Music Commons^™

Classical And Musical Theater Vocal Pedagogy For Female Collegiate Singers: An Observation And Study, Christina Kayleen Hoss

Masters Theses

The study of vocal pedagogy in the 21st century has brought much debate among vocal pedagogues, vocal instructors, and singers. The increase in musical genres and commercial music/musical theater programs at the collegiate level has created a new need: voice instructors who can teach outside the classical aesthetic. This study aims to research how collegiate voice professors instruct female collegiate voice students singing both classical and musical theater styles. Focusing specifically on breath management and registration, the study intends to open the discussion on the need for consistent pedagogical techniques for cross-genre teaching. Due to different pedagogical beliefs taught among …

The Effects Of Aligning And Integrating English Language Proficiency And Development And Music Standards On Interactive Skills Achievement, Karly Marie Schindler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is an increasing number of English Language Learners (ELLs) in the United States school system. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Proficiency (ELP), World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) in English Language Development (ELD), and English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies have been aligned and integrated. However, there has not yet been standards alignment and integration of ELP/D and the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) in music. Guided by the CCSS ELP, WIDA ELD, and the Responding NCAS music standards, this experimental convergent mixed-methods research study includes qualitative and quantitative research. The qualitative research …

Selected Elementary Music Educators’ Perceptions Of Curriculum, Scheduling, And Workload, Mara Nowlin

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Elementary music is a field that many people would agree is important, but the subject does not always get an equal opportunity when stacked up against subjects that are regulated with standardized tests, such as math or language arts. I set out to study elementary music programs in the region where I am employed (the Four State Region of Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma) in the Midwest. Some questions I sought to answer were what types of elementary music curricula are available and popular, and how districts come to select their music curriculum. Additionally, I wanted to examine the school …

Reevaluating Student Engagement: Exploring And Applying Alternative Assignments In Higher Education Undergraduate Applied Saxophone, Anthony S. Cincotta Ii

Dissertations, 2020-current

Undergraduate applied saxophone study revolves around the conservatory model. This inflexible model, often referred to as a master-apprentice relationship, can create an instructor-centric power dynamic which does not address the needs of the modern student. A classroom where the power lies so heavily with the instructor can stifle student engagement and can create a sense of disenfranchisement. In this setting, students have limited input on their assignment selections. While curricula have evolved with regards to being more culturally diverse, relevant, and inclusive, the approach that educators use to deliver the material has remained largely unchanged. There is limited research on …

Repertoire Selection For High School Band Assessment, Miranda Cook

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Selecting repertoire is one of the most dynamic responsibilities music educators face, as it often serves as the music curriculum for band directors. Selecting high quality repertoire for students that achieves musical, educational, and culturally responsive goals is vital as part of their ensemble experience. When selecting repertoire for assessment, band directors must determine what repertoire their ensemble can perform well according to the Virginia and Band and Orchestra Directors Association performance rubric, while demonstrating musical and educational growth. The purpose of this study is to examine elements used by high school band directors when choosing repertoire for assessment. Research …

An Examination Of Secondary Marching Band Directors’ Self-Efficacy And Music Curriculum: A Phenomenological Study, Jonathon Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how high school band directors prepare their students for college marching band programs. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory to address the personal characteristics and traits of marching band directors’ qualities relating to teaching. The phenomenological research design examined teachers' self-efficacy levels and ability to prepare their marching band students for college. I used snowball sampling to select the participants and gain insight into various perspectives. Data were collected by three different methods: document analysis, semi-structured individual interviews, and a focus group. I triangulated and analyzed data by …

Musical Excellence And Faith: A Study Of Service-Learning As Pedagogy For Instrumental Ensembles At Northwest University, Naomi Lynn Fanshier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite several studies indicating its importance, there is a lack of information regarding service-learning as a pedagogical tool for instrumental ensembles. Existing studies suggest service-learning creates culturally sensitive music teachers who are apt to create inclusive classrooms with a mind to diversity. Incorporating service-learning techniques into instrumental ensemble courses could be a helpful tool in combining faith and musical excellence. This hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study explores student experience and director observations concerning service-learning use to increase musical excellence and faith integration into performance-based instrumental ensemble courses at one Christian university. It is essential to consider both student and instructor experiences. …

Performance Anxiety In Young Musicians: A Case Study Of Music Educators' Experiences, Carmen L. Rodriguez

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Anxiety is a common emotional reaction in musicians that can negatively influence their performance. Some studies have proved that Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) can be found not only in adults but also in adolescents and children from 3 years old. Since MPA is a significant aspect of musicians’ development, it is essential that music educators take preventive action against MPA in young musicians, specifically under 18 years old. The purpose of this study is to examine the strategies used by music educators to address MPA in young musicians. Educators were interviewed regarding musical performance anxiety and its presence within their …

Approaching Fifth To Sixth Grade Flute Pedagogy Considering Vark Learning Styles Model, Julie Vanderlugt

Senior Honors Theses

The benefits of learning an instrument for childhood development intersecting with the positive growth trend in homeschooled families generates increased demand in value for supporting resources. Creating resources that would include learning styles defined by the VARK model (Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, Kinesthetic) designed to engage students during their particular developmental stage enhances at-home music education. The compiled research surrounding VARK learning styles and flute specific pedagogy would provide a foundation for specialized flute exercises and activities for fifth to sixth grade students learning to play the flute in a homeschooled or private lesson setting. The structure of the thesis is …

A Holistic Approach For Neurodivergent Learners In The High School Choral Classroom, Peter Allen Haley

Theses and Dissertations

There is a wealth of literature in the fields of music education, music therapy, and psychology regarding neurodivergent people, but next to no pedagogical material relating to large-group practices, particularly within the choral rehearsal. Many, if not most high school choir directors will encounter neurodivergent students in their programs at some point and will likely not know which strategies effectively include their neurodivergent learners in their classrooms. This paper includes a survey of existing research and literature related to music education (particularly secondary choral music education) and Universal Design for Learning, and offers rehearsal techniques, classroom management strategies, and repertoire …

Success Vs. Survival: The Challenges Of Teaching K-12 School Music In South Metro Atlanta, Davion Rashad Battle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music education has been an essential part of American education and society. Since the earliest beginning of our nation's founding, many proponents of music education successfully advocated for musicians to teach music as a curricular discipline within the core of academics. Still, changes continue to occur with governmental reform and educational policies. Coupled with the demographic changes within our society, successful and influential music education has become a difficult challenge for many educators who teach within communities with limited resources. Many teacher-educator preparation programs across the nation modify curriculums to meet the concerns of an ever-changing society, including socioeconomic status, …

A Multiple Case Study Of Adolescent Piano Students: Examining Motivation Through The Lens Of Interest Development, Carla Lucia Salas Ruiz

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

One way of understanding motivation is through the factors that influence it. These factors analyzed as psychological constructs give rise to the notion of motivation variables such as interest. Interest is a powerful variable that affects student motivation to learn (Hidi & Renninger, 2006; Hulleman et al., 2017; O’Keefe et al. 2017; Renninger & Hidi, 2016; Tin, 2013). In 2006, Hidi and Renninger proposed the “Four-Phase Interest Development Model” for the characterization of interest in learning. According to this model, learners can move from a situational level of interest development to a well-developed individual interest, in a sequential manner. This …

California Preservice Teachers And Music Integration In Elementary School Settings, Jennifer Potter Gee

Visions of Research in Music Education

The purpose of this study was to examine California preservice teachers’ experiences and beliefs with music and music integration in elementary school settings. Preservice elementary teachers (N = 149), currently pursuing a Liberal Studies degree at one of several universities in California, consisted of the participants in this investigation. Results indicated participants agreed that an elementary classroom teaching should integrate content from music class into other subjects, while also reflecting a significant association between participants’ year in school and their agreement that an elementary general music teacher should integrate other subject area content. Results also indicated a significant association …

A Survey Of K-12 Music Teachers’ Classroom Management Experiences In Music Teacher Preparation Programs, Jennifer Potter Gee

Visions of Research in Music Education

The purpose of this follow-up study was to explore classroom management sources and content in music teacher preparation programs. K-12 music educators, who self-identified as members of various professional music education organizations, were the participants in this study. Similar to the initial iteration of the survey with elementary general music educators, recurrent sources of classroom management reported by participants included mentoring from a licensed teacher and supervised fieldwork. Teaching procedures and pacing instructions were common examples of classroom management content included in a music teacher education program, which differed slightly from those identified by elementary general music teachers. Mentoring from …

Music Education Majors And Mental Health: A Follow-Up Study, Philip D. Payne

Research & Issues in Music Education

Music education majors across the United States (N = 1029) self-reported indicators of depression, anxiety, personality, and stress. According to the results, music education majors are highly busy, and report elevated levels of stress as compared to their peers. Semester enrollment averages include: 18.5 hours (including 0 credit courses) a semester, rehearsing an average of 9.08 hours a week, and a majority of whom work an average of 13-15 hours a week all while reporting high perceived stress levels. Furthermore, 74% of respondents required additional screening on the DSM-V for depression with over 70% exhibiting symptoms of moderate or severe …

Musical Expressions Curriculum Applied Study, Nicole Turner

Masters Theses

There is an increasing need for a music curriculum that not only guides students in creating, analyzing, performing, and arranging musical ideas, but also integrates a biblical perspective connecting students to themselves and their environments. This applied study measured the effectiveness of the first two units of the curriculum “Musical Expressions” as a guide for students in upper elementary education as they developed, organized, analyzed, and composed their own musical ideas while understanding the biblical implications of music. Guided by Eisner’s model of arts-based research, this applied artistic creative research study yielded quantitative data to identify student achievement in their …

Teaching Children To Sing: An Eight-Week Study, Kathleen Ruth Riggs

Masters Theses

Teaching children to sing is both a powerful and practical way to enhance their quality of life. With careful instruction and a playful approach, children can be taught foundational singing skills, and develop a love for singing at a very early age. In many schools today, children learn songs in music classes but are not taught how to sing. Over the course of eight weeks, twelve children ages five to ten were taught to sing using Susan Kenney’s natural singing method detailed in “Seven Steps for Developing Successful Singing and Listening Habits.” Children participated in two group lessons and six …

In Search Of A Better World? Reconsidering Sociology And Music Education As Utopian Fields, Alexandra Kertz-Welzel

Visions of Research in Music Education

Music education research has in recent years been interested in defining music education’s societal mission. Concepts such as praxial music education, artistic citizenship, or an activist approach tried to determine that music education’s foremost task would be to transform societies. This seemed urgent in view of global crises. But is music education’s foremost mission really social change? To a certain degree, this is a sociological question. To answer it, a look back to the beginnings of sociology as a field of research is a promising way to go. When sociology emerged as a specific field of investigation, it was not …

Walking Carefully Towards Bridging The Gap: Exploring Australian Music Educator Voices About Teaching Indigenous Music, Dawn Joseph, Bradley Merrick

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Facilitating an inclusive pedagogy to close the gap that exists within the teaching of Indigenous Knowledge in Australia is a tall order for many teachers. This paper draws on responses to a national study and explores how music educators include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and culture into their practice. An online survey (December 2022-February 2023, N=109) informed the findings. Using thematic analysis, two themes (teaching challenges and opportunities, and bridging the gap) are discussed and key recommendations offered. Findings suggest that walking carefully towards bridging the gap is an opportunity for educational change in contemporary Australian classrooms.

Guide To The Robert Leigh Morris Collection, Columbia College Chicago

CBMR Collection Guides / Finding Aids

Robert Leigh Morris (b. 1941) is an American composer and music instructor. The Robert Leigh Morris Collection contains his personal music scores, from published works to drafts, and programs from his performances, as well as scores by other composers. Professional correspondences, documents, and some of Morris’s writings are also included.

Defining Music Of A Questionable Past: A College Musician’S Approach, Noah Whetstone

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In recent years, social movements have raised awareness on issues like whitewashing and the oppression of minority voices in fields such as music. These social movements have drawn attention to the cultural appropriation that sometimes occurs in music classrooms. Outcomes from recent legislation proposals and social conflicts across the United States threaten to limit educational opportunities. Although many people have understood these pieces of legislation to affect topics such as history and English, it may also affect music education. When choosing music to teach their students, music educators are often challenged as many songs have questionable pasts and make references …

The Need And Value Of Adding A Gifted Music Curriculum To Education Using Music Technology, Haven K. Clippinger

Masters Theses

Research in music education has increased drastically since its emergence in the 20th century. Philosophers developed detailed music education philosophies, and music education changed in American education. In addition, the 20th century also brought an increased awareness of gifted students in the school system. Musical talent has been considered a gifted quality, yet there appears to be minimal research on gifted students in music classes. Initial research was conducted to examine literature on gifted music. This research served to provide a greater link between music and gifted education by utilizing a music technology curriculum for gifted music students. This project …

Competing With Small Town Football: The Challenges Of Teaching High School Band In Rural America, Christopher John Libby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project explored the many challenges band directors face while teaching in the rural United States. Despite the abundance of articles about recruiting for high school band programs, few have addressed high schools in the rural United States. The untold perspectives of novice and experienced band directors matter because it is a topic not addressed in undergraduate studies. This study highlights the perspectives of band directors and scholars who have firsthand experience building band programs in rural counties. Guided by scholarly journal articles, personal interviews, and other research, this qualitative research study identified perspectives that have not yet been explored …

The Kodály Method: Valid Or Missing The Mark For Developing A Musicking Musician?, Maggie Johnston

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

In the ever-evolving world of music education, a handful of “methods” have been identified as favorites, mainly Orff, Suzuki, Dalcroze, and Kodály. These are used in whole or in part in classroom and private music instruction, based on an expected understanding that they produce results. However, these methods are often used without regard for the quality of their delivery, and are relied upon without consideration for the context in which they are delivered. Many music educators are speaking up and analyzing their own teaching, conducting studies, and bettering their understanding of the principles behind these methods. It is from this …

How Theories About Instrumental Practice Strategies In Western Music Evolved Since The 1700'S: A Select Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

As music teachers, we introduce our students to a variety of methods for learning their instrument. In addition, it is necessary to impart wisdom on how to practice those methods and strategic ways to approach the learning and preparing of pieces for performance.

This paper will endeavor to compare and contrast how those strategies and techniques have evolved over the past 300+ years to better understand what practice strategies are “tried and true”, which have been discarded over time, and what has been added to the pantheon of strategies and scientific studies as performance practice and our understanding of psychology …

Critical Pedagogy: Commitment, Connection, And Communication, Anthony Bernarducci

Visions of Research in Music Education

Commitment, Connection, and Communication: These words summarize a triangle of opportunity and are the foundations of a Critical Pedagogy. In practice, commitment, connection, and communication are key words for music educators in their daily work with students. This article explores the eight steps of applying Critical Pedagogy—as outlined in Abrahams’s (2005a) model of Critical Pedagogy for Music Education—in relation to communication with administrators, and the ways in which it may aid in connecting within a community.

Critical Pedagogy And Disability: Considerations For Music Education, Ellary A. Draper

Visions of Research in Music Education

Developed by Brazilian Paulo Freire to teach economically disadvantaged adults to read, critical peda- gogy has since inspired others to adapt the model to other subject areas. In the area of music education, Frank Abrahams created the Critical Pedagogy for Music Education (CPME) model and has written about the use of CPME in teacher preparation programs. Scholars in disability studies have also been inspired by critical pedagogy, writing about disability pedagogy. Notably, people with disabilities have historically been omitted from models of critical pedagogy. This article discusses the intersections of critical pedagogy, music education, and disability, and makes recommendations to …

Critical Pedagogy As A Pedagogy Of “Love”, Marissa Silverman

Visions of Research in Music Education

Thanks in part to the research and scholarship of Frank Abrahams (e.g., 2005, 2006, 2007, 2019), his welcoming of scholars into the field, as well as his dedication to the development and growth of the music education profession, music teaching and learning maintains particular positions connected to critical pedagogy and the work of Paulo Freire. The purpose of this paper is to extend Abrahams’ work by examining critical pedagogy as a pedagogy of “love” (e.g., Darder, 2000, 2011, 2017, hooks, 2004, Martin, 2004). Additionally, this paper examines personal and political natures of critical pedagogy as love for music teaching and …

Mentorship In Music Education: Youth Chorale As An Incubator For Young Conductors, Ming Luke

Visions of Research in Music Education

Straddling the role of conductor-teacher can be a daunting task for young artists. Providing space to hone both musical and pedagogical skills can lead to transformative moments for young conductor- teachers. As someone who experienced this complementary space first-hand, I can attest to the sustainable effects on one’s teaching and artistry. Moreover, coupled with the potential for merging the development of musical and pedagogical skills is the need for mentorship and modeling. In this article, I outline the ways in which a community youth chorale, the Westminster Conservatory Chorale, served as an incubator for young artists to practice balancing conducting …

Quite Frankly: Learning From The Pedagogical Art Of Joyful Disgruntlement, Gareth Dylan Smith

Visions of Research in Music Education

In this article, I describe professional encounters with Frank Abrahams, personally and through Abrahams’ writing. The paper includes reflection on Abrahams’ tireless work in testing and pressing the boundaries of normative, small-c conservative music teaching and learning traditions, in Abrahams’ beloved Westminster Choir College and beyond. I recall watching Abrahams teach, both in formal classroom contexts and in other areas of working with students and peers, such as co-authored publications and conference presentations. I recount my role as an unwitting mentee in Abrahams’ careful modeling of critical pedagogical approaches within and without the classroom. Drawing on personal anecdotes and several …