Music Commons^™

Exploring The Collegiate Choir Participant's Values Within Ensemble Performances, Kaelyn Hunter

Honors Theses

This study examined how collegiate choral ensemble participants viewed their highest quality performance and their favorite performance. Examining characteristics of performances may encourage conversations about performance values between directors and students. Limited research has been done about musicians’ views, as getting accurate and in-the-moment documentation of how musicians feel about their performances is challenging. To provide more insight into this previously understudied topic, this study aimed to explore the musicians’ perspectives on their performances and how their emotions and repertoire are intertwined.

The Primary Investigator (PI) conducted an anonymous study among the 2022–2023 choral ensemble participants at The University of …

Singing In Sequence: A Step-By-Step Approach To Sight-Singing For The College Musician, Andrew Conklin

Pacific Open Texts

Singing in Sequence contains short melodies organized into short chapters, each with a brief explanation of the new skills introduced. Each melody provides the student with opportunities to synthesize their musical skills and knowledge: students are asked to reflect on the music’s intervallic, harmonic, metrical, and phrase structure in addition to simply singing the melody. In this sense, the book treats sight singing as a tool for developing broader skills, such as constructing an aural image of notated music, quickly recognizing musical structures, and thinking analytically.

More Than Melody: The Impact Of Music On Language Development, Analise Best

University Honors College

This thesis explores the different ways music can have an impact on language development. It will discuss how music and language are linked in the brain, the impact music has on language before the child is born and into early stages of infancy, how music can help a child develop their language throughout their early years of school, the impact music has on language of children with a hearing impairment, and the benefits of using music as a learning tool in a bilingual family. Furthermore, this thesis will discuss studies done in school settings and therapy settings to prove that …

The Experience Of Home-Based Music Therapists Working With Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities: A Thematic Analysis, Sarah Mayr

Theses & Dissertations

According to the Administration for Community Living (ACL), an estimated 7.38 million people in the United States live with an intellectual and/or developmental disability (2021). Many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs) reside in community-based settings, such as private residences, family members’ homes, or group homes (ACL, 2021). However, little research exists exploring home-based music therapy (HBMT) for people with I/DD, especially from the clinician’s perspective. Thus, this study examines the experiences of home-based music therapists working with individuals with I/DD to provide a foundational overview. Three music therapists working in home-based settings participated in semi-structured guided interviews, which …

The Experience Of An Autistic And Neurotypical Sibling Dyad In Improvisational Music Therapy, Gianna Derusso

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the sibling relationship within improvisational music therapy, specifically the relationship between an autistic sibling and a neurotypical sibling. The following research question was posed: How does the relationship between a neurotypical and autistic sibling dyad present in improvisational music therapy? Subquestions to the research questions included: How do a neurotypical and autistic sibling dyad interact with one another within an improvisational music therapy session?, and How do a neurotypical and autistic sibling dyad interact with the music therapist within an improvisational music therapy session? An autistic and neurotypical sibling dyad was recruited, …

Comparing The Impact Of Client-Led Music Therapy With Autistic Clients Enrolled In An Applied Behavior Analysis Program Versus Those In Standard Care, Annie Fitzgerald

Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates the efficacy of client-led music therapy as a complementary intervention for enhancing aspects of social and behavioral functioning in autistic children enrolled in applied behavior analysis (ABA) programs compared to those in standard care. Utilizing a quantitative approach with pre- and post-intervention assessments, the study evaluates changes across categories of Social Communication, Social Cognition, Social Awareness, Social Motivation, and Restricted Interests and Repetitive Behaviors using the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2). Findings reveal no statistically significant differences in pre- to postintervention scores for either group, yet promising trends emerge. In the study, child-led music therapy within ABA interventions …

Exploring Music Therapists' Experiences Of Utilizing A Family-Based Approach With Children Receiving Palliative Care, Faith Anne Agolia

Theses & Dissertations

This research study explored the experiences of three music therapists who employ a family-based approach with families whose children are receiving palliative care. Literature addressing the benefits of music therapy for people in palliative care exists, but little is known about the lived experience of music therapists who work in these settings. Music therapists were recruited through purposive sampling. Through phenomenological microanalysis, eight themes emerged: Family-based approach is natural, yet nuanced; the sacredness of the therapeutic relationship; positive memory making through legacy as a means to family connectedness; vicarious trauma; intentional self-care and coping; feeling siloed and experiencing challenges within …

Fingerprinting Cinematic Soundtracks: Examining Identity In Film Music Through Gender And Temporality., Sarah Elizabeth Moser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the soundtracks of six Hollywood films and their treatments of two factors of cinematic identity – gender and temporality. Six case studies are used throughout the thesis using an original analytic system I designate as Fingerprinting, which examines film using a five-tier, intersecting system on both the macro and micro level. The gender chapter analyzes Weird Science (1985) and Pretty Woman (1990) in order to demonstrate the utility of the cinematic soundtrack in constructing new frameworks of gender expression within fictional media. The temporality chapter uses four case studies - Easy Rider (1969), Eddie and the Cruisers …

Actualizing Unwritten Operatic Conventions: Oral Transmission And The Work-Concept, Jessie Miller

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Controversy around the actualization of unwritten conventions in operatic performance has become an inescapable reality over the course of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The “work-concept”, the term coined by Lydia Goehr, is the strongly held conception in Western music that pieces of music are concrete and immutable, and therefore should not be changed. It is because of this concept that performance controversy exists; a performance that is not viewed to have represented an opera “correctly” is responsible for infringing on the central governing tenet of Western art music performance. I seek to prove that the diametrically opposed ideas of …

The Applied Music Theory Ensemble: An Approach To Undergraduate Music Theory Education, Karissa Juhas

Senior Honors Theses

Music theory is currently taught in a classroom setting through lectures, worksheets, tests, and limited amounts of praxis, or applied learning through playing one’s instrument. However, musicians in these classes often struggle to comprehend concepts, maintain good grades, and view music theory in a positive light. This thesis proposes the teaching of music theory in an applied setting—specifically, an ensemble setting. In such a setting, praxis through immediate hands-on application of concepts to the student’s instrument would be just as prevalent a part of the curriculum as lectures, worksheets, and the like. Songs specifically crafted to impart both the theoretical …

Native American Choral Music: Strategies For Celebrating And Incorporating Music Of Indigenous People, Mary Ruth Young

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

*Language usage is fluid and evolving, representing past and present people groups. During my discussions with my Indigenous composer colleagues, I've found that they hold varying preferences regarding how they wish to be addressed and the terminology they prefer. Because of this, I use the terms Native, Native American, First Nations, Indigenous, American Indian, and First Peoples interchangeably.*

This document will discuss the historical exclusion of Native American music in the Western art forms, specifically the choral tradition, and provide solutions to incorporate it in modern choral performances. Considering first the wars, disease, displacement, colonization, and missionization, it is no …

An Annotated Bibliography Of 45 Select 21st-Century Electroacoustic Pieces For B-Flat Clarinet Suitable For The Undergraduate Clarinetist, Emily Jean Rose

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Electroacoustic literature for the clarinet is bountiful and accessible, though many students do not experience working with this genre until they become a graduate student, if even then. Utilizing a detailed rubric, each of these 45 works in this document are graded according to their accessibility, techniques explored, and overall difficulty to approach to better serve the educator and assist the undergraduate clarinetist in performing this genre of repertoire.

With the accessibility of electronics and electronic equipment coming more readily available to composers and performers at the start of the 21st-century, electroacoustic literature found a sense of deliverance in the …

Music Therapy Perspectives In Popayan By Music Graduates From The Universidad Del Cauca, Laura Piedad Parra Acosta

Theses & Dissertations

This research explored the perspectives of music graduates from the Universidad del Cauca in Popayán, Colombia, regarding music therapy. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to gather data from participants, who were music educators and performers. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the responses and derive insights. Findings revealed varying levels of awareness and knowledge about music therapy among participants, with the majority expressing interest in gaining a further understanding of how to incorporate music therapy techniques into their practice. Moreover, participants emphasized the potential benefits of music therapy for emotional well-being and mental health in educational and performance settings. This …

Sonidos De Aztlán: A Historical Analysis Of Chicano Music, Alejandro Gomez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This paper analyzes music made primarily by Chicanos in the U.S. and social movements that the music was a part of. Case studies include the Zoot Suit Riots, the Delano Grape Strike, The Chicano Movement, Tejano/Conjunto and Tex-Mex, Narcocorridos, and the Chicanx Renaissance.

Music Isn’T Just A Special: Amplifying Music's Power In Fostering Social-Emotional Skills In Students, Angelina Davis

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

For this Capstone Project, the researcher investigated how Dream Academy and Little Foot Elementary educators view music's impacts on social-emotional learning and what they thought could be done to improve it. Based on an analysis of the data and the relevant research literature, the researcher used what they have learned to formulate an action that responds to the impact of music on social-emotional learning in a way that inspires, informs, or involves a particular audience. This is an important issue for students and teachers because music education allows educators to teach social-emotional skills. It is argued that music fosters social-emotional …

Will The Future Of Video Game Music Require Real Composers?, Nathan Barrett

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In order to gain a better understanding of video game composition and whether or not real composers will be required, I will explore a variety of categories within the field of game composition and sound design. General categories of focus will cover, 1) Basics, Standards, and Tropes for Game Composition 2) How Games Compositions Have Evolved 3) Creative Uses of Music inside of Games 4) Innovative Techniques for Game Compositions, and 5) The Ethics of Procedural Music and it's use in games.

Building Community Through Athletic Activities, Alyssa D. Taylor

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Utah has a significant population of immigrants and refugees, which is constantly increasing. With the Cache Refugee and Immigrant Center recently recognized as an official resettlement agency, the refugee and immigrant populations are projected to grow, especially from Somalia and Syria. These families have a variety of physical, mental, emotional, and social needs. In Europe, formal athletic groups help migrant background families integrate into their communities through sport. Although research has been completed in the United States on informal soccer pickup games, no research has been done on formal groups and their ability to build community in the U.S. like …

American Spiritual Intensive Workshop Presentation, May, 1, 2024 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recitals given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

Financial Stability And Instability In A Musical Career: A Statistical And Sociological Analysis, Elizabeth Stassen

Honors Scholar Theses

Over several generations, the notion of the “starving artist” has become a cultural stereotype, often overshadowing the complex realities musicians face while sustaining their careers. Not only does this harmful trope contribute to the invalidation of music as a legitimate career, but it also prevents emerging artists from pursuing their passion for fear of failure (Da Costa, 2020). This thesis explores the intersection of statistical and sociological factors that create both challenges and opportunities for those pursuing careers in music. Through analysis of economic and social factors, this research seeks to deconstruct stereotypes and promote a clear understanding of the …

A Bright Point In A Dull Day: A Qualitative Exploration Of Middle School Students’ Perceptions Of Music Ensemble Participation, Kailee Amburgey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Music participation, specifically in an ensemble setting, is known to promote learning and social skills and to contribute to a well-rounded overall education. With this in mind, this qualitative, constructivist grounded theory study explored the impacts that participating in chorus, band, or orchestra has on students’ overall experience in middle school, with a focus on joy and identity development. The researcher interviewed fifteen students about their personal experiences and feelings about their lives as middle schoolers and musicians. The findings, shared in six theoretical concepts tied to the research question, reveal important facets of these students’ experiences that shed light …

Fin De Siècle Russian Topos And Rimsky-Korsakov’S The Golden Cockerel, Jaidan Ursich

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Russian composers, including Glinka and The Mighty Five, helped establish a Russian nationalistic style in art music through the implementation of idiomatic folk music gestures and other commonly employed musical elements. Scholars, including Richard Taruskin, Barry Bilderback, and Pieter Van Den Toorn, have identified many of these elements, particularly the use of the octatonic scale and folk music material (thematic quotations and associative rhythmic patterns), however, they have not provided clear codification of a Russian topic. Likewise, the music of Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov has been largely ignored when compared to that of his contemporaries, though most research indicates he was heralded …

Experiences In Vocal Psychotherapy Of A Music Therapy Intern With Post-Covid Symptoms, Kyungwon Matilda Choi

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore my experiences in vocal psychotherapy as a music therapy intern with Long COVID symptoms. This study employed a first-person qualitative research design by assessing two personal therapy sessions with heuristic inquiry. I analyzed my experience as a client receiving 60-minute individual vocal psychotherapy sessions. The music therapist was a trained (certified) vocal psychotherapist with at least five years of clinical practice. Data were collected from recorded session audio/video and personal journals. The recorded session audio/video were transcribed so the data could be analyzed. I asked and answered the research questions as this …

Suite De Ballet By Gustav Holst: A Transcription For Wind Orchestra, Charles Greggerson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This document includes a wind band transcription of all four movements of Gustav Holst’s orchestral work Suite de Ballet, Op.10, H. 43. An overview of the background of the work and a historical background of the composer is included. The defense of transcriptions, criteria for selection of pieces and problems associated with the transcription process are examined along with the techniques utilized in the solution of problems within the context of this transcription.

A New Canon: Dismantling Racist Exclusion In Opera And Paving The Way For Inclusive Representation, Kourtney J. Holmes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This document examines the exclusion of African American opera from the traditional Western operatic canon and standard performance practices within educational institutions and professional organizations. The narrow conception of opera as a European art form has obscured the contributions and cultural significance of works by pioneering African American composers. This study addresses this gap and elevates neglected histories by arguing for African American opera's artistic merit and contemporary relevance within the American operatic tradition.

Through musical and historical analysis of representative works from the late 19th/early 20th centuries onwards, I aim to illuminate the genre's unheard tales of struggle, identity, …

Symphony No. 7 “Leningrad” By Dimitri Shistakovich: A Wind Band Transcription Of The Final Movement With Historical Context And A Description Of The Transcription Process, Scott Patrick Mcglasson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This document includes a wind band transcription of the final movement of Dimitri Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 7” known as the Leningrad Symphony. It contains an overview of the composer's life leading up to the creation of this work as well as a description of the historical context during which this work was composed. This document also contains a detailed description of the transcription and editing process that led to the completed work contained at the end of this document. The transcription process included examining other wind band transcriptions of Shostakovich’s music as well as other wind transcriptions of orchestral works.

Life Beyond The Port Of Beirut, Album & Drum Triggering System., Ayman Abi Kheir

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Life Beyond the Port of Beirut is a project of two parts: an album of 8 instrumental tracks and a drum triggering system. The title is in dedication to my country, Lebanon, and specifically to its main historical seaport in the capital, Beirut. This port is the historical starting point of the Lebanese diaspora who have spread their culture across the globe and contributed to the world culture. The drum triggering system is a “do-it-yourself” system that enables drummers to trigger samples and virtual instruments through acoustic drum set and percussion. It was designed in Max for Live and Ableton …

Aspects Of Style In Selected Works By Takashi Yoshimatsu., K. Alex Hatton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The music of Takashi Yoshimatsu is united by a strong continuity of style that acts as a kind of musical signature. This thesis offers an introduction to understanding this musical style by exploring the relationship between Japan and Western classical music, presenting analyses of four contrasting compositions, and offering potential areas for further research. Some of the recurring characteristics of Yoshimatsu’s style include the use of extended harmony, modes, large melodic intervals, and the reuse of musical material. These characteristics are explored at length in the analyses of Pleiades Dances IX, And Birds are Still…, Memo Flora, …

Do What You Love, An Opera In One Act., Kamil Jozef Pedziwiatr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Do What You Love is an opera in one act, based on the American culture idea of doing what you love in life, following your passions or living the American dream. The libretto, which was generated by AI, presents the story of four main characters and one episodic character, each representing the worst outcome or highlighting vicious drives of following the motto Do What You Love. The opera is also a cliché version of historic opera, uniting typical baroque opera characters and styles with quasi AI Generated, cliché, stereotypical music. Synopsis: The Artist is preparing for a huge audition that …

The Kids From Yesterday: An Examination Of The Motivations And Social Role Of Camping Culture In Music Fandom, Natasha Ryan

Sociology Student Papers and Posters

With the return of arena concerts after the COVID-19 pandemic and the hyper-availability of social media communities to those who were not previously inclined to be fannish, there has been increased strain on the metrics of what makes a successful concert attendance, and further, how those metrics reinforce identity as both a real fan and a member of the fan group. This research focuses specifically on the act of arduous overnight queueing for general admission shows, referred to in the populace as “Camping Culture," aiming to answer the question of what is the motivation to undergo significant effort to experience …

Adapting Traditional Flamenco Music For The Modern Marimba Artist, Gabriela Ordoñez Villalobos

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This document is a compilation of information and exercises for the percussionist to learn how to play Traditional Flamenco on marimba. The document contains a brief history of flamenco and the explanation of the elements of four different palos flamencos (subgenres) to introduce the marimbist to the basic musical elements and structure of each palos flamencos. It also includes musical exercises written specifically for marimba. These exercises are traditional components of authentic Flamenco music and can be used in performances as a soloist or as part of a Flamenco ensamble.

Flamenco music has three main elements: El cante, el toque, …