Music Commons^™

Lynne Ramsey, Violist: Biography, Pedagogical Background, Teaching Techniques, And Career Advice, Ignacio Cuello

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research document explores teaching methods, career advice, and major influences that shaped the professional course of the violist Lynne Ramsey. Ramsey teaches viola at the Cleveland Institute of Music and is first assistant principal viola in the Cleveland Orchestra. For over thirty years, she has taught countless viola students in the US while maintaining a full-time performance career.

The introductory chapter covers Ramsey’s biographical and educational backgrounds during her time as a student of Ramon Scavelli, David Dawson, and Karen Tuttle. It is worth mentioning that Tuttle was the primary student of one of the best-known violists in …

Translucent Voices: Creating Sound Pedagogy And Safe Spaces For Transgender Singers In The Choral Rehearsal, Gerald Dorsey Gurss

Theses and Dissertations

While transgender rights and issues are gaining an increasing amount of attention in both pop culture and, to some extent, in the education sector, little information is available for the choral conductor that provides pedagogical tools for transitioning voices. This document provides conductor-educators with both a brief look at the transgender experience and also tools to create safe learning environments, from gender-inclusive language to vocal exercises to encourage healthy vocal transitions in transgender singers

Twenty-first century choruses are not the first institutions in the realm of Western art music that have faced visual, aural, and enigmatic conceptualizations of gender and …

The Rise Of The Chinese Concerto: A Look Into The Developments Of Chinese Traditional Instrument Concerti With Western Orchestra, Alex Alex Wise

Theses and Dissertations

The mixing of musical traditions between cultures, philosophies, and religions has been a crucial element of music for centuries. However, a marked rise over the last century has seen rapid development of specific East/West fusions that have become known as “fusion concertos.” These fusions combine Eastern and Western compositional techniques as well as Eastern and Western instruments to create new and interesting works for a multitude of ensembles.

This research takes two early examples written by Chinese composers, the worldfamous works Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto and Yellow River Piano Concerto, and analyzes them regarding form, melodic content, harmonic content, and …

The Influence Of Mindful Movement On Elementary Students’ Music Listening Enjoyment And Comprehension, Jean Louise Boiteau

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of mindful movement on elementary students’ listening comprehension and enjoyment. Participants (N = 40) were third-grade music students who participated in an ABAB within-subjects research design. During baseline phases, participants listened to one of four musical selections. During treatment phases, participants completed a mindful movement activity while listening to the musical selections. After each baseline or treatment experience, participants rated how much they enjoyed the musical recording, answered a free-response question justifying why they chose that enjoyment rating, and completed a listening comprehension test. Although there was a slight increase …

Experimental Music In Higher Education: Toward A Pedagogy Of Creativity, Philip Melancthon Snyder V

Theses and Dissertations

Experimental music is rarely taught in higher education music programs but it could nevertheless be useful for providing students a methodology through which to develop creativity. This document seeks to find common ground between the seemingly disparate worlds of classical music and experimental music in pursuit of revealing the usefulness of experimental music practice for musicians trained in the classical tradition. In seeming contrast to classical music, experimental music values include process, indeterminacy, and non-subjectivity. This document shows that these aspects, despite seeming exclusive to experimental music, are in fact integral to all music. This document will also discuss writings …

The Effects Of Learning By Rote With La-Based Minor Solmization On Memory Retention For Pre-College Piano Students, Duong Khuc

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to measure the accuracy and memorized outcome of subjects’ performance who learned a piano piece by rote using la-based minor solmization compared to subjects who learned the identical piece using an intervallic reading approach with identified landmark notes. Ten pre-college piano students above nine years of age at the intermediate level and above participated in this quantitative quasi-experimental study. Five subjects, n=5, received the independent treatment (rote with la-based minor solmization), and the other five subjects, n=5, received the dependent treatment (intervallic reading approach with identified landmark notes). During the timespan of a three-week …

A Guide For Playing The Viola Without A Shoulder Rest, Chin Wei Chang

Theses and Dissertations

Knowing how to hold the viola is always the first step for not only beginners but also for those that progress to become teachers, professional soloists, orchestral musicians, and chamber musicians. Although there are pedagogy books and articles, these resources only devote a small amount to how to hold the instrument. There are also a number of videos online in which violinists or violists share their thoughts on this topic. As a violist, holding the viola is a lifetime issue because of the weight, and the variety of shapes and sizes of the instrument. These factors can cause more difficulty …

The Attitudes And Perceptions Of Undergraduate Non-Keyboard Music Majors Toward The Usage Of Functional Keyboard Harmony In The Group Piano Curriculum At The University Of South Carolina School Of Music, Katherine A. Chandler

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes and perceptions of undergraduate non-keyboard music majors toward functional keyboard harmony in the group piano curriculum at the University of South Carolina School of Music. Sixty-five (65) undergraduate music majors who were enrolled in music degrees in the spring 2018 semester at the University of South Carolina School of Music completed the survey, for an 82% completion rate. The questionnaire had six primary focuses: (1) demographic data and general information of undergraduate non-keyboard music students, (2) students‟ previous music education experiences, (3) students‟ previous harmony education experiences and perceived comprehension …

Analyzing And Comparing Selected Works For Violin And Piano By Chen Gang, Chen Guoquan And Bright Sheng, Liangjun Zou

Theses and Dissertations

Cross-cultural musical synthesis plays an important role in the creation of musical progress in the twentieth century. This dissertation is a study on the development of the use of Chinese folk elements in Western-style compositions by Chinese composers. Through analyses of different compositions by traditional Chinese composers, Chen Gang and Chen GuoQuan, as well as Chinese-born American composer Bright Sheng, the aesthetic variations produced by the synthesis of Western and Eastern music is examined.

Chapter One focuses on the development of Chinese violin music promoted by the efforts of several generations of composers. Chapter Two presents the background information of …

Guided Music Play Between 2-Year-Old Children And A Music Play Facilitator: A Case Study, Kathleen Kaye Arrasmith

Theses and Dissertations

With the intention of increasing social music interaction understanding, the purpose of this study was to investigate guided music play between 2-year-old children and a music play facilitator. The guiding research questions were (a) What play behaviors and roles emerged when the 2-year-old children and I, a music play facilitator, engaged in guided music play? (b) What music emerged when the 2-year-old children and I, a music play facilitator, engaged in guided music play? I purposefully sampled six 2-year-old participants and their two classroom teachers and a music play assistant as passive participant observers, as well as an early childhood …

Examining Professional Music Teacher Identity: A Mixed Methods Approach With Stringed Instrument Teachers, Elizabeth A. Reed

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of professional music teacher identity (PMTI) among stringed instrument teachers who are alumni of the University of South Carolina String Project (USCSP) preservice teacher education program. Using a fixed mixed method design, I first surveyed all USCSP alumni from the past 20 years using the PMTI Questionnaire. For the qualitative portion of the study, the researcher interviewed three USCSP alumnae in their post-second stage of teaching (year 11–20). All USCSP alumni identified, rated, and ranked their expertise in subject matter, didactical, and pedagogical aspects. USCSP post-second stage alumnae also identified …

Diction For Mandarin/Chinese Singers: A Methodology To Achieve Resonant Tone And Vowel Unification In Western Choral Music, Chien-Yi Li

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding vowel production is vital in order to develop a rich choral tone based on unified vowels, appropriate resonance, and freely produced singing. Likewise, correct articulation of consonants produces understandable text. Enunciating the texts of Western choral repertoire is often challenging for Mandarin singers, and learning English pronunciation requires a significant amount of rehearsal time. Further, amateur and developing singers in Mandarin-speaking countries often employ a bright sound and lowered soft palate when singing, in common with their native speaking position. Therefore, voice placement, resonance, and vowel modification must be carefully addressed and improved upon when they are singing Western …

The Tie That Binds: The History, Conductors, And Music Of The Mystic Area Ecumenical Choir Festival, Mark Daniel Merritt

Theses and Dissertations

The Mystic Area Ecumenical Choir Festival, which began in 1968, is now in its 50th year. The festival is sponsored each year by the Mystic Area Ecumenical Council. The festival combines multi-generational choirs from numerous churches in and around the coastal villages of Noank and Mystic in Connecticut. Numerous nationally recognized choral directors, composers, and clinicians have been invited to guest conduct the choirs of the festival. For festival milestones, new choral pieces are commissioned.

This research project explores the history of church choirs in New England, beginning with mandated singing of metrical psalms, the singing schools which started in …

The Role Of Entrainment On An Older Adult’S Stress And Anxiety: A Mixed Methods Study, Francesca Brennan

Theses & Dissertations

Elderly individuals diagnosed with dementia seem to exhibit similar characteristics; anxiety, depression, isolation, pain, and accumulated stress. it is the desire of this researcher to investigate the role of entrainment on an elderly individuals stress and anxiety. The researcher conducts a mixed method study that evaluates quantitative measures such as heart rate and blood pressure, and qualitative measures through interviews. Overall, the findings lead the researcher to believe that entrainment in music therapy can affect an elderly individuals stress and anxiety in a positive way.

Clinical Intuition In Improvisational Music Therapy: A Phenomenological Study Of The Relationship Between Intuition And Music, Nick Farr

Theses & Dissertations

Intuition is a crucial facet of the creative process and influences the clinical pathways of music therapy treatment. This study sought to explore how music therapists with advanced training in clinical improvisation draw upon intuition while improvising with their clients. There is very little literature about intuition in music therapy improvisation, none of which specifically explores how intuition manifests musically. Through a phenomenological investigation, the lived experiences and musical processes of two clinical improvisers were examined. The research questions for this study were: How does intuition manifest musically while improvising? When is this intuitive information used? How is the informed …

A Phenomenological Inquiry Into An Autistic Adolescent's Experience In Relationship-Based Music Therapy From The Perspectives Of The Adolescent And Parent, Diana N. Abourafeh

Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the essence of relationship-based music therapy through the lens of an autistic adolescent and their parent. Though previous research examines this phenomenon through a parent’s perspective (Corcoran et al., 2015; Thompson & McFerran, 2015; Sorel, 2010, 2004; Warren & Nugent, 2010), the present study supports the neurodiversity paradigm shift through providing opportunities for an autistic participant to speak on his experience. The data sources included two interviews, adolescent and parent, as well as indexes of the music therapy session. A thematic analysis was conducted through collecting and analyzing all data sets. Themes were developed and musical descriptions …

Instrumental Music And Reading Achievement Of First Graders, Loralie Heagy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prior research studies point to a correlational relationship between music instruction and academic achievement studies, but varying results and confounding factors prevent causality. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study is to test Vygotsky's sociocultural cognitive theory that playing a musical instrument is significantly associated with academic achievement in reading for 1st graders who attend 1 of 2 schools in Alaska. Using Analysis of Covariance, this study investigates the relationship between instrumental music and academic achievement on measures of academic progress (MAP) reading scores of 1st graders (n = 76) who received at least 90 minutes per week of string instruction …

Individual Ability To Learn A Parallel Processing Technique And Musical Aptitude., Daniel Warren Emmett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correlations between music training and psychosocial skills, sensory abilities, and aspects of intelligence, are sorted into primary or secondary effects. Correlations between these areas of human development and music training lack support pertaining to the underlying cognitive networks that these processes rely on. Thus, this study was based on the work of Baddeley and Hitch's model of working memory, and implemented a test of parallel processing (Articulatory Suppression Task, AST), which measures proficiency of working memory systems. Individual differences therein, were compared with music aptitude. Participants were gathered throughout urban and rural regions of the state of Oregon. Half the …

Concert Recording 2018-04-24a, John Lackey, Ann Rye

Concert Recordings & Programs

[00:00]. Magnificat, BWV 234. Quia fecit mihi magna / Johann Sebastian Bach -- [01:39]. Ich habe genug, cantata no. 82. Schlummert ein / Johann Sebastian Bach -- [10:21]. Vier ernste Gesänge, op. 121. 1. Denn es gehet dem Menschen wie dem Vieh ; 2. Ich wandte mich, und sahe an alle ; 3. O Tod, wie bitter bist du ; 4. Wenn ich mit Menschen - und mit Engelszungen / Johannes Brahms -- [24:13]. Prison / Gabriel Faure -- [26:02]. Dirait-on / Morten Lauridsen -- [30:03]. Dover beach / Samuel Barber -- [37:01]. Le Nozze di Figaro. Non piu andrai …

Concert Recording 2018-10-29, John Lackey, Julia Penner, Ashlee Steffen, Emily Lannutti, Tori Rudolph, Abigail Smith, Diana Weeks, Kyle Forehand, Jameson Jones, Lisa Auten, Mickel Gordon, Clayre Parson, Julia Penner, Florencia Zuloaga

Concert Recordings & Programs

[00:00]. Little red riding hood. The wolf's aria / Seymour Barab -- [01:30]. Die beiden Grenadiene / Robert Schumann -- [04:36]. Jeanie with the light brown hair / Stephen Foster -- [ 07:05]. Verborgenheit / Hugo Wolf -- [09:35]. Ridente la calma / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -- [12:35]. Allerseelen / Richard Strauss -- [15:04]. The tender land. Laurie's song / Aaron Copland -- [18:18]. Come raggio di sol / Antonio Caldara -- [20:32]. Gretchen am Spinnrade / Franz Schubert -- [24:08]. Les Nuits d'Ete. La Spectre de la Rose / Hector Berlioz -- [ 29:29]. Lied der Mignon / Franz …

Concert Recording 2018-04-08b, Cody Hutchison, Jordan Alimena, Nicholas Liebl, David Gonzalez

Concert Recordings & Programs

[00:00]. William Tell overture / Gioacchino Rossini ; arranged by Hutchison -- [04:25]. The village choir / Alexander Borodin -- [06:19]. Fantasy movements. I. Adagio - allegro vivace ; II. Allegro ; III. Slowly ; IV. Very fast and manic ; V. Adagio - allegro / Anthony Plog -- [21:04]. La fille aux cheveux de lin / Claude Debussy ; arranged by Gonzalez -- [23:34]. Take this hammer / Steven Snowden.

Concert Recording 2018-02-09, C. Ryan Tapp, Caroline Colacarro, Maggie Matheny, Ethan Chase, Payton Mccartney, Matthew Swerts, Katelyn Barry, Fiona Slaughter, Jade Carr, Nathan Barker, Samantha Ellis, Blake Manternach, Tyler Weaver, Jaden Adkins, Sara Remoy, Benjamin Grief, Natalie Gohman, Paige Quinn, Krysten Williamson, Jordan Alimena, Stephen Hunt, Cody Hutchison, Brandon Bahara, Nick Fellner, Nicholas Liebl

Concert Recordings & Programs

[ 00:01]. Marche á huit instrumens á vent / Nannette Streicher -- [01:23]. Dixtuor pour instruments á vent. I. Allegro moderato ; II. Moderato ; III. Andante - Allegro scherzando ; IV. Cantabile ; V. Allegro risoluto / Claude Arrieu, née Louise Marie Simon -- [14:56]. Octet for wind instruments / Tera de Marez Oyens -- [21:14]. The unfortunate traveller, suite for brass band. I. Introduction ; II. Scherzo ; III. Interlude ; IV. March / Imogen Holst.

Concert Recording 2018-04-08a, Benjamin Grief, Miroslava Panayotova, Nicholas Liebl, Blake Manternach, Tyler Weaver, Jonathan Catron, Don Juan, Benjamin Turner, Connor Fitzpatrick

Concert Recordings & Programs

[00:00]. Sonatina / Halsey Stevens -- [10:59]. Songs of a wayfarer. I. Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit macht ; II. Ging heut Morgen uber's Feld ; III. Ich hab' ein gluhend Messer ; IV. Die Zwei Blauen Augen / Gustav Mahler -- [30:32]. Sonata in F minor. I. Andante cantabile ; II. Allegro ; III. Andante / Georg Philipp Telemann -- [41:37] 10 pieces for two bass trombones. 1. The hitch hiker ; 6. Cashmere ; 8. Below 10 street / Tommy Pederson -- [46:43]. Gospel time / Jeffrey Agrell.

Concert Recording 2018-11-12, Richard Rulli, Micah Walsh-Levi, Timothy Thompson, Cory Mixdorf, Nicholas Liebl

Concert Recordings & Programs

[00:00]. Quatour en forme de sonatine. I. Allegro grazioso ; II. Andantino tranquilo ; III. Scherzando quasi presto ; IV. Allegro moderato (a la Russe) / Antoine Simon -- [13:30]. 4 miniatures. I. Salutations ; II. Toccata ; III. Lament ; IV. Jubilation / Michael Forbes -- [23:59]. Dance suite. I. Dancisca, for Anthony (Anthony Tudor) ; II. Waltz, for Agnes (Agnes de Mille) ; III. Bi-tango, for Mischa (Mikhail Baryshnikov) ; IV. Two-step, for Mr. B (George Balanchine) ; V. Mtv, for Jerry (Jerome Robbins) / Leonard Bernstein -- [28:34]. Colchester fantasy. I. The rose and the crown ; …

Concert Recording 2018-04-29a, Nicholas Liebl, Cody Hutchison, Jordan Alimena, Austin Dearing, David Gonzalez, Jacob Copps, Nick Fellner, Chandler Abbott, Kevin Robinson, Benjamin Pierce, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Tuba Euphonium Ensemble

Concert Recordings & Programs

[00:00]. Toccata / Girolamo Frescobaldi ; arranged by Joseph Skillen -- [04:29]. Winds. I. Khamsin ; II. Zephyrs ; III. Bora ; IV. Doldrums ; V. Sirocco / Rodger Vaughan -- [16:23]. David and Goliath / Michael Forbes -- [27:41]. Down in the river / traditional arranged by David Gluck -- [30:43]. Ball of fire / Steven Smalley -- [35:48]. Ludus / Vaclav Nelhybel -- [43:44]. Let love be heard / Jake Runestad ; arranged by Cody Hutchison -- [47:37]. Meltdown / Jonathan Sass.

Concert Recording 2018-04-20b, Nicholas Liebl, Tomoko Kashiwagi

Concert Recordings & Programs

[00:00]. Variations in olden style. I. Theme ; II. Variation 1 ; III. Variation 2 ; IV. Variation 3 ; V. Variation 4 ; VI. Variation 5 / Thomas Stevens -- [05:34]. Serenade no. 12. I. Intrada ; II. Arietta ; III. Mascherata ; IV. Capriccio ; V. Intermezzo ; VI. Marcia / Vincent Persichetti -- [12:27]. Sonata. I. Allegro moderato ; II. Lento ; III. Poco allegro / Zoltán Gárdonyi -- [24:06]. Six studies in English folk-song. I. Adagio ; II. Andante sostenuto ; III. Larghetto ; IV. Lento ; V. Andante tranquillo ; VI. Allegro vivace / Ralph …

Concert Recording 2018-02-19, Nicholas Liebl, Cody Hutchison, Jordan Alimena, David Gonzalez, Kelby Taylor, Ismaelena Serrano, Natalie Gohman, Paige Quinn, Luke Synder, Krysten Williamson, Benjamin Pierce,, Stephen Hunt, Chandler Abbott, Nick Fellner

Concert Recordings & Programs

[00:00]. The barber of Seville overture / Gioachino Rossini ; arranged by Hutchison -- [07:44]. Capriccio for tuba and marimba / William Penn -- [17:20]. Galgenlieder, op. 129. I. Das Geburtslied ; II. Das Hemmed ; III. Die zwei Wurzeln ; IV. Die Luft ; V. Fisches Nachtgesang (tuba solo) ; VI. Igel und Agel ; VII. Die beiden Esel ; VIII. Das Gebet / Jan Koetsier -- [27:20] Concerto per tuba e 4 corni. I. Introduction - allegro ; II. Adagio ; III. Allegro con spirito / Corrado Maria Saglietti -- [37:24]. David and Goliath / Mike Forbes.

Concert Recording 2018-09-25, Brian Thacker, Jennifer Lee, Er-Gene Kahng, Sebastian Moorman, Isaac Orvin, Josquin Larsen, Evan Buckner, Dominic K. Na, Matthew Nelson, Carter Buckner

Concert Recordings & Programs

[03:53]. The Holberg suite, op. 40. I. Praeludium (Allegro vivace) ; II. Sarabande (Andante) ; III. Gavotte (Allegretto) ; IV. Air (Andante religioso) ; V. Rigaudon (Allegro con brio) / Edvard Grieg -- [25:03]. Serenade for strings in C major, op. 48. I. Pezzo in forma di sonatina (Andante non troppo - Allegro moderato) ; II. Valse (Moderato - Tempo di valse) ; III. Elegie (Larghetto elegiaco) ; IV. Finale (Tema russo) (Andante - Allegro con spirito) / Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

Concert Recording 2018-12-02c, Garrett Naylor, Jesse Warren, Kelsey Petet, Christian Leon

Concert Recordings & Programs

[00:00] 0 José / Before John 5 / Holló Aurél -- [05:54] Summer treehouse / Chad Floyd -- [11:40] Pieces for four timpani. I. Saeta / Elliot Carter -- [16:20]. Edge of the world / Nathan Daughtrey -- [21:29] Swerve / Gene Koshinski -- [28:26] Four pieces for timpani. III. Elegia ; IV. Finale / John Bergamo -- [32:52] Wildlings / Ivan Trevino.

Concert Recording 2018-05-02b, E. Scott Sewell, Christian Leon, Megan Beard, Dakota Larey, Jordan Strickland

Concert Recordings & Programs

[00:00]. Omphalo centric lecture / Nigel Westlake -- [09:23]. Alter ego / Pat Jacobs -- [17:34]. VIII. March / Elliot Carter -- [21:20]. Bushido: the way of the warrior. I. 仁 Jin (benevolence) ; II. 名誉 Meiyo (honor and glory) ; III. 湯 (bravery and herosim) / John Willmarth -- [30:45]. Texas hoedown / David Friedman -- [37:15]. Cappuccino lovely. I. Choco / Chin Cheng Lin -- [43:39]. True love waits / Radiohead ; arranged by Edwin Scott Sewell.