Music Commons^™

Integrating Symbolic And Waveform Music Into Large Language Models, Teng Tu, Xiaohao Liu, Yunshan Ma, Ji Qi, Tat-Seng Chua

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Music, as a unique and integral element of human life, is characterized by its complex structures, intricate details, and the fusion of multimodal information. Recent study advance music understanding by leveraging knowledge and reasoning capabilities derived from Large Language Models (LLMs). However, they often lack compatibility and fail to fully utilize the complementary strengths of diverse representations (e.g., ABC, MIDI, Waveform). To address these limitations, we propose a unified music-language model framework, named UniMuLM, transitioning from single-representation approaches to the integration of multiple music representations for LLM. Unifying different music representation formats poses challenges such as patch integrity and boundary …

Guide To The Gospel Sheet Music & Songbook Collection, Columbia College Chicago

CBMR Collection Guides / Finding Aids

The gospel sheet music & songbook collection contains published music donated to the CBMR from individual donors, gathered into one collection for better access and research use.

Hegemonic Microtonality: Decolonizing The Soundscape Of Music Theory Pedagogy, Ash K. Wetty

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how Western music theory pedagogy—long organized around tonal and twelve-tone equal-temperament frameworks—structures both what is taught and how students are trained to listen. Through a literature review tracing the historical construction of tonal universality in undergraduate curricula, the project argues that dominant models of music theory reproduce broader epistemic hierarchies inherited from Western conservatory traditions. Situating these histories within my own experience as a student navigating institutional listening norms, the thesis combines critical self-reflection with ethnographic research conducted across five liberal arts institutions, including the CBB consortium and JanPlan research at Wesleyan University and Amherst College. Rather …

A Profile Of Arnold Jacobs, Carolyn M. Totaro, Caedmon Goettel

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Profile of Arnold Jacobs including his books and extraordinary tenure with the Chicago Symphony.

A Profile Of Vaslav Nijinsky, Carolyn M. Totaro, Megan Hoggarth

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Profile of Vaslav Nijinsky

Μmodules: A Low-Cost, Eurorack-Compatible Modular Audio Synthesis System, Nolan K. Juneau

Honors Theses and Capstones

The modular audio synthesizer is one of the fastest-growing industries in contemporary music technology. Unlike a traditional audio synthesizer, a modular synthesizer allows for the user to directly control the signal path and effects of the synthesized sound, allowing for a workflow that is completely customizable to an individual musician and their creative vision. However, the modules and cases currently in production for the common “Eurorack” design standard can be prohibitively expensive to new users, often costing thousands of dollars for even a small system. The µModules project aims to eliminate this financial barrier to modular synthesis by using inexpensive …

Guitar Amplifier Directivity, Rachel C. Edelman, Brian E. Anderson, Samuel D. Bellows, Timothy W. Leishman

Directivity

No abstract provided.

A Practice-Led Exploration Into The Melodic And Rhythmic Techniques Of Kenny Kirkland, Reuben Cope

Theses : Honours

Kenneth David Kirkland (Kenny Kirkland) was one of the most in demand and influential jazz pianists of the late twentieth century. Highly regarded among peers and critics, Kirkland worked extensively with numerous jazz luminaries and was best known for his work with both Wynton and Branford Marsalis, as well as with the pop star Sting.

This study aims to advance my ability as an improviser to access and utilise the melodic and rhythmic techniques featured within the improvisations of Kenny Kirkland. This aim was guided by observed limitations in my ability to shape the arc of my improvisations to push …

Interpretable Repertoire Search For Computer Supported Aural Skills Teaching: A Searchable Sia Based Digital Companion, Peter G. Fielding

Bailey School of Music Faculty Publications

Aural skills teaching depends heavily on repertoire selection, yet many large print and heritage song collections remain difficult to search in pedagogically meaningful ways. Teachers may need melodies with limited pitch collections for early solfège, modal examples for comparative listening, or repertory with controlled chromatic complexity, but such features are rarely indexed in printed sources. This paper proposes a computer-supported response to that problem: a searchable, rights-aware digital companion built around tonic-centered successive interval arrays (SIAs). SIAs provide an interpretable representation of pitch space by encoding the cyclic step pattern among the pitch classes present in a melody after tonic …

Serenade No.2, James C. Mechem

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Serenade No.2 is a seventeen minute composition for Wind Symphony, dedicated to each

of my mentors in classical composition during the past 10 years: John Carbon, Brian Norcross,

Samuel Andreyev, Jay Chadwick, Adam Silverman, Robert Maggio, Ari Sussman, and Mark

Rimple. Through this composition, my goal was to both pay homage to the individuals that

helped shape my artistic voice, and to additionally connote each movement with evocative

oceanic imagery, specifically through the title of each movement in the composition. I included

this latter detail in reference to a vacation that I went on in August of 2025 to Atlantic …

From Vision To Practice: Developing A Field-Informed Framework For Music Education In Catholic Schools, Melita Mudri-Zubacz

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This study aimed to develop a sustainable and mission-focused framework for music  education in Catholic elementary schools, in order to bridge the gap between the theological ideals of Catholic education and the lack of operational models for its implementation. The problem had significant implications for school leaders, music teachers, and students, as it restricted the potential of the school’s music programs to support the development of Catholic identity and liturgical participation.

The purpose of this study was to develop a field-informed and consensus-driven framework based on Catholic identity, sustainability, and expertise. The conceptual framework for this study integrated theological and …

Student Retention In Music Programs: An Analysis Of Relationships Between Selected Student Demographics And Continued Enrollment In Music Programs With The Presence Of School-Provided Supports, Jessica Wiese

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Music education provides significant cognitive, social, and academic benefits; however, elective music programs often face substantial annual attrition. While existing literature has documented material barriers (e.g., instrument costs, transportation, scheduling conflicts), this study investigates the persistence of attrition within a medium-sized suburban district on Long Island that has systematically mitigated these obstacles. The district provides free instruments, flexible scheduling, and dedicated transportation for all students. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to determine whether demographic disparities in music enrollment remain predictive of withdrawal in such a post-barrier environment.

The research used a two-phase explanatory sequential design. In the first …

Striving For Greater Equity And Access For Neurodivergent College Music Students, Rhoda Bernard

Faculty Works

An increasing number of neurodivergent individuals are enrolling in colleges and universities, where they often encounter a wide range of challenges, such as ableist attitudes, policies, and practices, emotional distress, and academic struggles. This Commentary examines issues of equity and access for neurodivergent higher education music students through discussion and analysis of two initiatives at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The recommendations of neurodivergent researchers and neurodivergent higher education community members are employed as a critical lens for these initiatives, and as a framework for the field.

An Analysis Of Gustav Mahler’S Use Of The Timpani With Reference To Historical Performance Practice And Contemporary Performances Of His Works., Stephen Kelly

Research Theses

Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) held important positions in Europe and America in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century as a conductor of operatic and symphonic repertoire. As a composer, his output spans a significant transitional period in classical music, from Romanticism to early Modernism. His life and work represents a revolutionary period of change in many developmental aspects of the modern orchestra. Changing social norms, larger concert halls, and technical developments in instrument-making all combined to alter the presentation and, as a consequence, the reception of classical music during this time. As conductor of some of the finest orchestras …

Development And Validation Of A Music Teacher Candidate Assessment, Phillip Hash

Faculty Publications - Music

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Music Teacher Candidate Assessment (MTCA), a rubric-based tool for evaluating student teachers in music classrooms. Factor analyses of scores issued by university supervisors (USs), cooperating teachers (CTs), and student teachers (STs) supported construct validity, explained 53.5% of the variance, and revealed two subscales: Pedagogy (I) and Professionalism (II). Concurrent validity resulted from a strong correlation (r_s = .83) between evaluators’ rubric averages and holistic ratings of performance. Inter-factor correlation (r = .65) confirmed discriminant validity. All groups exceeded the α ≥ .80 threshold for acceptable internal …

Shadows And Stars: How To Bring Student Compositions To Life, Dylan K. Ahrens

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Student composer Dylan Ahrens will present a session titled 'Shadows and Stars: a Symphony for Band,' premiered by the Belmont University Wind Ensemble on April 17, 2026. The composer will provide an analysis of the piece, discuss compositional processes, and outline the experience of learning to conduct one's own work with a collegiate ensemble. This presentation will include audio and video sample of rehearsal and performance, as well as images from the score.

A Study Of Ionisation By Edgard Varese, Carolyn M. Totaro, Mason Weintz

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Study of Ionisation by Edgard Varese discussing the instrumentation and significance.

A Study Of The Makrokosmos By George Crumb, Carolyn M. Totaro, Hampton Turner

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Study of the Makrokosmos by George Crumb covering its inspiration, innovative composing, and significance.

A Profile Of Trevor Pinnock, Carolyn M. Totaro, Connor Skelly

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Profile of Trevor Pinnock covering his youth, education, and extensive performing career.

A Study Of The Airs For The Seasons By James Oswald, Carolyn M. Totaro, Sophie Nicholls

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Study of the Airs for the Seasons by James Oswald discussing the programmatic qualities of the works, their organization, their instrumentation, and significance.

A Study Of The Octet For Winds By Igor Stravinsky, Carolyn M. Totaro, Andres Montes

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Study of the Octet for winds by Igor Stravinsky including a brief biography of the composer and a discussion of the instrumentation, form, and significance.

A Study Of The Ballet The Firebird By Igor Stravinsky, Carolyn M. Totaro, Lia Juan

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Study of the ballet The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky covering the original conception of the music, its evolution, and significance.

A Profile Of Isaac Stern, Carolyn M. Totaro, Hailee Howard

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Profile of Isaac Stern covering his amazing performance career.

A Profile Of Jeanne Baxtresser, Carolyn M. Totaro, Simone Gore

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Profile of Jeanne Baxtresser discussing her education, tenure with the New York Philharmonic, publications, and teaching.

A Profile Of Pablo Casals, Carolyn M. Totaro, Thomas Canas

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Profile of the legendary cellist Pablo Casals including his education, performing, and activism.

A Profile Of Richard Stoltzman, Carolyn M. Totaro, Ted Bielecki

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Profile of Richard Stoltzman including his education, mentors, and career.

A Study Of Finlandia By Jean Sibelius, Carolyn M. Totaro, Aidan Aycock

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Study of Finlandia by Jean Sibelius covering its composition, instrumentation, and significance.

A Study Of The Sinfonietta By Leoš Janáček, Carolyn M. Totaro, Ezra Vorvick

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Study of the Sinfonietta by Leoš Janáček discussing its form, instrumentation, and significance.

A Profile Of Alice Chalifoux Of The Cleveland Orchestra, Carolyn M. Totaro, Sage Talamanco

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Profile of Alice Chalifoux of the Cleveland Orchestra covering her remarkable tenure and teaching career.

A Profile Of The Partch Ensemble, Carolyn M. Totaro, Grant Stanley

SPARK Symposium Presentations

A Profile of the Partch Ensemble discussing its formation, repertoire, and performances.