Music Commons^™

Structural Models For Lyric-Setting Analysis In Popular Song, Matthew T. Hough

Gamut: Online Journal of the Music Theory Society of the Mid-Atlantic

Studies of English text setting have long focused on "well-formed" examples, typically in 4/4 time, in which syllabic-stress-to-beat matching is prioritized (Halle and Lerdahl 1993, Hayes and Kaun 1996, Hayes 2009). Evidence of this prioritization has been presented in Palmer and Kelly 1992 and Girardi and Plag 2019, and such examples are ubiquitous in English-language nursery rhymes, children’s songs, and folk tunes. The present study contextualizes this type of text setting as one of four models for the structural interaction of English lyrics and music in popular song: 1) unified ("well-formed"), in which musical considerations and a preference for stress …

Idiomatic Compositional Techniques In John Rutter’S Requiem, Marguerite Walsh

Student Publications

John Rutter is an extremely significant figure in choral music, and his 1985 Requiem is one of his most widely performed works. Despite this popularity, it has yet to be analyzed in a rigorous academic capacity. Requiem is a harmonically rich and sophisticated work, and said lack of previous analysis represents a gap in theoretical research. This thesis analyzes Requiem for significant harmonic structures and idiomatic compositional techniques and applies those techniques in an original composition. Subtopics of note included harmonic non-functionality, modulations, and orchestration. The original work is comprised of two movements for choir and piano respectively titled “Requiem …

Ethnic Diversity And The High School’S Band Repertoire, Shane Ryan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the development of strategies to increase diversity in the music classroom, there is still room for further advancement. Ensuring that each student is represented in the class allows everyone to feel appreciated and work together. Research has shown the current state of diversity and inclusion in band literature selections and has presented recommendations for the next steps. By modeling Whitmore’s diversity in band literature research, this mixed-method research study identified the criteria by which band literature has been selected over the past five years. Perspectives on social issues, database availability, and educators making changes have emerged as themes through …

Storytelling Pedagogy To Promote Musical Expression Through Community Building In The High School Ensemble Class, Hector E. Ayerdiz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite research on technical pedagogical techniques to improve musicianship in students, there are still some non-conventional pedagogical approaches that educators have not researched in detail. Among these is purposeful storytelling to develop community and vulnerability in students to enhance musical expression and technique. This study sought to understand the impact of the music teachers' use of storytelling on high school music ensemble students. It also investigated storytelling's usefulness in developing music skills and techniques in students by forming positive learning environments. Guided by narrative design, this qualitative research study looked at the phenomenon of storytelling in the high school music …

Sustaining The Score: A Narrative Inquiry Comparing California Teacher Induction And Adult Ensemble Participation For Music Educator Longevity And Growth, David Haley Green

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The relationship between music educators' participation in adult ensembles and any perceived benefits to their teaching careers remains underexplored. At a time when teacher recruitment and retention rates are unsustainable, this information can help provide ways to engage educators in a way that benefits both themselves and the academic success of their students. This qualitative study examines the perspectives of music educators across a wide variety of ages and grade levels. This study compares explicitly the formal, mandated support of California’s teacher induction program with the informal, voluntary support found in adult ensembles. Many music educators in California began their …

The Competition Effect: Comparing Music Education Stakeholder Perceptions Of Success To Student Achievement, Jake M. House

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite numerous studies examining stakeholders’ opinions on the benefits of marching band competitions for students’ musical development, current research has not fully addressed how directors, parents, and administrators perceive musical success in relation to students' performance abilities. The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to identify previously unexplored perspectives and determine the relationship between stakeholders’ perceived musical performance success at marching competitions and students’ actual musical performance abilities, specifically in terms of tone, intonation, technique, rhythm, balance, and musicianship, across schools of varying sizes. This study gathered data from directors, parents, students, and administrators using surveys and interviews. …

Leadership, Personality Traits, And Teacher Training Characteristics Of Secondary Band Directors In Small Alabama Schools, Robbin Nicol Holder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, quasi-experimental study aimed to determine the disparities in the leadership, personality traits, and teacher training characteristics of successful public and private secondary band directors in small schools in Alabama. The study focused on identifying perspectives that have not been previously explored or documented. A survey was conducted among band directors at Alabama secondary schools with a daily average enrollment of 300 or fewer students in grades nine through eleven. This information was based on data provided by the Alabama Department of Education and reported by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The research encompassed dependent variables in leadership, …

Catholic Mass Music And Spiritual Growth, Stephenie Dinah Mokriakow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Participation in music among Catholic grade school students is insufficient, despite research suggesting the importance of music at Catholic Mass. Student perspectives provide researchers with an understanding of music's connection to students' spiritual development. This qualitative experimental case study investigates fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade student perspectives of their spiritual development through worship music participation during the Mass. This experimental case study identifies perspectives not yet explored and documented concerning this group of students. This study focuses on students' social, emotional, and physical well-being throughout the study regarding the connection of music to spiritual development. Approximately thirty students participated in pre- …

Inclusion May Affect Marching Band Members Of Black Universities Differently Than Members Of White Universities: Narrative Inquiry: A Case Study, Derrick K. Yates

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a lack of research on the emotional connection and support students of Historically Black Colleges and Universities may seek through their band experience versus students of Predominantly White Institutions. Some studies demonstrate that those who participate in music ensembles express heightened self-esteem, a sense of connectedness, and a positive impact on their mental and psychological well-being. This narrative inquiry research study focuses on the unexplored perspectives of three band members from historically black and three predominantly white university marching bands, regarding their emotional connections to their programs and the emotional connections and support they receive from them. The …

A Diversity Dilemma: A Qualitative Research Study On The Past And Present Racial And Cultural Demographics Of Formal Music Education Students, Destiny Deberry Stone-King

Masters Theses

This thesis study examined the relationship between the preference for popular music, racial identity, and the decision to participate in school music courses and ensembles, aiming to understand how the interaction of these factors influences the demographics of music students. The researcher analyzed previous research on music preference, the history of music education in the United States, commentary on the music education system, and personal accounts of music educators and former music students. The researcher used a historical qualitative research design and meta-analysis to answer three research questions: 1) How does a musician’s racial identity, musical preference, and musical training …

Novice Middle School Music Teachers’ Perspectives On Preservice Preparation In Title I Schools: A Case Study, Christopher M. Burns

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although considerable research addresses the unique needs of middle school learners and teaching music in low-income schools, there are insufficient studies that provide insight and strategies for teaching music in high-needs settings. Likewise, music teacher preparation programs leave gaps in preparation for prospective music educators, unaware of the challenges of teaching middle school music in a high-needs community. Novice music educators experience challenges that are often unaddressed in undergraduate programs. Experienced music educators with advanced degrees can also feel underprepared to teach in low-income schools. Music educator programs lack content that helps prospective music educators become change agents who can …

Real-World Opera Education And The Business Of Performance: Perspectives From Young Professionals, Sarah Beckham-Turner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the traditional practice of operatic vocal training in universities, many young operatic singers found that their education needed to be improved regarding the current demands of the business of being an operatic performer. Understanding the essential skills for operatic training in universities was crucial for preparing singers to handle the demands of a professional career. This qualitative study investigated the perspectives of professional operatic singers, university opera training educators, and professional opera companies to discover possible gaps in operatic training in universities. Through interviews with five professional opera singers, five trained singers who chose a different career, six current …

Voice Of My People: An Expression Of Welcome And Liturgical Justice For Afrodiasporic People In North American Catholicism, Marvand Roger Holland Ii

Doctor of Pastoral Music Projects and Theses

Music has always been central to the lives of Black people. The Black religious experience is even more profound when expressed through music. It is therefore no happenstance that music is of great import as pertains to the spiritual lives of Black people, including Black Catholics. Faith is expressed through culture. It is through culture that the faith is realized and known. In this, is the essence of inculturation.

Anscar Chupungco states that if not inculturated, the liturgy of the local Church will remain at the periphery of people’s cultural experience. For this reason, it is imperative that Afrodiasporic music …

Integrating World Percussion Into Graduate Jazz Training: A Practitioner Reflection, Eugene Seow

Publications and Research

This reflection explores the pedagogical and artistic impact of a non-traditional instructional choice made during the author’s final semester of graduate study at Queens College (CUNY). Initially enrolled in the Jazz Studies: Performance Track (Drum Set), the author elected to substitute formal principal study lessons with a personalised programme of world percussion study under Professor Michael Lipsey. This decision, initially motivated by artistic restlessness, led to foundational experiences in frame drumming, South Indian rhythmic structures, gamelan ensemble, and classical snare etude work. The outcomes of this shift have since permeated the author’s teaching, performance, and curriculum development practice, including the …

Teaching Students Who Have Been Identified With Autism In The Private Piano Teaching Studio: An Application Of General Music Resources And Interviews With Specialists In The Field, Joy Parker

Dissertations

This dissertation is a practical resource for private piano teachers seeking to gain a better understanding of teaching students with autism. Resources used in general music instruction of students with autism were consulted, and relevant information was adapted for the private piano setting. Additionally, resources that are tailored to private piano teaching of students with an identified disability were consulted.

Interviews with three individuals who have experience working with individuals with autism were conducted, and methods and strategies that they found to be most successful were ascertained. One of the interviewees was Dr. Derek Polischuk, Professor of Piano and Director …

An Application Of Vocal Pedagogy For Thai Singers, Phitchaya Klimov

Dissertations

Vocal pedagogy incorporates diverse techniques and methodologies that aim to maintain longevity of the voice and to improve vocal performance, range, and tone. While vocal pedagogy has been extensively studied in Western music traditions, its application in the context of Thai singers remains unfamiliar. This dissertation will investigate the application of vocal pedagogy for Thai singers, with a focus on understanding the unique challenges faced by them. It will outline pedagogical approaches to address these challenges and will therefore lead to more authentic performances. “Complete mastery of the voice as an instrument is an idea toward which every singer must …

Analysis Of Popular Songs In The Us Market, Michael Myers

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In today’s digitally driven music landscape, understanding what drive’s a song’s popularity requires insight not only into its acoustic and lyrical content, but also into patterns of listener engagement across platforms. This thesis explores the predictive and descriptive dimensions of song popularity by applying supervised and unsupervised machine learning models to a multi-source dataset integrating audio features, sentiment analysis, and temporal consumption behavior. Drawing from a novel, multi-platform dataset that includes Billboard Hot 100 rankings, Spotify acoustic features and popularity scores, streaming, airplay, and sales metrics as reported on Luminate’s Music Connect, and lyrics from AZLyrics, the study investigates the …

Building Toward A Timbral Tool-Kit: A Practice-Led Exploration Of Timbre As An Inspirational Tool In The Composition Process, Kailan O’Dell

Postgraduate

This exegesis is a practice-led investigation into the role of timbre as a tool of inspiration and musical expression in the composition process, with a specific focus on keyboard instruments. Two contrasting compositions for grand piano were recorded, then recorded again using four other distinct keyboard instrument timbres. The composer’s emotional perception of each keyboard instrument timbre was evaluated through reflective analysis, and with the use of the Geneva Emotional Music Scale. Knowledge of the emotional associations of the various timbres was used in the creation of four new compositions, one for each of the four distinct keyboard instrument timbres. …

A Study Of The History, Repertory And Instrumentation Of The Band Of The Corfu Philharmonic Society From 1840 Until 1920, Foteini Angeli

Glenn Korff School of Music: Dissertations, Theses, Student Creative Work, and Performances

The Corfu Philharmonic Society band was founded in 1840 and is still active today. It is considered the one of the oldest continuously operating music education organizations in Greece. The people, repertoire, and instrumentation of this band influenced all other wind bands in Greece. There are important resources available on the topic, but dedicated research to the organization is in its infancy. Focusing on the changes in instrumentation through original manuscripts from the inaugural band (1840) through the end of the First World War reveals significant multinational influences that continue to be felt to this day. This is the first …

The Effects Of Background Child-Directed And Adult-Directed Singing On Reading Comprehension Performance, Agnes Yeboah Amfo-Adu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although music features in speech, such as those found in child-directed speech and song, are known to enhance language processing, the underlying mechanism of this benefit remains unclear. Prior research has primarily compared verbal materials presented in a musical, child-directed style to those in a less musical, adult-directed style, leaving it uncertain whether the benefit stems from the music style of verbal presentation or mere exposure to musical features. This study examined whether the language benefits of child-directed input persist when it is presented as background auditory stimuli rather than the primary focus of cognitive tasks. Experiment 1 found that …

Modifying Italian Consonants In The Voice Studio: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Elisa Ramon

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

The body of lyric diction literature, particularly on Italian, has grown substantially in the second half of the twentieth century. Lyric diction courses are now a required part of many voice programs across the United States. The widespread use of International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions and transcription rules has significantly contributed to the field. However, relatively few sources focus on the pedagogical strategies needed to teach and modify Italian consonants effectively.

This two-phase exploratory sequential mixed methods study identifies the features of Italian consonants that differentiate the lyric diction of novice singers from that of native speakers. It also proposes …

Predicting Music Origin With Deep Learning, Fruzsina Ladanyi

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This project explores the usage of a late fusion deep learning architecture to predict the geographic origin of music. Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) and the language of the music sample are used as features. MFCCs were extracted from audio files to capture sound features. The language was identified using OpenAI’s Whisper model to provide additional context. A late fusion neural network architecture combining Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) layers for sequential MFCC input and dense layers for non-sequential language features were employed to support both classification and regression tasks. The classification model achieved an accuracy of 33.03% across 56 countries or …

Predominant-Dominant Chains In Japanese Video Game Music, Evan R. Davis

Master's Theses

The short looping forms in Japanese video game music feature rapid modulations based on common chord progressions that necessitate contextual readings of harmonies in various keys to isolate how they manipulate tonal space. One such progression used by Japanese game music composers utilizes chains of predominant-dominant chords to move key centers by conflating function in minor-third related keys. These triumphant sounding transitional phrases are uniquely valuable in a medium dominated by stories of heroism and fighting authorities both earthly and divine. Building on the functional framework of 19^th century theorists and existing popular music research, two models are created …

0895: Whear Family Papers, 1909-2019, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

Dr. Paul W. Whear was a noted composer and Marshall University professor and founded the Huntington Chamber Orchestra. Nancy Robinson Voiers Whear was a renowned musician who worked in Morrow Library at Marshall University and wrote several articles that were published. Their children were Allen Whear, violoncellist, brother Bill, a prominent photographer, and Cynthia, another distinguished musician.

The Whear Family Collection includes original compositions and musical scores by Paul W. Whear, research materials used by Nancy Whear, photography by Bill Whear, and documentation of the musical career of Allen Whear. Also included are programs and other materials from the Huntington …

Perceptions Of Ai Chatbots In Music Education, Lauren Beauchamp

Music Education Theses

Recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI chatbots like the Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT), have impacted education, yet their specific implications for music education remain underexplored. This study explores general music educators’ perceptions of information provided by ChatGPT, focusing on their ability to distinguish AI-generated content, its perceived accuracy, and the perceived influence of professional experience. A qualitative multiple case methodology including six general music educators located in the state of New York was utilized. Participants were purposively sampled to ensure maximum variation in age, gender, service years, and teaching levels. During interviews, they were asked to …

Sad Music Listening: What Is It Good For? An Exploratory Study Of Motivations For Listening To Sad Music, Ariel Gelfand

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to bolster research related to the function of sad music listening. Music listening is a common coping strategy for individuals attempting to cope with and manage different emotional states, including negative or sad moods and emotions. Research surrounding self-reported reasons or motivations for listening to sad music outlines several factors that appear to serve as mood-management strategies. However, there are discrepancies among these motivations across research, which thus far has consisted of qualitative interviews of participants. (Garrido & Schubert, 2011; Saarikallio & Ekkila, 2007; Van den Tol & Edwards, 2013). Additionally, it is unclear whether listening to …

The Influence Of Past Experiences On Middle School Band Directors’ Instructional Practices, Jessie Lynn Peterson

All Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated the influence of middle school band directors’ past experiences on their instructional decision-making and implementation of culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP). Embedded in Ladson-Billings’s (1995, 2014) CRP framework and Lortie’s (1975) apprenticeship of observation theory, this study explored the relationship between middle school band directors’ past experiences, their beliefs about CRP, and their instructional practices.

Music education in the United States has historically focused on Western European classical traditions that overlook the cultural diversity of today’s students and reinforce dominant pedagogical norms. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six middle school band directors. Participants discussed their musical backgrounds, …

Composition Portfolio Of Doug Falk, Doug Falk

Music ETDs

This composition portfolio contains six compositions:

Heterogeneity (2020) for solo guitar

Amalgamation (2023) for reed quintet

Oil and Vinegar (2024) for wind symphony (satisfying the requirement of one work for large ensemble)

Shouting into the Abyss (2024) for flute with electronics (satisfying the requirements of a work for electronics and a work for voice)

Movements Come, Movements Cease (2025) for voice, trumpet/flugelhorn, marimba, electric bass, drum set and fixed media; written in collaboration with choreography by Laura Orozco Garrett (satisfying the requirement of one collaborative work)

Celestial Bodies in Motion (2025) for 10 piece wind ensemble (satisfying the requirement for …

Picturing The Victorian Revival Of The Guitar: The Diary Of Caroline Maud Berkeley (1859–1949), Christopher Page

Soundboard Scholar

The diary of Caroline Maud Berkeley née Tomlinson, compiled in thirteen sketch books from 1888 to 1901, offers the most extensive social record of guitar-playing to be found in any private document of the nineteenth century. This article, compiled with exclusive access to the original manuscripts, offers the first comprehensive digital record of more than twenty scenes of guitars in use, together with the accompanying diary text, which has never before been published in an authentic form. The diarist’s sharp eye for facial expressions and gestures, her radiant sense of color, and her keen sense of humor allow her to …

An Investigation Of Mental Well-Being Of Music Ensemble Participants At Eastern Arizona College: A Case Study, Geoffrey D. Despain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the experiences of collegiate music ensemble students with mental illness and if music ensemble participation helped them cope. Students have indicated that participating in a music ensemble or listening to music has helped them cope with perceived or diagnosed mental illness such as depression and anxiety. Music students at Eastern Arizona College (EAC), a rural community college in Thatcher, Arizona, expressed their mental health struggles with band and choir directors. Some students have sought help through the counseling department. Many students do not seek help in any form. This qualitative …