Music Commons^™

Pedal Points: Harmony And The Double-Action Pedal System In Modern Harp Music, Mckenna Jennings

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pedals are an invisible guide in chromatic harp repertoire. While the evolution of tonality and rise in chromaticism incentivized the invention of the double-action pedal harp, the unique restraints and extensions of this technological system influence harmony and pitch collections in chromatic harp music. This thesis explores the pedal harp and the influence the affordance and idiomacy of the pedal layout exerts onto chromatic harp repertoire. It draws on embodiment and schema theory to describe patterns of pedal motion in harp music, thus presenting and demonstrating an original theory of pedal schemas. Pedal schemas are patterns of motion defined by …

A Parent's Experience During Their Autistic Child's In-Home Music Therapy, Dana Raicaldo

Theses & Dissertations

Little is known about the lived experience of parents who participate in their child’s in-home music therapy sessions. This descriptive phenomenological inquiry explored the experience of a parent who participates in her child’s in-home music therapy sessions. Through a thematic analysis of the data, five themes emerged: Parental Concern Regarding Jack’s Participation Style, Appreciation for Music Therapist, Claire Finds Joy in Jack’s Joy, Ambiguity of Mother’s Role, and Questioning the “Right Way.” An important finding in this research highlights the necessity of a parent understanding their role in music therapy sessions with their children. The study underscored the importance of …

Methodologies And Adaptations: A Survey Of Selected Teachers And Those Who Specialize In Self-Contained Music Classrooms, Lori Scantlin

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the methodologies and adaptations utilized in both self-contained and inclusive music classes for students with special needs in Southwest Missouri. Additionally, the study investigated the availability of and resources for self-contained music education classes. To address these topics, selected teachers were invited to respond through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Music teachers from across southwest Missouri, accessed via the Southwest Missouri Music Educators Association website listing of schools and staff, were emailed, and asked to participate in the survey using the provided link to the Google form questionnaire. 37 people responded to the …

A Survey Of Collegiate Voice Students With Asthma And Allergies And Their Perceived Impact On Singer Health And Performance Experiences – A Pilot Study, Nicole D. Jenkins

Dissertations, 2020-current

An increasing body of research evidence indicates that college students of all majors with asthma and/or allergies represent a vulnerable population due to their inability to experience a consistent and dependable quality of life compared with their healthy collegiate peers. Further, in terms of their impact specifically on collegiate singers, the intricate network of co-morbid conditions associated with asthma and allergies, including pain, wheezing, and discomfort combined with physical symptoms of stress, disturbed sleep, fatigue, diminished concentration, depression, and high-risk behaviors, cannot be underestimated. As such, this study aims to identify and analyze the health impediments caused by asthma and/or …

Critical And Creative Response To The Art And Music Of Bjork, Acadia Joniec

Bryant University Undergraduate Journal

No abstract provided.

With Love, ; An Interdisciplinary And Intersectional Look At Why Creativity Is Essential, Theo Starr Gardner

Whittier Scholars Program

My Whittier Scholars Program self-designed major, Teaching Creativity, is a mixture of Art, Literature, and Education classes. My research and praxis classes have been focused on the ‘how?’s and 'why?’s of creativity, so it felt only right that my project should be a constructivist, generative project. The project I have been working on throughout my time at Whittier, and that has just fully come to fruition on April 11th, 2024, was a solo art gallery/open mic event entitled ‘With Love,’. With Love, was conceptually inspired by the research I’ve conducted on creativity and creative arts education over the past few …

Modes In Heavy Metal Music, Richard W. Young Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Modality is quite commonplace in heavy metal music, including some of the less common modes such as Phrygian and Locrian. This thesis provides musical examples and analyses of heavy metal music based on theories of scholars such as Brett Clement and Nicole Biamonte and demonstrates how modes are used in conjunction with other musical elements such as meter, tempo, instrumentation, and timbre to paint the text and color the sound. The primary focus of repertoire is selected works from the 1970s and early ’80s by early metal pioneers Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, and Scorpions. Other brief examples from Metallica, Yngwie …

Generational Awareness Of Folk Figures In The American Midwest, Addison L. Jensen

Honors Thesis

The popular folklore of a region can clearly reflect how its citizens understand themselves and their nation. The goal of this study was to determine the number of individuals who can be considered “well-versed” in traditional folklore and to speculate on the possible reasons for the differences in recognition that arise. Five figures (Johnny Appleseed, John Henry, Paul Bunyan, Annie Oakley, and Rip Van Winkle) were selected to serve as a representative sample of folk characters that have been historically significant to the country. An online survey of 279 Midwesterners and interviews with various age groups in South Dakota, found …

Impressionism In The Hands Of Griffes, Bauer, And Howe, And The Musical Climate In Early 20th-Century America, Elaine Sara Lim

Dissertations, 2020-current

American composers Charles Griffes (1884-1920), Marion Bauer (1882-1955), and Mary Howe (1882-1964) are considered “Impressionist” composers by some scholars. This document will explore selected piano works of each composer to determine the extent to which impressionistic traits are present. Topics such as tonality, harmony, texture, and individual style will be examined, as well as the significant relationship between music and poetry. American Impressionism was short-lived but served as a link to Modernism, as all three composers eventually experimented with other styles. Early 20th-century American audiences, accustomed to the influx of European artists and music, were slow to embrace the new …

Pedagogical Tools And Techniques For The Development Of Harmonic Audiation, Ensemble Intonation, And Textual Imagery Through The Choral Music Of Ola Gjeilo, Nikolaos Myrogiannis-Koukos

Dissertations, 2020-current

Aspiring and dedicated choral directors strive to program music that is not only valuable to the growth of their ensembles’ skills in music literacy and choral performance but also institutes opportunities for memorable and meaningful performing experiences. Research in choral pedagogy conducted within the past two decades suggests that choral music is considered pedagogically appropriate, regardless of the musical aptitude of the performers involved, when it showcases elements that are often summarized in three separate yet equally essential qualities: the simultaneous development of multiple technical aspects of singing and a sense of intonation, including the development of sight-singing skills, the …

The ‘Well-Rounded’ Artist: An Intersectionality Of Stage Presence, Artistry, And Entrepreneurship, Megan E. Zuhowski

Dissertations, 2020-current

Undergraduate voice students spend hours over their degree in coursework relevant to bettering their overall musicianship. Coursework in music history and music theory, coupled with applied lessons, allows students to develop the knowledge necessary for their future professions. While universities strive to equip students with advanced music proficiencies, as the landscapes of professional opportunities shift and morph into work in multiple genres of expertise, students may not receive the full scope of skills needed to be independent entrepreneurial designers.

The purpose of this DMA document is to explore the intersectionality of stage presence, artistry, and entrepreneurship through a course offering …

The Call Is Coming From Inside The House: Sexual Misconduct In U.S. Band Programs, Hannah Greer-Young

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The purpose of this study was to articulate the experiences of former band students related to sexual misconduct among students and between staff and students. Researchers and investigators have claimed that band professionals have prioritized performance level and musical accomplishment over the safety and well-being of students (Office of University Compliance and Integrity, 2014; Nadolny, 2018; Wells, 2022). Authors of studies related to sexual misconduct in U.S. Bands have also suggested that educators in the band profession prefer to handle sexual misconduct “in-house” (Wells, 2022) and that, in general, teachers may be the least likely group to report educator sexual …

Hearing Voice In Henryk Górecki's "Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs", Jason Jedlicka

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

Classical composer Henryk Górecki’s Symphony No. 3, subtitled ‘Symphony of Sorrowful Songs,’ interweaves his devout Catholicism and interest in Polish folk music with three texts that deal with motherhood and loss of a child. Written for solo soprano voice and orchestra, the piece’s expressive clarity provides optimal space for the voice—in the many literal and figurative senses of the word—to illuminate the text.

Though much has been written about this symphony’s emotional impact on listeners, little has been written about the piece from an analytical, interpretive point of view. In this talk, I perform a close analysis of the …

Improved Motor Skills In Autistic Children After Three Weeks Of Neurologic Music Therapy Via Telehealth: A Pilot Study, Nicole M. Richard Williams, Corene Hurt-Thaut, Jessica Brian, Luc Tremblay, Marija Pranjic, Jessica Teich, Melissa Tan, Julia Kowaleski, Michael Thaut

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Many autistic children experience motor skill deficits which can impact other areas of functioning, and research on therapeutic interventions for motor skills in autism is in a preliminary stage. Music-based therapies have been used extensively to address motor skills in non-autistic populations. Though a handful of studies exist on the effects of music-based therapies for movement in autistic children, none have investigated the possibility of administering sessions via telehealth. This mixed-methods pilot study investigated whether nine Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT)^® sessions via telehealth would improve motor and attention skills in autistic children.

Methods: Five autistic children between five …

Artificial Intelligence And Music: Analysis Of Music Generation Techniques Via Deep Learning And The Implications Of Ai In The Music Industry, David Bryce

Honors Projects in Data Science

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly gaining relevancy in creative fields, and its emergence into the music industry comes with many unique implications. This paper examines the technical processes of creating music with AI and machine learning, the relationship between music and emotion, and finally the implications and ethical considerations for AI generated music in creative industries. As part of this project, a generative deep learning model (Music Variational Autoencoder) is explored and applied to generate music using a pre-trained training set of piano rolls. The AI reconstructions are based on self-made 4 measure electronic instrumental tracks. 46 …

Canciones De Cuna En La Frontera: Las Canciones De Cuna En El Valle De Juárez / Lullabies In The Border: Lullaby Singing In El Valle Of Juarez, Emma Alvarez De La Rosa

The Agora

Resumen en español:

Las canciones de cuna desempeñan un papel importante en el desarrollo de los niños, el bienestar de la madre y las relaciones sanas entre padres e hijos. Estas canciones también representan acervos musicales de valores y tradiciones culturales. Este trabajo resume la investigación y los resultados obtenidos para mi proyecto final Honors Capstone para la New Mexico State University, que examina la preservación de las canciones de cuna en la región del Valle de Juárez y Ciudad Juárez. Basadas en análisis etnográficos y etnomusicológicos para entender su importancia en la historia y cultura de la región fronteriza, …

J. S. Bach's Use Of The Oboe Family In His Cantata Works, Benjamin Newman

Senior Honors Theses

J.S. Bach used more idiomatic practices for the oboe family in his vocal works. Bach combined his own musical inspirations with the practices used by other composers, giving the oboe a greater variety in its orchestral roles. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate Bach’s use of the oboe family in some of his cantatas and vocal works. This thesis provides an overview of the historical context of Bach’s works for oboe, a brief biography of the composer, information about the development of the oboe family, and relevant musical analyses featuring the oboe family from selected Bach works. An …

The Technical Code For Worship: Inquiry Of Technological Use In Corporate Musical Worship, Rayah Smith

Senior Honors Theses

There are many people who have researched and written on the topic of technology in corporate musical worship. The research reveals eight biblical principles for the use of technology in those contexts as follows: technology in corporate musical worship is meant to be practical; is meant to help the Church communicate; is meant to be driven by the Holy Spirit; is meant to be intentionally efficient; is meant to encourage a unified heart of worship to God; is meant to communicate the gospel; is meant to reflect and amplify God; and is meant to be done with hearts pleasing to …

Performing Original Arrangements Of Jazz Repertoire, Spencer M. Mackey

Honors Capstones

My goal with this Capstone project was to encapsulate my four years of music and jazz education at Northern Illinois University into a senior recital. I picked repertoire that spanned my whole college career and decided to arrange for jazz combo settings which is something I enjoy doing a lot. Arranging is an important concept in jazz music. My research for this project took a relatively simple approach; I listened to jazz music. Specifically, I listened to multiple versions of the tunes on my recital, compositions by the composers I was featuring on my recital, and other various recordings that …

Exploring The Bass Trombone, Liam Kantzler

Honors Capstones

The purpose of the capstone is to provide a performance on the bass trombone that explores many different styles of music. I will use different techniques to evoke many different styles, as well as performing pieces outside of the standard repertoire, and some that aren't written for the instrument. The process for this capstone began long before the project began, although the preparation for the performance included daily practice and study of each of the pieces. Many rehearsals were put together, including music for chamber music portions and a few to put solo parts with piano accompaniment. The performance itself …

Uni School Of Music Presents...Northern Iowa Youth Orchestra In Concert, May 5, 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.

Community Music School Spring Recital, May 5, 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.

Community Music School Spring Recital, May 4, 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.

String Project: Spring Concert, May 4, 2024, Benjamin De Kock, Cora Swenson Lee, Katherine Lewis

School of Music Programs

Center for the Performing Arts
May 4, 2024
Saturday Morning
11:00 a.m.

Apple Of My Eye, Lili Tobias

Theses and Dissertations

In a near-future defined by climate change, apples have been driven extinct by a blight. Now, a biologist has engineered them back to life, and the opera centers on a mother and child waiting on line to obtain one of the first new apples.

Ākāśā, Ramya Thiyagarajan

Theses and Dissertations

Program Notes

Ākāśā represents the subtlest form of matter and is often described as the infinite space in which all other elements exist, akin to a canvas upon which the universe is painted. From this primordial element emerges all vibrations that become Sound.

While waiting in line at a Shiva temple in South India, I was struck by the multitude of sounds filling the vast space. Percussion instruments played different rhythms in front of different deities, there was a melodic reed instrument, chants, singing and bells. Voices of people conversing intertwined with this musical tapestry. As the busy soundscape intensified, …

Rebetiko In Nyc: New Ideas Of Greek Diaspora, Mihalis Alisandratos

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores ideas of Greekness within the modern rebetiko space of New York City through the use of both ethnographic and reflexive techniques. Combining thick description, interview analysis, and extensive self reflection, this thesis endeavors to better understand how Greek American rebetiko musicians in NY today conceive of their experience in diaspora.

“Here’S My Brown Soul!”: Identity And Transformation In Tejano Music, Joseph Guzman

Theses and Dissertations

The music genre of música tejana, known later as Tejano music, is the musical celebration of Texas-Mexican, or tejano, identity and transformation. This paper explores and reflects on the topics of transformation, identity, and current state of Tejano music, including first-hand experiences and recent conversations with Tejano musicians.

Just Save Me, Terrence Mcmanus

Theses and Dissertations

Just Save Me is a work that deals with tremendous personal struggle. The piece was written primarily in May of 2022, with revisions taking place in the months after. Just Save Me utilizes a complex formal structure, improvisation, and incorporates elements of jazz, rock, and minimalism.

Bringing Recess Music Indoors: How Attention To Musical Play In The Classroom Impacts A School Community, Angelina B. Scolari

Theses and Dissertations

Why should elementary music teachers learn about the games their students play at recess? This paper discusses the process of recovering children’s folklore at a Bronx elementary school, what findings can teach us about the children in our lives, and how music teachers can use “kid culture” in the classroom.