. The primary focus has been on how participation influences adult church members. …

Vocal Pedagogy Training For Vocal Music Education Students, Melissa N. Hinds

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory research is to investigate choir teachers’ perceptions of their undergraduate vocal pedagogy training. The problem is that choir teachers may enter the profession with insufficient vocal pedagogy training to teach their choral ensembles adequately. The rationale for this study is to help close the gap by creating a vocal pedagogy curriculum designed for preservice vocal music educators. The foundation of the created curriculum is the participants’ perception of their undergraduate training. The research questions that guided this study are as follows: (1) How do secondary-level choral conductors’ perceptions of their undergraduate vocal pedagogy …

Motivating And Retaining Alabama Band Directors: A Comparison Of Rural, Suburban, And Urban Band Directors, Brandon Jay Benson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite existing challenges in rural, suburban, and urban communities, band directors face a lack of motivation due to burnout and insufficient resources. This study examines the motivational factors of forty-two Alabama band directors who teach in rural, suburban, and urban communities. Guided by a correlational research design, this mixed-method research study identifies motivational factors that still need to be explored to highlight the motivational factors that drive band directors to continue teaching in their current Alabama communities. This study explores the motivational factors of forty-two Alabama band directors based on their responses to a Likert-type survey and emailed interview questionnaire. …

Social Media As Informal Professional Development For Music Educators Teaching Students With Disabilities, Bailie Queen Greeson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music educators enter the profession with little experience teaching with disabilities. Professional development opportunities are limited, so music educators are left to discover how to do so independently. Many music educators have turned to social media as a form of informal professional development. Guided by Brown and Poortman’s model of Professional Learning Networks, this research study identifies why in-service music educators seek informal professional development in teaching students with disabilities through online social media communities. As educators resort to online communities to gain pedagogical knowledge, results may help current and future music educators in discovering and planning their learning through …

The Cultivation Of Resilience: A Phenomenological Study Of Music Teachers’ Experiences Teaching Children With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Angela Dawn Matthews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological multi-method study examines the lived experiences of music teachers in Virginia and North Carolina working with students who have Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the cultivation of resilience in music students through music ensemble participation. The researcher interviewed music teachers (n = 16) to explore experiences instructing children with ACEs. Music ensemble students (n = 66) and non-music ensemble students (n = 62) completed the ten-item version of the original 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the CD-RISC 10. Research questions guiding the study were: How do children with adverse childhood experiences interact and respond in music ensembles? How do …

To Buzz Or Not To Buzz: A Survey Design Of Embouchure Development Among Kentucky Brass Musicians In Higher Education, Christopher P. Schmidt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This survey design study examined the methods of embouchure development practiced by Kentucky brass musicians in higher education. The purpose of the study was to explore how collegiate brass professors, their graduate teaching assistants, and undergraduate student musicians apply or omit mouthpiece buzzing in their daily practice routines and private-studio instruction. The study explored pedagogical influences rooted in the teachings of William Adam, Philip Farkas, Emory Remington, and Arnold Jacobs to identify how their philosophies inform contemporary approaches to brass pedagogy. The findings revealed consistent pedagogical diversity among KPUBPs, with most participants using mouthpiece buzzing, long tones, airflow drills, and …

Examining The Role Of Metacognitive Strategies In Sight-Reading Instruction: Insights From Middle School Chorus Teachers, Krystin M. Kicklighter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Sight-reading in middle school chorus classes is emphasized more heavily due to the standards of learning. Teachers use various approaches to teach sight-reading. One strategy teachers can use is metacognition during the sight-reading process. However, there is limited research on teachers' perspectives on metacognition in middle school. Metacognition involves self-awareness, self-evaluation, and self-regulation. By engaging in these activities, learners can gain better control over their thought processes. This is especially important for music educators, since music learning and practice involve many metacognitive concepts. This qualitative-hermeneutic study explored middle school chorus teachers' perceptions of sight-reading practice and how they incorporate metacognition …

The Effects Of Music Participation On Sense Of Belonging Among Elementary Students With Traumatic Experiences, Jamie Lynn Mckoy Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The unexpressed perspectives of children have long been dismissed in elementary music education. Daily agendas, curriculum, and administrative expectations direct the day-to-day functions of the classroom and negate the instructor’s assessment of students’ needs. As a result, students who have experienced trauma (various forms) will feel disconnected from the classroom and have a low level of engagement. Music educators must adapt their planning and execution and infuse empathy and flexibility in their teaching to allow all children room to grieve previous traumatic experiences. This historical research investigates the student perspectives on what music participation means effects on elementary students’ sense …

Comparing Modern Band And Traditional Band Methods: A Mixed-Quantitative Study Of Note-Reading And Improvisation Competencies Among Secondary Music Students, Dennis John Manson Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music directors should determine how pedagogical trends to support student-centered engagements utilizing modern methods and popular music in public schools compare to traditional practices in secondary bands. Current research suggests students should engage in culturally relevant repertoire and quality ensemble experiences. Existing studies, however, should measure the efficacy of alternative music programs concerning music literacy, self-expression, and how they compare to traditional band methods. Investigating both methods is necessary to discover common techniques and how differences in pedagogical standards may influence one another. Guided by experimental research, the following mixed quantitative study features a quasi-experimental and a correlational design to …

From Protest To Harmony: The Global Language Of Change, Valerie Brooke Missick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative historical study investigates how music functions as a unifying force within global social and political movements, transcending cultural, linguistic, and national boundaries to foster collective identity and sustain long-term activism. Drawing on Social Identity Theory, Cultural Diffusion Theory, and Framing Theory, the research analyzes archival documents, historical records, media sources, and case studies from movements such as the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, the Anti-Vietnam War Movement, anti-apartheid struggles, Black Lives Matter, the Arab Spring, and contemporary climate justice activism. Findings reveal that music operates as both an emotional catalyst and a strategic communication tool, shaping narratives, strengthening solidarity, …

A Comparative Analysis Of K–12 Public School Music Teacher Burnout From 1986 To 2025, Veronica A. Rovatti

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This historical comparative analysis assessed five different sources to understand the effect stress and burnout have had on public school music educators over the last fifty years. In the United States, music educators are facing stress and burnout in their teaching careers, which can result in attrition from their profession. In this research study, four studies pertaining to music educator burnout are analyzed through a narrative compilation of research already established. Also analyzed is a supplementary recent article providing contemporary relevance. The criteria for source selection included studies or articles that primarily researched stress and burnout among K-12 public school …

A Phenomenological Study Of Secondary Music Teachers And Their Experiences With Class Schedules In Central Virginia, Aliza Marie Nogueras

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is currently a lack of recognition for the unique influence of class schedules on music educators’ lived experiences in public-schools. This study examines how middle and high music class schedules play a role in music teacher’s curriculum development and overall well-being. Class schedules created without regard to musical instruction may create significant challenges for music teachers, reducing instructional time, disjointing curricula, and causing inconsistencies in delivering high-quality music education. Focusing on music teachers in Central Virginia, this hermeneutic phenomenological study highlights the specific lived experiences of public-school music educators. The central research questions explore how class schedules shape instructional …

A Study Of The Relationship Between The Stress Responses From Rehearsal Preparations For Music Ensemble Performance Evaluations And Performing Arts Adolescents’ Working Memory, Gregory Thomas Minter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The organization of memory retrieval is vital to the association between stress responses and negative educational achievements. These stress responses offer an opportunity to study the harmful consequences of prolonged strain on the developing brain, which may impair emotional restraint, self-control, and cognitive development. However, little research considers the fundamental notions of how stress responses from rehearsals for music ensemble performance assessments impact adolescent working memory. This mixed-methods study explored how rehearsal-related stress in music ensemble settings may affect adolescents' working memory. Participants included high school students in grades nine through 12 who participated in performing arts band ensembles. The …

Virtual Music Education: An Examination Of Experiences Of A Post-Covid Virtual Elementary Music Program, Julia Federico-Youngs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focused on a three-year phenomenon that occurred at five Title I California elementary schools that took part in a post-COVID-19 virtual music program where the teacher was remote and third- through fifth-grade students were together in their classrooms. This event occurred as an attempt to provide music education to students who had no access to music education. The participants were the general classroom teachers who were physically in the classroom with the students. The participants’ experiences provided the results of this transcendental phenomenological study via interviews. These interviews offered valuable insight into the perspectives and experiences of the …

The Impact Of Cello Training On Spatial Orientation Abilities In Adult Learners, Circe Diaz Gamero

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Academic discourse lacks exploration of the effects that musical training during adulthood has on spatial orientation abilities through their connection between cognitive science and music education. This study seeks to address this knowledge gap through research that evaluates cello training effects on spatial orientation abilities in adult learners. The rising interest in non-medicine-based methods for brain function improvement and recovery establishes the urgent need to research possible cognitive advantages that occur when adults participate in music education. This research study adopted a convergent mixed-methods approach that studied adults with minimal musical background in an eight-week structured cello training program, aiming …

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study On Perceptions Of Pregnancy Bias And Career Advancement In Music Education, Chelsa N. Keathley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological research followed the perspectives of thirteen music educators across eleven states. The participants included five female secondary band directors, six male secondary band directors, one retired female secondary band director, and one male secondary administrator, along with the personal experiences of six mothers who currently serve as band directors in secondary music education. This study explored perceptions of gender bias within the field, focusing on issues such as the underrepresentation of women in secondary music education, negative societal perceptions regarding women in leadership positions, and the presence of a negative workplace culture. These factors were explored …

Identifying Quality High School Choral Repertoire How Standards Of Composition Affect Long-Term Choral Participation, Jonathan R. Vanderwoude

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A wealth of literature addresses the importance of choral repertoire selection. Yet, few studies examine how choral repertoire and elements of composition correlate with long-term ensemble participation. Exploring principles of quality from a participant perspective may provide choral directors with a paradigm for choosing excellent repertoire. With performance standards comprising the core of many high school music programs, repertoire considerations are often central to the choral curriculum. This qualitative study investigated participant perspectives on choral repertoire standards. The subsequent findings identified trends influencing repertoire selection and correlated perspectives on repertoire quality with long-term participation in choral performance. Participants were selected …

Perceptions Of Students With Visual Impairments On The Current State Of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, And Belonging In Public School Secondary Instrumental Ensembles, Nancy J. Kerner-Durling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative research study examines the experiences and perceptions of students with visual impairments on diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging (DEIAB) in secondary instrumental music ensembles. Despite the emergence of DEIAB initiatives in music education, little is known about how these initiatives are implemented for students with visual impairments in secondary instrumental music programs, as this topic has not yet been explored or documented due to the low incidence of this disability. Data was collected through interviews of former students with visual impairments between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two who attended public schools between the ages of twelve …

Motivation And Retention In Music Education: A Phenomenological Study On Socioeconomic Status Impact, Bracy C. Martin Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The retention of middle and high school students in music education programs remains a persistent concern, particularly when disparities in motivation are shaped by socioeconomic status (SES). This hermeneutic phenomenological study investigated how intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors such as funding, parental involvement, off-campus performance opportunities, and student engagement are influenced by SES and how these influences affect student retention in school music programs. Grounded in Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination Theory and Vroom’s Expectancy Theory, the study examined how motivation and SES intersect to either support or hinder student persistence in music education.

Eight music educators from urban, suburban, and …

The Impact Of Modeling Music Literacy After English Literacy On Elementary Students’ Music Reading Abilities, Madeline Ann Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although numerous studies have been conducted to determine music’s ability to improve student achievement in other content areas, integrating general education pedagogy practices for the purpose of enhancing music education has not received the same attention. Music and language share one of the strongest and most recognizable connections, yet parallels drawn between music and language do not typically extend to the pedagogy used to teach music literacy acquisition and application. This applied research study compared the music literacy abilities of students instructed using traditional music literacy practices to those instructed using techniques modeled after English literacy practices. To determine the …

Identifying Aspects Of Musical Diversity That Engender Multigenerational Worship In Select Baptist Churches: A Case Study, Megan Scruggs Hollifield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Multigenerational worship through the avenue of musical diversity in the Baptist church is the focus of this case study. This study aims to identify critical components of musical diversity, emphasizing song selection as a key element of liturgy within corporate worship. The research undertakes an observational analysis of the relationship between musical diversity through liturgy and congregational engagement of all generations. Five Baptist churches were selected to be studied to categorize the similarities and differences in the area of multigenerational worship. The case study research model provided a variety of data collection methods through research observations, online questionaries and in-person …

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 …

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. …

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, …

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- …

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 …

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 …