Music Commons^™

We Shall Overcome: Designing An American Popular Music Curriculum To Promote Racial Equality, Kathryn Eileen Stiadle

Masters Theses

There is a strong relationship between American popular music and the fight for racial equality. In the past, music has been used to promote justice throughout slavery, segregation, and the civil rights movement. Racism remains a problem in American society, however, and music is not currently used to teach students about tolerance. This paper presents the argument that anti-racism education can be taught using an American popular music curriculum. Initial research was conducted using existing literature to determine the historical aspect of the project as well as current and future concerns. The acquired information was used to design a curriculum …

A Course To Prepare Undergraduate Music Education Students For Teaching Autism Spectrum Disorder, Amanda Lynn Whitmer

Masters Theses

In the field of music education, Autism Spectrum Disorder has become an area of importance requiring more thought and intentionality from teachers than normal lesson planning expectations. Because music educator programs only offer courses that cover the whole spectrum of special needs and do not focus on autism specifically, music educators are finding themselves unprepared to create music lessons that can accommodate learners with such a unique spectrum of learning abilities. Many college curriculums offer special needs courses that focus on all aspects of special education that can be found in music education but very rarely for autism as a …

Collective Expressions Of Monacan Indian Nation Identity: A Communicative Arts Genre Study, Gretchen E. Casler-Cline

Masters Theses

This study considers the current communicative arts practices of the Monacan Indian Nation, an Indigenous Virginia tribe of approximately 2500 people located in Amherst County, Virginia. Historically the tribe was a large nation that extended from the falls of the James River near Richmond, Virginia to the Southwestern portions of the state near Roanoke and now the Monacan Indian Nation homeland is at Bear Mountain in Amherst County, Virginia. The study was conducted through interviews and observations at tribal events such as the annual Powwow and culture class, as well as consistent attendance and participation as a musician at St. …

Holy Manna: How Old Harp Singing In East Tennessee Is Surviving In A New Wilderness, Amanda Leigh Rogers

Masters Theses

This project explores the identity and sustainability of the shaped note singing tradition among the community of the Friends of the New Harp of Columbia. A pattern emerged in fieldwork of song ownership, songs that each member considered to be “theirs.” Songs of ownership intertwine with education, preservation, and mediation of multiple realities to provide a link between identity and preservation and between the past, present, and future. The community actively preserves their musical tradition through song ownership. The sustainability and survival of songs of ownership is emphasized in two ways: an emphasis on participation, not performance, and an emphasis …

The Benefits Of Offering Classroom Piano Lessons As Part Of The Curriculum In Public Elementary School, Denise Cheeks Mundy

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the potential benefits of offering classroom piano lessons as part of the curriculum in public elementary schools. The research reviews the educational, neurological, and cultural potential benefits a child may receive if they study the piano. Further study examines the availability for teachers to receive training in teaching group piano, the methods of setting up a piano classroom, and materials needed for such a program in the school system. Records of the history of group lessons showed that this method of teaching has had periods of success and periods of decline in …

Elementary String Orchestra: A Hybrid Curriculum, Deborah Jeannette Hickey

Masters Theses

Remote and distance musical instruction can be traced back to the earliest transmissions of radio and television. In the last few decades, it has made considerable strides due to the development of the internet and growing supportive software and online platforms. However, when the COVID-19 virus swept the world, many school districts were forced to convert to full- remote instruction instantaneously. While some unique and beneficial strategies developed out of this, many aspects and strategies proved to be less than ideal and inferior to in-person instruction, particularly where it pertained to performance and ensemble-based instrumental instruction. This project strives to …

Engaging With The Score: Wadada Leo Smith, Graphic Notation, And The Performer’S Perspective, Kennedy Taylor Dixon

Masters Theses

As a Composer/Performer, my work exists in both realms. This thesis reflects the principle that my experience as a violist influences my compositional process and vice versa. Since identifying under both artistic skill sets, it has become evident that the two areas that exist as a creative and presentational output, thrive off one another’s success.

In June 2019, I had the chance to play Wadada Leo Smith’s String Quartet No. 3: Black Church, The First World Gathering of the Spirit (1995) at the Nief-Norf Summer Festival. This encounter was the first time I interacted with graphically notated scores as a …

Use Of The Music Syllabus From The National Standards Curriculum Nsc, At The Lower Secondary Level, In Kingston And St. Andrew, Jamaica, Ornisea Williams Hird

Masters Theses

The Jamaican music education landscape has had a positive shift in the demand for music teachers who are educated to become classroom music teachers. Despite the growing need for trained music teachers to be placed in many high schools in Jamaica and the implementation of two curricula, there has been minimal study that assess how music teachers use the music syllabus from the National Standards Curriculum (NSC) in teaching and learning. The study joins a set of vibrant discussions on the development of music education in Jamaica and examines the use of the NSC at the lower secondary level (grades …

The Pedagogical Value Of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Music In A New Jersey Elementary Music Setting, Eric James Mclaughlin

Masters Theses

Elementary music educators’ analyze and select song repertoire based upon a variety of factors and influences. These can include an educator’s level of training, the preexisting standard song literature collection, resources obtained in undergraduate study, the context of the song material, and a song’s pedagogical application. Educators must be selective when choosing literature for pedagogical purposes, such as teaching specific melodic and rhythmic elements. The vast body of musical literature by renowned theatrical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is not often used for that purpose in the elementary general music classroom. In addition, a recent national effort calling for the reexamination …

A Christmas Cantata, Garth Andrew Olson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this worship ministry research project was to research, prepare for, and lead a Christmas cantata presentation for two worship services at First United Methodist Church in Georgetown, Texas, on Sunday, December 12, 2021. In this thesis, I identified the worship components and the accompanying potential challenges for successfully leading a vital and converging traditional Christmas Sunday worship in a way that promotes authentic, biblically-centered, Christocentric, and participatory worship services for a church community.” The Christmas cantata was a musical composition set for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voices (SATB) with instrumental accompaniment including solos, chorus, chamber orchestra, …

Songwriting: A Collaborative Approach To Music Education, Deondra Morrison

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the benefits of the use of collaborative learning projects in music education, with the intent to inform the practice of music educators. This study will reveal that many educators in the field of music view collaborative learning as a catalyst to change student culture and music classrooms around the world. The following research questions guided this study: (1) How do collaborative learning methods benefit music education curriculum? (2) What type of plans, support, and materials do music educators need to successfully guide their students in small group student-centered music and instruction? (3) …

Improvisation And Interpretation For High School Instrumental Students, Jeffrey J. Bianchine Jr.

Masters Theses

Improvisation is associated with jazz or rap in modern western culture, but classical music has a long tradition of improvisation featuring famous improvises such as Mozart and Liszt. Improvisation develops critical thinking and problem solving, essential skills in the American job market. The typical instrumental student does not often get the opportunity to use this. Bloom’s Taxonomy explains that students who do critical thinking activities in class have a better understanding of the course material. This course will equip students to improvise with others, make executive decisions about artistic elements in the repertoire, self-cretic playing, and compose a short cadenza.

And The Lord Added To Their Number Daily: A Historical Overview Of The Growth Of The American Evangelical Church, Erica Morgan Wrench

Masters Theses

Serving Special Education Students In The Music Classroom: Accommodating And Advocating For Learners With Exceptionalities, Kathryn Lambert

Masters Theses

Music education programs positively impact the lives of students both socially and emotionally. As the following research suggests, music may have an even greater impact on students with disabilities or exceptionalities. Due to the lack of accessibility, funding, time, training, and other issues, opportunities in music education programs may be limited to groups of students who may not fit the standard music education student profile. As teachers of common core classes may struggle to accommodate students with exceptionalities and may feel as if they are lacking in resources or other needed preparation to adequately serve these students, these struggles are …

Curriculum Framework For Composing And Arranging For Contemporary A Cappella Choirs, Hillary Nicole Goodson-Spear

Masters Theses

As vocalists, it is important for us to understand techniques regarding current styles of vocal composing and arranging including voicing, beat boxing, and body percussion. The success of several mainstream television programs such as Glee and The Sing-Off, popular movies franchises like Pitch Perfect, and groups like Pentatonix and Straight No Chaser, demonstrate the rising popularity of contemporary a cappella music. It also reflects the need to be able to write unique arrangements of traditional or popular songs to keep up with recent trends. Current research suggests that there are very few resources available for music educators to teach this …

The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences In A Special Education Music Classroom, Daniel Passadino

Masters Theses

Special education students involved in music classes currently face a lack of inclusivity. Various methods have been used to promote inclusivity in the music classroom. This paper focuses on how Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory promotes inclusivity in the special education music classroom. The multiple intelligence theory streamlines a special education music curriculum by highlighting each child’s strongest intelligence. To assess a child’s intelligences, they must participate in music-related tests. The tests include mini lessons which cater to the multiple intelligences. For example, when children are taught using visuals, some will not be able to learn as effectively if they …

Sight-Singing For Intonation In Band, Courtney Diane Vetter

Masters Theses

This curriculum study aimed to examine the effects of sight-singing activities on elementary band students' intonation. The curriculum is aimed at university teacher candidates who plan to teach elementary music. Activities and lessons offered in the curriculum are centered around sight-singing, ear training, and intonation. Additionally, singing activities are incorporated into every rehearsal to strengthen aural skills and inform students how to apply those skills to intonation fixes. Through this study, the researcher aimed to show the importance of singing and sight-singing activities on band students, particularly those in marginalized groups that have experienced trauma and are of low socioeconomic …

Importance Of Teaching Native American Music, Kimberly Lorene Fowler

Masters Theses

Music Education has always been the doorway to experiencing something new and wonderful. Music Education, before now in America, has always taught western-styled music. Today, culture has become an essential ingredient to being an American. The learning and appreciation of other cultures have become particularly important in a student's journey within music to ensure the feeling of community, respect for others, and the experience of different styles. Native American music has become threatened with extinction by the shortage of information available and the lack of instructors that can teach it. Generations upon generations have lost this opportunity to learn and …

Bi-Musicality In Kenyan Education: An Irrevocable Impact Of Colonization On A Culture?, Tania Mae Molendyk

Masters Theses

In Kenya today, music at all levels includes both Kenyan music and Western music. The inclusion of Western music in the Kenyan curriculum began when Britain made Kenya a colony. Due to certain circumstances after Kenya became independent, Western music continued to be taught in the schools. This research addresses the question “is the inclusion of Western music in the curriculum today a conscious choice or a remaining impact of British colonization?” To gain insight into this question, a variety of Kenyans from different backgrounds were interviewed. Their answers helped reveal the desires of the people today and whether the …

A Middle School Choral Methodology And Curriculum Pairing, Eunice Nogueras-Negron

Masters Theses

Studies show that middle school choral education is beneficial to its participants, yet there is a lack of resources such as curriculums or methodologies to better equip students and teachers. This thesis will explore the possibility of the future development of a middle school choral music methodology that follows similar structures to that of widely accepted music methodologies such as Orff Schulwerk, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and Kodaly Concepts. This research is intended to aid middle school choral music educators who are seeking to improve the quality and intentionality of their instruction.

Popular Commercial Music Across The Spectrum: From Electronic To Symphonic - A Freshman Survey Of Music Composition, David A. Pennise

Masters Theses

There is a need in music composition for educators and administrators to implement concrete pedagogy to improve music composition as a profession that is recognized for its value and integrity. In this study, I addressed this need with a plan that focuses on curricular strategies to guide students in becoming successful artists and equip them to thrive in the increasingly popular commercial music industry. Students will maximize their academic development by applying compositional techniques from the common practice period and improve their chances of succeeding in modern music society by interacting with a harmonic grammar appropriate for commercial pop music.

Improving Sight Reading Through Beginning Band Instruction, Joshua Earl Kohl

Masters Theses

Aural skills training needs to be included in the beginning band curriculum. Educators strive to help students reach their potential. At the same time, they continue to use method books that emphasize a visual approach to music education. To fully engage with music, students should not just see the music written on a page but should be able to hear it as well. Through aural skills training, such as audiation, students will be able to internalize and hear the music they see without the need for an audial stimulant. This study defines the current amount of aural training included in …

Teaching Biblical Development In Early Childhood Education Through Praxial Music, Cheryl Lynn Pearson

Masters Theses

Music has been deemed important since biblical times for both worship and music education and has made its mark in history from ancient philosophers to modern educators. Its value is determined according to individual experiences, be they aesthetic or praxial, for the purposes of entertainment, education, or worship. Music offers a connection to God granting a deepened sense of purpose in fulfillment of our call to worship. Music is valued because it leads to the development of ethical values through active participation and reflection. Music education and spiritual development are mutually beneficial as they develop students toward a greater spiritual …

Funding A Middle School Technology-Based Music Class: An Investigation On Trends In Funding And A Proposed Curriculum, Shebbie L. Williams Iii

Masters Theses

This paper investigates trends of district funding in relation to music programs. The appendix contains a proposed technology-based music curriculum. The study is a convergent mixed-methods design that reviewed current literature on funding sources for music programs; literature about technology-based music courses was reviewed as well. The results revealed the many factors that play a part in a school board deciding to keep or terminate a music program. Findings also include a correlation in funding and music class quality, less funding usually meant lower quality. This paper can be a tool for educators that wish to make a change in …

The Importance Of Sight-Singing To Ear-Training And Musicianship Of Neurodiverse Students, Courtney Marie Stinson

Masters Theses

This curriculum project aims to recognize the importance of teaching students music with ear-training. The goal is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of ear-training methods. This paper will review existing ear-training methods research. The literature will be reviewed regarding the biology of how listeners hear music, how geographic location influences elements of sound, how emotion influences communication, and why people like the music they like. The second chapter of this article discusses how singing on solfège creates stronger musicianship in all musicians as ear-training is essential for teaching music. Ear-training helps students recognize sounds and sonic events they have …

How Reading, Writing, And Composing Music Enhances A Child’S Creativity, Marisa R. Robertson

Masters Theses

This thesis intends to prove that reading, writing, and composing music in elementary school can help children enhance their creativity. The project will contain recent research that shows how reading, writing, and composing music can enhance a child’s creativity. Research from this thesis will provide parents, educators, and administration with the necessary information to decide to incorporate music into their child’s school curriculum.

Integrating The Latin American Villancico In Baroque Music History Studies, Linssey Ma

Masters Theses

The Baroque Villancico is a popular genre in Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula that reflects a history of musical and cultural intersection. Chapel masters composed an extensive work of sacred villancicos to perform in Cathedrals during religious ceremonies and festivities. In the twentieth and twentieth first centuries, the Latin American Baroque villancico has been a growing interest by many musicologists. J. Peter Burkholder, author of the current eighth edition of the Norton Anthology of Western Music and ninth of A History of Western Music, addresses the existence of the villancico which has never been mentioned in previous textbooks. Integrating …

Outcomes Of Music Improvisation Experiences: A Scoping Review, Julia Mccarren

Masters Theses

Music improvisation is a therapeutic music intervention utilized frequently by board-certified music therapists in various clinical settings. While music therapists frequently use music improvisation as a treatment intervention, research on music improvisation outcomes is limited. The purpose of this scoping review is to summarize current knowledge about the outcomes of music improvisation experiences in music therapy and non-music therapy contexts. This review aims to identify and address gaps in the literature to provide suggestions for future research. The findings of this review will inform clinical music therapy methods. To conduct the scoping review, the researcher used the following five-stage framework: …

A Study Of Pedagogical Approaches To Inform Instructors On How To Help Ease The Transition Of A Flute Student Switching To Oboe, Mai'ya Jackson

Masters Theses

Young band students are seldom allowed to begin on the oboe, due to the specialized difficulties of the instrument. It is more prevalent for a student to begin on another instrument, such as the flute, and transition to the oboe after some initial experience. Many students switch to oboe from flute, since both instruments have similarities in fingering and wind technique. However, there are significant differences between the two instruments. These differences include embouchure formation, articulation, octave keys and alternate fingerings, intonation adjustment, and double reed care. If a student is not able to receive individualized instruction during this transitional …

Incorporating Video Game Music Into Music Education: Potential Benefits And Challenges, Zechariah D. Emery

Masters Theses

This study examines the potential benefits of incorporating video game music into various forms of music education. Since no previous scholarly work could be found on this specific subject, this study relies on examining various aspects of video game music and adjacent studies on student motivation and achievement. The study is broken up into several sections. An analytical study determines that video game music has developed to the point where it is just as complex as other forms of music and has unique aspects that could make it a valuable tool in education. The study also examines the uses of …