Music Commons^™

The Changing Role Of The Bass Clarinet: Support For Its Integration Into The Modern Clarinet Studio, Jennifer Beth Iles

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The bass clarinet of the twenty-first century has come into its own. Composers often treat it as a solo instrument and clarinetists are more often expected to play bass clarinet. In the last half of the twentieth century, the amount of literature for bass clarinet has grown and the quality of the instruments have improved exponentially. Still, most university studios focus primarily on B-flat clarinet. This document is intended as a pedagogical guide for the inclusion of the bass clarinet in the clarinet studio. As support for incorporating the bass clarinet into the undergraduate curriculum, this document describes three areas …

From Paper To Podium: Exploring The Gap Between University Training And Professional Experience In Orchestral Conductors, Rachel L. Waddell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In African polyrhythmic drum circles there is a proverb that exemplifies the necessity of common vision and community in group musical performance: “I am because we are.” This simple ideal is ostensibly mirrored in the western institution of the symphonic orchestra, an ensemble of many that nevertheless must arrive at one, shared interpretation of a piece of music. The structure of the orchestra is a complicated hierarchy with section players at its base, followed by principals, the concertmaster, and finally the conductor. Although conductors are the public face of leadership in orchestras, if they alienate the musicians they will have …

Musical Portrayals Of Death In Mussorgsky’S Songs And Dances Of Death, Graham Michael Anduri

Dissertations

Musorgsky’s Songs and Dances of Death presents a set of unique portrayals of death in art song literature. Aside from the obvious challenge of the Russian language and Cyrillic alphabet which are unfamiliar to most Western performers, the unique musical style, historical context, and complex psychological implications of Songs and Dances of Death require a good deal of study before one can fully grasp the profundity and importance of this cycle.

Musorgsky’s views on music and life, the Zeitgeist in which these songs were composed, a historical analysis of the medieval Dance of Death tradition and its influence on the …

Psappha By Iannis Xenakis: Developing Multiple Percussion Literacy, Owen Phillip Rockwell

Dissertations

Psappha by Iannis Xenakis was written for a solo percussionist in 1975, and since then has been performed almost exclusively by elite musicians. The work suffers from broad neglect by students and professionals alike, because the structure and notation are difficult to access. Through Psappha, Xenakis created an alternative approach to serialist and chance compositional techniques that enabled him to communicate what he believed was rhythm in its purest form. The notation is unconventional and challenges the performer to approach Psappha in a similar manner. The main thrust of this project was to re-imagine the work in a more …

Clinical Supervisors' Experience With Conflict With Music Therapy Interns, Joanna M. Kelly

Theses & Dissertations

Clinical supervision is integral to student development during music therapy internship, yet fundamental characteristics of the supervisory relationship can become a source of conflict. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to construct the essence of music therapy clinical supervisors’ experience of conflict with their interns. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five music therapy clinical supervisors: three with more than five years of experience supervising interns and two with less than three years of experience. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes. Different themes emerged based on supervisors’ level of experience, which informed my construction of the phenomenological essence. Supervisors’ …

Considerations For Introducing And Practicing Wellness In Harp Pedagogy And Performance, Alexandra Haile Calvert

Music Theses & Dissertations

Movement, breath, and intense focus are crucial to the playing of any musical instrument. In addition, these are important areas in many wellness methods. Many harpists are prone to injury from playing, moving their harps, sitting with poor posture, and not warming up the body before playing. By considering and incorporating the wellness practices of ergonomics, Alexander Technique, yoga, meditation, and constructing a conducive learning and practicing environment, the risk of injury may be lowered for harpists. The purpose of this study is to research and present various methods in which harpists can prevent injury. This study will assess the …

The Process Of Musical Acquisition For Traditional String Musicians In The Homeschool Environment, Keith R. Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how three accomplished traditional string musicians learned music in their homeschool environments. Data were derived from formal interviews of the three musicians. The research framework for this qualitative study is based upon the socio-educational model of second language learning motivation developed by R. C. Gardner (1959, 1985, 2004, 2010) and applied to the study of instrumental music learning motivation by P. D. MacIntyre (2012). Structured interview questions, triangulated by additional informal dialogues, field observations, externally documented sources, and collaboration with an expert review panel were the data collection activities utilized in the research. Five overarching themes …

Leah Ginsky, Mezzo Soprano Senior Recital, Leah Ginsky

Music

A senior vocal recital given by Mezzo Soprano Leah Ginsky and accompanied by Susan Azaret Davies. Selections include French, Italian, German, Spanish, and English arias and art songs.

We Begin When We Finish When We Begin, Students Of Risd, Risd Archives

All Student Newspapers

We Begin When We Finish When We Begin was a graduate student publication published in 2015. It featured essays, interviews, and student work dealing with themes of identity, geography, academics, and student life. Students as well as faculty contributed.

Dewey Meets Bluegrass: Progressive Educational Theory In The Establishment Of Traditional Music Programs In Higher Education, John C. Goad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study focuses on connections between the Progressive era educational theories of John Dewey and present-day bluegrass and traditional music programs in higher education in order to explore a pedagogical basis for such programs. The research specifically examines Dewey’s beliefs in experiential learning, individualization, and vocational education and their current applications in traditional music education. The study included two major components: historical research into Dewey’s writings and primary and secondary sources regarding traditional music education in the United States, and interviews of faculty members in college and university bluegrass and traditional music programs. The thesis of this study is that …

Why We Do What We Do: A Look At Factors That Draw College Freshmen To Music Education, Emilee V. Randall

Honors Theses

At some point during college, most students face conflict when it comes to their choice in major. Indeed, an estimated 75 percent of students change their major at least once before graduating (Gordon, 1995). Specifically in the field of music education, there are instances where at least 50 percent of freshman music education majors do not complete the music education degree through to graduation (Gavin, 2010, p. 94). When considering statistics like these, it becomes obvious that selecting a major has serious implications for the majority of students, not just undecided ones. These students may have difficulty perceiving themselves as …

Zwischenfach – A Distinct Voice Type: A Study Of Fach Through Specific Roles In The Works Of Richard Wagner And Richard Strauss, Stephanie Weiss

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The term Zwischenfach has been described in a small number of papers, with the emphasis on its paradoxes and its lack of research. However, in none of these papers is there concrete evidence that the Zwischenfach should be considered a separate voice category rather than simply an “in-between” Fach. The goal of this paper is to explore the thesis that the Zwischenfach should be considered a separate and distinct Fach. Supporting evidence includes studies on tessitura, range, vowel usage, and the orchestration of roles, as examined in the arias of five characters in the operas of Wagner and Strauss. Establishing …

Virtuoso Violinist Maud Powell: Enduring Champion For American Women In Professional Music, Sarah Joy Pizzichemi

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

Maud Powell, the first great American virtuoso violinist, sparked a change in the spirit of the advancement of classical music throughout North America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This document addresses gender inequality present in the classical music profession during Powell’s lifetime. It also explores the roles women occupied in the public and private spheres in Western art music of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. More specifically, it investigates the life of virtuoso violinist Maud Powell through her activism and interest in American women in professional music.

The document is divided into three parts. After a …

Recruiting For The Collegiate Marching Band: A Study Of Student Perceptions Of Recruitment And College Choice Factors In Kansas And Missouri, Alan Douglas Whitten

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The marching band is an important and iconic part of the game day atmosphere at athletic events and community functions at colleges and universities throughout the United States. At many institutions, the band is a great source of pride and considerable resources are committed in an effort to have the best band possible. A key component to having the best band possible is having effective recruiting practices.

There is a large body of research on recruiting general student populations and many other sub categories of students, including music majors. However, research regarding recruitment of students that participate in marching band …

The Role Of Songs In Music Therapy With Adults Who Have Developmental Disabilities, Gregory Razzano

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to conduct a holistic investigation into the role of songs in music therapy in the lives of adults who have developmental disabilities. Four music therapists with experience with this population participated in open-ended interviews about the role of songs with their clients. McFerran and Grocke’s (2007) method of qualitative interview analysis was used to find the individual and collective essences of the participants’ experiences. Four global themes were associated with the role of songs in relation to clients: developing familiarity and attachment; receiving safety and stability; bringing out the able, engaged individual; and …

The Role Of Personal Therapy For Music Therapists: A Survey, Carla D. Chikhani

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes toward and prevalence of use of personal therapy among music therapists. An online survey was conducted with a sample of 132 music therapists working per diem, part-time, and full-time in the Unites States. A total of 130 surveys were analyzed using quantitative methods. The study examined the prevalence of use of personal therapy among music therapists, the ways music therapists seek to increase their personal development, the reasons and importance of receiving personal therapy, and the benefits of receiving personal therapy. Prevalence of use of non-music personal therapy was 33.6%, …

Exploring The Implications Of Resource-Oriented Music Therapy For Medical Practice, Jacqueline M. Christen

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore the implications of resource-oriented music therapy (RoMT) in medical practice. This approach has been applied to other populations in music therapy practice, but remains under-researched in the medical environment. Three participants, each of whom works in the medical setting, were interviewed. A descriptive analysis was used to identify particular themes that emerged from the interview process. These themes were then related to each component of the RoMT approach. The results showed that despite not having a comprehensive understanding of the RoMT approach, each of the participants practiced in ways that supported the …

Emotional Responses To Musical Dissonance In Musicians And Nonmusicians, Rebecca Joan Bumgarner

Masters Theses

The purpose of this project was to investigate the influence of music education on individuals’ subjective and physiological responses to consonant and dissonant excerpts. Participants were categorized as having high experience (HE) or low experience (LE) in music education. Participants listened to 40 randomized excerpts of music, half of which were consonant, the other half dissonant. Electrodermal Activity (EDA) and Facial Electromyography (EMG) data were collected for each participant, as well as self-reports of perceived pleasantness for each excerpt. It was expected that HE participants “learned” dissonance through music education, and therefore would respond more strongly to dissonant excerpts. As …

A Comparison Study Of Diagnostic Outcomes Between The Music Therapy Assessment Tool For Awareness In Disorders Of Consciousness (Matadoc) And The Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (Crs-R), Caitlyn E. Bodine

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore preliminary external validation of a standardized music therapy assessment tool used in the detection of awareness with the DOC patient population with an external reference standard. Eight subjects were administered both the MATADOC and the CRS-R within five days of one another, and results were compared on the levels of overall diagnosis, analogous domain subscales, and intra-assessment relationships between individual domains and overall diagnosis. Results indicated a very strong level of agreement for overall diagnosis (r_s = .85, p < .01), very strong relationships between the auditory and visual components of the two assessments (r_s = .76, p < .05, and r_s = .81, p < .05, respectively), and a strong, but non-significant relationship between arousal scores on the two assessments (r …