Music Commons^™

A Survey Of Music Therapy Business Owners, Julie M. Guy

Masters Theses

An invitation to participate in a survey was emailed or sent to 503 self-employed/ private practice music therapists. As this study focused on describing current music therapy business practices, only music therapy business owners were asked to participate. Responses were received from 29% (n= l47). Results indicated that the typical business owner is a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) with a bachelor's degree who has most likely owned a sole proprietorship for less than 9 years. They typically work 30-39 hours each week and maintain 10-19 hours of contracts (primarily consisting of individual sessions). Most of the respondents work in …

Showings, Karen J. Olson

Masters Theses

Showings is a setting of excerpts from the writings of Julian of Norwich, a 14th century anchoress and mystic. While in her middle life, Julian fell ill, and, during the course of her illness, she received sixteen revelations of the love of God. She recorded these showings in two texts: a short version, apparently written soon after her recovery, and a longer one, written years later after she had reflected on the meaning of her visions.

Within the frame of an exploration of Julian's experience of the humbling and generative power of divine love, Showings focuses on her questions concerning …

Musical Poems For Chamber Ensemble, Fumiko Honda

Masters Theses

Musical Poems for Chamber Ensemble is a piece for a large ensemble of woodwinds, percussion and strings. The ideas for the piece come from Western music and Oriental music. There are four movements. Each movement has musical elements and sounds that create an image of motion. These movements are composed on the supposition that they could be choreographed for dancers as well as performance by a chamber ensemble.

Although the piece uses simple musical forms such as the rondo and arch, many different musical elements and languages express the characteristics of each movement. In general, the sounds are limited by …

A Study Of The Language And Music In The Songs Of The Methodist Church, Robert J. Ford

Masters Theses

The focus of this study is to demonstrate that the language used to write the texts for sacred music of the Methodist Church including psalms, hymns, camp meeting songs, Negro spirituals, and gospel music has been adapted throughout history to meet the changing spiritual needs of society.

This thesis reveals details about the lyrics of sacred songs from the sixteenth through the twentieth centuries that are pertinent to historic and modern Methodist music. Furthermore, it includes comparisons of numerous song texts and Bible verses. These compositions exhibit the most eminent church leaders' and composers' works from each stage of Methodist …

Current Practices, Preparation, And Demographics Of Music Therapists Working With School-Age Clients Who Have Severe, Profound, And Multiple Impairments, Erin Dalby

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine (a) which music therapy techniques may most effectively assist school-age clients with severe, profound, and multiple impairments to achieve certain goals; (b) assess whether music therapists currently feel that they were prepared to adequately serve the target population; and ( c) describe the demographics of music therapists who work with the target population. A researcher-designed questionnaire was completed by music therapists who served school-age clients who have severe/profound and multiple impairments. Results indicated that the use of singing and therapist-composed music were the most effective methods to develop nearly all types of …

Preferences Of Chinese Alzheimer’S Patients For Music Therapy Activities: Singing, Instruments, Games, Dance/Movement, And Composition/Improvisation, Karen Kwok

Masters Theses

This research, based on Brotons and Pickett-Cooper’s 1994 study, examined the preferences of Chinese Alzheimer’s patients for music therapy activities. Fifteen Chinese senior residents residing in a Toronto, Canada ethnic nursing home participated in this study. Five different language and culturally appropriate music therapy activities were used, which included singing, dance/movement with music, musical games, instrument manipulation and improvisation/composition. Subjects met in small groups of 3 for a total of five 30-minute sessions in two weeks. During each session, one of the five music therapy activities was presented. At the end of each session, subjects were asked to state how …

Omen, Tao-Hsing Wang

Masters Theses

The arrangement of this composition is based on chamber orchestra. The piece which is very classical structure was written not only by the harmonic theory of chromaticism and mode mixture but also by a sort of contrapuntal skill for its essential musical languages by me. In addition, the music form of the whole piece can be described as three movements with one introduction, though it should be played without any interruption or break between each movement.

As the title "Omen," we can find that there is a crucial harmonic motive, augmented triad, hidden in the introduction of this piece, and …

The Drawing Of The Three, John Griffin

Masters Theses

The Drawing of the Three is a work in seven movements scored for full orchestra. The title, along with the movement names, are derived from the novel The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King. This composition can be viewed as a "sequel" to my earlier piece The Gunslinger, inspired by the first book in King's "Dark Tower" series. Unlike the previous work, the music is not intended to be a literal programmatic representation of the book's plot. Rather, its purpose is to musically depict the personalities and inner conflicts of the characters in the …

A Survey: Contemporary Music Therapy Practice With Individuals Diagnosed On The Autism Spectrum, S. Alie Chandler

Masters Theses

A variety of music therapy approaches and techniques for working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders have evolved out of the creativity of the profession, the influence of different music therapy approaches, as well as the influences of other treatment and educational theories. This study includes a review of the music therapy literature concerning this population as well as a description of common educational programs and other treatment techniques influential in this field. The underlying question of this study is how these diverse methods are being incorporated and integrated into current music therapy practice to best meet the needs of …

Music Therapy And Social Skills In Young Children With Disabilities: A Survey Of Music Therapy Practitioners, Sayaka Abe

Masters Theses

Music therapy services have been utilized as one of the related services that may be necessary to assist young children with disabilities in the accomplishment of their educational goals. The purpose of this study was to examine (a) how music therapy services are used in early childhood settings and (b) how music therapy interventions aid in the development of social skills in young children with disabilities. An original survey instrument was sent to music therapists who were members of the American Music Therapy Association and had indicated that they worked in early childhood settings. The survey was sent to 423 …

Concerto For Marimba And Orchestra, Scott Blasco

Masters Theses

The Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra is a three-movement work in the traditional concerto form. The first movement is roughly Sonata-form, the second movement is in essence a set of variations on two mutually derivative melodies over an almost constant rhythmic motive of five eighth-notes, and the third movement is a short through-composed finale based on a quirky, angular melody. The tonal scheme of the concerto is fairly traditional, in that the outer two movements focus on an 'A' tonal center, while the slower middle movement is based on an 'E' tonality. Quintal, extended and added-tone tertian, and mixed cluster-based …

Two Chinese Festivals, Peng (Pamela) Chen

Masters Theses

Two Chinese Festivals is a music piece written for a chamber-sized orchestra. The first movement Kite Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration in which people give thanks that the spring is coming. The second movement Lantern Festival is an event run on the fifteenth day of Chinese New Year. People make many varieties of Lanterns that represent different ancient Chinese tales. Then the lanterns are displayed on all the city streets.

As The Ruin Falls, Luke Dahn

Masters Theses

As the Ruin Falls is a two-movement work scored for full orchestra, augmented with bass clarinet, piano, and three percussionists. Though the title comes from a poem written by C.S. Lewis, it is in no way is a programmatic representation of the poem's content. Furthermore, the programmatic "scenes" in the second movement do not relate to the poem. The title was selected only to signify the work's rather ominous character.

The primary musical building block for the entire work is a four-note chord whose construction is symmetrical - two minor thirds separated by a perfect fourth: C-Eb-Ab-Cb (or B). The …

The History Of The Music Therapy Program, Western Michigan University; Its Origin And Development To 1980, Cynthia L. Goodson

Masters Theses

The histories of music therapy programs at colleges and universities in the United States have not been widely researched and documented. The purpose of this study was to examine the history of the music therapy program at Western Michigan University from its origin and development until 1980. Specifically, the author was interested in learning what conditions existed that were favorable to the creation of a music therapy program, the chronological progress of the music therapy program (including the individuals responsible for the program's inception and development), and development and changes in curricula that demonstrated responsiveness to music therapy practice and …

The Snow Queen: An Opera In Three Acts Based On A Story By Hans Christian Andersen, Elaine Fine

Masters Theses

This is the analysis portion of my thesis The Snow Queen, an opera based on an 1845 story by Hans Christian Andersen. This analysis examines the opera from a structural standpoint and focuses on the harmonic language, the functions of melodic and rhythmic motives in the opera, and the relationship between the original story and its adaptation as an opera.

In addition to the structural analysis I include a discussion of literary and philosophical elements connected with the opera and elaborate on the incorporation of material from Norse mythology, contemporary Finnish poetry, and the work of the 19^th-century …

Keyboard Basics: A Comprehensive Group Approach For Adults, Brenda Siefferman

Masters Theses

Keyboard Basics is a beginning level group course for adults in a classroom setting, using electronic keyboards. The course was born of necessity, because no existing textbooks fully meet the needs of this particular group of learners. It is designed for non-music majors with little or no previous musical experience. The goals of this text are to: 1. introduce students to the world of music and its language; 2. give students several musical experiences to help develop a love and appreciation of music; 3. enable them to think and play musically and with expression; 4. teach students to read music; …

Move!, David Morneau

Masters Theses

In composing MOVE! I wanted to combine the rhythmic excitement and improvisational elements of jazz music with the refined developmental techniques found in classical music. Rather than simply borrow jazz harmonies and sounds for use in a classical composition, or compose music in a classical style for a jazz ensemble, I tried to create music where both traditions are represented equally.

Each of the movements in the suite approach the combination of these ideas differently. The suite begins out by Shout, a fanfare in a jazz style. Shout takes its name from the shout chorus of many swing tunes. …

For Orchestra, Joo Won Kim

Masters Theses

For Orchestra is a work consisting of two movements. In the first movement, the rhythmic pattern is based on the Korean traditional rhythm called "Changdan". There are a lot of "Changdan"s employed in Korean music. One of the Changdan-rhythms that are frequently used in traditional percussion ensemble is transferred to Western instruments through various contemporary techniques. The rhythmic elements are developed and combined with melody and harmonic texture. Harmonic textures include interval construction of perfect 4th, 5th, major and minor 7th, 3rd, and 2nd. There are both tertial and quartal combinations. The relationship between melody and chords is made up …

Symphony In One Movement: Score And Analysis, Jon Kostal

Masters Theses

This thesis consists of the composition, Symphony In One Movement, accompanied by an analytical study. The piece is composed for large orchestra and has a duration of twelve minutes. It comprises three connected but distinct sections, whose contrasts suggest individual movements. Each section is based on a traditional formal structure: sonata, passacaglia, and rondo-variations. The intention was to acknowledge the traditional symphony through these formal structures while applying more modem approaches to elements such as harmony, melody, and rhythm.

The analytical study that follows the score provides insight to the compositional methods and tools which were employed in the …

Piano Concerto, Ho Jun Lee

Masters Theses

This composition, Piano Concerto, represents the form of theme and variations. This composition is comprised of nine sections: Introduction, Theme, and seven variations. The theme comes from Korean folk song "Saeya Saeya Pahrahng Saeya," having a three-note melody that utilizes a three-note scale. Each variation features different variation techniques or combination of different techniques. These include rhythmic transformation, melody squeeze, contrapuntal technique, harmonic changes, meter changes, pattern changes, texture differentiation, and timbre changes.

Mass, Michael J. Miller

Masters Theses

MASS is a musical setting of the ordinary parts of the mass: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. These five texts constitute the bulk of Christian liturgy for well over the past millennia. MASS is scored for SATB chorus and small chamber orchestra.

The primary concept from which the movements derive their harmonic material is "chiasmus." A chiasmus is an inverted relationship between the syntactic elements of parallel phrases, as in the phrase "to stop too fearful, and too faint to go." It is a rhetorical device that is the basis of much Hebrew thought and permeates …

Nunc Dimitiis, Jeremy S. Ribando

Masters Theses

The Nunc Dimittis, canticle of Simeon (St. Luke ii, 29-32), is the last in historical sequence of the three great Canticles of the New Testament, the other two being the Magnijicat (Canticle of Mary) and the Benedictus (Canticle of Zachary). Numerous composers have set all three canticles from various classical time periods, all of which utilize the text from the specific canticle to create the musical work. This work is usually written for choir and orchestra or choir alone.

As I begun this work, I worked with the text of the Nunc Dimittis in mind, but rather than …

Does "Gangsta Rap" Music Cross Good Judgment Lines And Decency Values?, Ajay Kumar Ojha

Masters Theses

There has been much controversy associated with "gangsta rap" music over the 1990's decade. This manuscript takes a closer look at "gangsta rap" music through a descriptive analysis, exploring these topics: social construction of reality, sexism, violence, community actions, and their possible negative influences on societal values. The positive and negative implications involving "gangsta rap" music are compared using lyrics from artists whose music has been in question in the past. Using a semantic differential survey and focus group interviews, "gangsta rap" music is analyzed, examining its exposure to people, possible promotion and communication of negative societal values. The study …

Components Related To Occupational Stress Or Burnout Among Music Therapists Working In Hospice/Palliative Care Arenas, Dorothy Virginia Pienta

Masters Theses

Music therapists who work in hospice/palliative care settings are susceptible to burnout as well as others who work in health care settings. In this descriptive correlation study, the components of occupational stress or burnout among music therapists working in hospice/palliative care settings were studied. A mail survey was sent to 300 music therapists who worked in hospice/palliative care settings and were members of the American Music Therapy Association. Of the 181 surveys that were returned, 106 were acceptable for use in this study. Their responses to the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Work Environment Scale, as well as information from the demographic …

Four Variations On A Theme Of Nine, Nathan R. Barber

Masters Theses

This composition represents four variations of a projected total of nine. The variations are based on the number nine having a nine-note theme that utilizes a nine-note scale. Nine is also prominently featured in the meters, rhythms, and harmonic construction. The main harmonic consideration is pandiatonicism using the nine-note scale, although bitonal chords, positioned a ninth apart, are used quite prominently also.

The work is for full orchestra, augmented with saxophone, harp, piano, and four percussionists.

A Comparison Of Rhythmical Abilities And Behaviors Between Typical Children And Children With Williams Syndrome, Laura Grafton Pawuk

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the rhythmical abilities and testing behaviors of children with Williams syndrome (Ws) to typical children. Forty-three children took part in the study, including 9 children with W s and 34 children of the typical population.

The MRL Test of Kinesthetic Response to Music and a Behavioral Checklist identified rhythmical ability and testing behaviors respectively. The former indicated that typical children scored significantly better than Ws children in 9 of 11 exercises at the .05 alpha level. Two Ws children were tested in optimum environments. Compared to their typical peers, there were no …

Intelligentsia Suite: Score And Analysis, Charles Douglas Haarhues

Masters Theses

The thesis includes the score of the musical composition Intelligentsia Suite by Charles Haarhues and an analysis of the work by the composer.

The composition is in two movements and is scored for symphonic winds, percussion, and piano. The specific instrumentation is:

Woodwinds: piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, English Horn in F, 3 clarinets in B-flat, bass clarinet, and 2 bassoons.

Brass: 4 French horns in F, 2 trumpets in B-flat, 2 trombones, bass trombone, and tuba.

Percussion: vibraphone, xylophone, suspended cymbal, snare drum, bass drum, whip, tambourine, castanets, triangle, tam-tam, and 3 timpani.

Grand piano.

The purpose of the …

Guillaume De Machaut: Musician And Poet, Sharon S. Pearcy

Masters Theses

The life of Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300-1377) is examined in light of his loyalty to his king, patriotism toward his country, and his religious ties to the Catholic church. Each of these, as well as his affair in middle age with a young, nineteen year old girl named Peronnelle, shaped the life and work of Machaut. The rich legacy of Machaut's prolific output of poetry and music is documented from his personal involvement in its preservation. The fixed poetic forms, the formes fixes, found in his virelais, ballades, and rondeaux became a springboard of evolution under Machaut's creative talents. …

Mass For Strings, Winds And Chorus, Brandon R. Kreuze

Masters Theses

The Mass for Strings, Winds and Chorus was written with two primary purposes: (1) to produce a complete setting of the Ordinary of the Mass utilizing an isorhythmic cantus firmus style, similar to the cantus firmus settings common in the Medieval and Renaissance periods; and (2) to compose this setting in such a manner that it is performable in the environment originally intended for the Ordinary.

The isorhythmic cantus firmus technique of composition was almost exclusively used during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. The technique consists of imposing a rhythmic structure upon a common melody (often from plainchant or …

The Effects Of Music Therapy On The Self-Esteem And Locus Of Control Of Children Survivors Of Domestic Violence, Amy A. Bogetto

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of a volunteer music therapy program on the self-esteem and locus of control of children survivors of domestic violence residing in a shelter for domestic violence. An experimental group which received music therapy and a no-contact control group were used in this study. The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory Scale was used to measure the subjects' selfesteem while the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control scale was used to measure the subjects' locus of control in both groups. These tests were administered before and after treatment for the experimental group. The control group was …