Music Education Commons^™

Harmonizing Tradition And Technology: Exploring The Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Applied Music Instruction, Elizabeth Blanton Momand

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

This presentation highlights how AI tools can enhance applied music instruction by providing real-time feedback, streamlining lesson planning, and personalizing instruction. Attendees will learn how AI fosters more effective teaching and independent student practice, while also exploring opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. This session equips music educators with strategies to modernize teaching and improve outcomes in 21st-century music programs.

Build Your Own Chatbot For Any Music Course – It’S Easier Than You Think!, Art Brownlow

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

Imagine a teaching assistant available 24/7 to answer students’ questions and support their learning—now, with custom GPT chatbots, that vision is a reality. This session demonstrates two AI tools created for music history courses: an Informational Chatbot for course policies, assignments and deadlines; and a Tutor Chatbot for mastering course content. These tools enhance learning, accommodate diverse schedules, and improve efficiency by automating routine tasks. Attendees will learn to create their own custom AI chatbots while exploring practical insights and best practices, inspiring them to integrate AI into their classrooms.

Don’T Do-It-Yourself: The Exquisite Corpse And Collaborative Play In Undergraduate Electronic Music Pedagogy, Josh Biggs

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

In this demonstration, I focus on the Exquisite Corpse as a pedagogical tool for undergraduate electronic music production courses, and more broadly argue for the practical and theoretical value of integrating collaborative and iterative improvisational tools in undergraduate electronic music curricula. I share a four-week module that applies the Exquisite Corpse method as a way to reduce student overwhelm and to encourage community-oriented learning and making, while introducing simple subtractive synthesis and MIDI composition in the DAW. The audience will benefit both from the specificity of the teaching methods I outline as well as the motivating premise that electronic music …

Free Code-Based Software Music Classes As An Invitation To Fuel Students' Sonic Creativity, Problem Solving, And Community Building, Jorge E. Variego

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

This workshop proposes the integration of free code-based programming software into music classes to expand students' sonic creativity, problem-solving skills, and community-building opportunities.

Digital Innovations In Group Piano Instruction, Chee Hyeon Choi, Chan Kiat Lim

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

This presentation will explore the transformative impact of integrating web-based digital textbooks into higher education music programs, specifically focusing on group piano curricula. By moving away from traditional paper-based textbooks, this approach leverages interactive, multimedia resources to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment. Attendees will gain insights into how digital textbooks, such as the award-winning eNovative Piano, can enhance students' understanding of musical concepts, foster technical proficiency, and promote a deeper connection between sound, theory, and technique. By attending this session, participants will understand how a multimedia approach in piano education can cultivate adaptability, responsiveness, and creativity, ultimately preparing …

Beyond Interdisciplinary: Igniting Transdisciplinary Thinking In Tomorrow’S Music Technology Graduates, Mark De Zwaan

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

Outwardly, this presentation is an inquest into the structural quandaries of curricular design in music technology—a practical extension to the seminal discussion about music technology curriculum launched by Carola Boehm (2007). I recently pioneered a new BSc degree program in Digital Music Technology at my institution, obtaining the support of four departments across campus to manifest an interdisciplinary implementation, yet the curricular structure governing our degree programs was generally incompatible with Boehm’s foremost recommendations. This led me down the very curricular path she rejected as “modernist”: derived from 18th-century concepts of the university in which interdisciplinarity was realized through the …

An Inclusive Oer Pedagogy In Teaching Music Technology In Higher Ed, Jiayue Cecilia Wu

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

As a Colorado State's Open Educational Resources (OER) funding award recipient, I will present the application of an OER approach in teaching music technology, utilizing free and/or open-source materials, tools, and textbooks/publications. Drawing on two courses I have successfully taught using this methodology, I will highlight practical implementation strategies and their impact. Furthermore, I will introduce national OER funding resources and guide the application process. I will enable music educators to adopt this approach in their teaching practices, enhance their scholarly publications, and secure funding support for academic initiatives.

Duotube: Inspiring Experimental Creativity In Common Digital Spaces, Ralph Lewis, Robin Meiksins

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

This paper reflects on the ways an easy to access work for laptop has been of use to ensembles and music educators. It explores experimentalism and electronic music using technology typically found in a computer lab or a home computer and allows for playful exploration in group or solo situations. Near the end of the talk, an excerpt of the work will be demonstrated to help show how it relatively easy to onboard, try out, and ideally try it out at home/school later on.

Crafting Sonic Worlds: Developing A Comprehensive Curriculum For Sound Design, Igor Karaca

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

In this paper presentation we will explore effective pedagogical strategies for engaging college students in the field of sound design. The presentation will outline a comprehensive curriculum that balances theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, emphasizing the importance of creativity and collaboration.

Tools Of The Trade: An Exploratory Study Analyzing The Frequency And Potency Of Tools In Hip-Hop Music Creation, Performance, And Pedagogy, Drew X. Coles, Cato Zane

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

This paper presents findings from a qualitative research study examining the tools most frequently used in the creation, performance, and teaching of hip-hop music. The study collected data from three key stakeholder groups: professional practitioners, music educators, and amateur creators. Through thematic analysis, the research identifies tools ranging from hardware such as MIDI controllers and turntables to software like DAWs and mobile apps, and explores their perceived effectiveness in facilitating musical creativity.

The study’s goal is to inform music educators about the tools that dominate the hip-hop marketplace and their various applications. By understanding how different tools contribute to beat-making, …

Rethinking Music Theory Pedagogy, Kathryn Williamsen

Student Scholar Symposium

As music has evolved over time the education system has also been evolving. Unfortunately, this growth in music education has become stagnant in the last century and pedagogy has remained relatively steady. While there are important pedagogical techniques and approaches used in the classical history of music, there are also new approaches that should be given more heed. The music theory that is being taught in the classroom feels detached from the music students are producing and consuming.

As this problem has persisted two improvements can be made to music theory pedagogy. The first would be changing our approach to …

Instrumental Music Educator Strategies To Reduce Or Remove Participation Barriers For Middle School Students, Rachel A. Gorden Mercer Ed.D

Doctorate in Education

Scholars have found that students who participate in instrumental music programs achieve higher academic levels, have better attendance, and build stronger community connections than students who do not participate. This dissertation examines successful strategies for increasing participation in instrumental music programs by reducing socioeconomic barriers, enhancing instrument access, creating ensemble opportunities, and fostering a positive culture within the instrumental program for students during the middle school years. Music educators have found successful strategies to recruit and retain students despite the barriers they encounter.

Researchers have investigated the benefits of participating in instrumental music and the reasons why students discontinue their …

Corporeality In Choral Sound: Elements Of Consonant Diction Shaping Pre-Expressive Presence, Perceived Clarity, And Expression In English-Language Choral Music, Addison Walton

Dissertations, 2020-current

The genesis of this project stems from a lived experience performing with a professional choir, whose sung physical shaping of the English language—its crystalline clarity, profound expressivity, and the pre-expressive elements inherent in the delivery—was deeply and viscerally compelling. This overwhelming reaction was in response to their bodies; specifically, the sound their bodies produced that evoked a sense of corporeality, or tangible bodily presence. There was beauty to be found in the way their mouths physically formed the language, both within and removed from the semantic context.

This study sought to acknowledge those fleeting, pre-expressive moments in choral music and …

A Case Study Of The Implementation Of Non-Linear Assessment Protocols For Pre-Service Music Teachers, Jeffrey Ward, Phillip Payne, Michele Henry

School of Music Faculty Publications

Grounded in previous research regarding admission and graduation standards of music education undergraduate candidates, we created a framework to assess student readiness to enter the music education profession across multiple points of inquiry. To determine the efficacy of the protocols, we conducted a case study to pilot implementation of the protocols with two university music education programs in the United States. Two of the authors–music education faculty at these universities–served as site coordinators implementing the protocols with multiple student cohorts (comprised of first-year, midpoint, and graduates) within their institution. The authors reviewed the reports employing a three-step process. In the …

Emmett Deur - Senior Recital, Emmett Deur

Honors Theses

As a culmination of three and a half years of study in the Irving S. Gilmore School of music, I, Emmett Deur, have put together a senior recital, performing a variety of works on the euphonium. My studies have included experiences within some of Western Michigan University’s top ensembles, including the Western Michigan University Wind Symphony, the University Symphony Orchestra, and the Western Brass Quintet’s Brass for the Holidays Ensemble. In addition to these ensemble experiences, my studies included regular one-on-one applied lessons with applied Tuba/Euphonium faculty members. With a year of lessons with former Tuba/Euphonium instructor, Professor Chance Trottman-Huiet, …

Sight-Singing Requirements Of Choral Festivals: A Fifty-State Comparison Of The Methods Used To Adjudicate Ensemble Literacy, William Griswold Jr

Dissertations

Standardized testing in the United States has permeated all levels of education including the choral music classroom. Across the country, state music organizations have implemented yearly evaluations of high school choral ensembles in which directors prepare choirs to be judged against a particular standard. While many organizations utilize similar methods of evaluating performances at adjudicated choral festivals, the methods used for evaluating sight-singing vary greatly from state to state. Throughout the country, various types of rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic exercises are used to evaluate an ensemble’s ability to sight-sing, however in certain states no form of sight-singing is required for …

Visualizing The Fretboard: Arpeggiated Patterns, Muscle Memory, And Neurocognitive Strategies For The 5-String Electric Bass, Matthew Alexander Woisin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Proficient navigation of the 5-string electric bass requires a comprehensive mastery of various techniques and a solid understanding of music theory. This includes a detailed grasp of arpeggios, chord extensions, and the development of deeply ingrained muscle memory for precise execution. This thesis introduces a structured methodology that refines existing fretboard visualization techniques and applies a unique manner of fretboard mapping, offering a more precise framework for comprehending and unlocking the full range of the instrument. By drawing insights from music theory, music education, cognitive science, neuroscience, and technology this approach is achieved by synthesizing research on visual pattern recognition, …

Resources For The Beginning And Intermediate Jazz Educator: Reviews Of Modern Resources And Implementation In The Classroom, Bryan Canonigo

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

This document is a compilation and discussion of different modern jazz education resources geared towards beginning and intermediate students. It is intended for the younger high school jazz educator who may have just started their careers and are searching for new(er) resources to aid their teaching and rehearsal techniques. For the seasoned high school jazz educator, this document may suggest additions to their current lesson plans and/or updates to their current resource compilations and rehearsal practices. A primary goal of this document is to suggest ideas to aid these educators in teaching jazz music more wholistically, in small or large …

Ethnomusicologically Augmented French Diction Course, Jake Larcqua

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Modern diction pedagogy in university vocal performance education largely depends on a combination of International Phonetic Alphabet transcription study and the application of those systems to Western-Classical vocal repertoire. However, recent research in related fields suggests we may be able to expand our diction teaching methods to better meet the needs of our students. Using a combination of second-language pedagogic principles, folksong structure, self-efficacy concepts, modeling structures, and ethnomusicological perspectives on classroom culture, I have drafted a French diction course that should improve not only students’ performance within university vocal music education, but also students’ confidence in their ability to …

An Exploration Of The Implementation Of Social-Emotional Lessons In The Secondary Music Ensemble Classroom, Neva Rowland

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) impacts student relationships with themselves, others, and the world around them. The researcher sought to determine the presence, level of awareness, and implementation of social and emotional lessons within the context of music education in 3A or smaller high school bands in Kansas.

An electronic survey questionnaire was emailed in October 2025 to 208 music educators, inviting them to participate. The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) provided the list of band directors at a 3A or smaller high schools. Thirteen participants responded in detail about their observations and opinions regarding SEL in their band ensemble …

Musical Self-Efficacy Through Active Music Listening: A Phenomenological Approach, Amy Marie Fraser

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

Music is often perceived as a talent reserved for the naturally gifted, rather than a fundamental human ability. This study questioned that perception by examining how active music listening can develop musical self-efficacy and reshape attribution beliefs about musical ability. Using a phenomenological approach, this study explored the experiences of students in a university music appreciation course, investigating how structured listening exercises, peer interactions, and reflections contribute to their perceived musical beliefs and competence. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Weiner’s attribution theory, the study considered whether musical engagement can be accessible to all and not limited by perceived talent. …

Facilitating Bedroom Recording Practices, Christopher William Bulgren, Jason C. Fick

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

An increase in access to recording technology has expanded opportunities for teachers and students. One approach, bedroom recording, involves the use of low-budget hardware and software in common, untreated spaces, often in one’s home. Bedroom recording practices significantly impact the sense of place and workflow in the industry for both professionals and amateur music makers. As an art form that thrives on mobility, bedroom recording is a natural pathway for music students to achieve low-cost, self-guided recordings. The purpose of this study was to explore best practices and student interactions related to a bedroom recording project. Participants were 17 Music …

Haydn's Canonic Minuets, James S. Mackay

HAYDN: Online Journal of the Haydn Society of North America

Haydn composed many hundreds of minuets during his long career, enriching the courtly dance with compositional skill and ingenuity. One of the ways in which he sought to elevate the minuet genre was through contrapuntal artifice, including canon. The famous “Hexenmenuett” (“Witches’ Minuet”) from his “Quinten” Quartet, Op. 76 no. 2, dating from 1797, is the most famous of these works, in which the viola and cello duplicate the leading voice of violins I and II at the distance of an octave. Haydn’s interest in canonic minuets dates back to the early 1760s, however. Minuets from three early symphonies (Nos. …

Too Loud To Ignore: Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Regarding Hearing Protection In Student Musicians And Ensemble Directors, Lucile Donald, Ashley G. Flagge

Ashley Flagge Publications

Musicians are at an elevated risk for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) due to repeated exposure to sound levels exceeding occupational safety guidelines. Although many strides have been made in educating music students on the potential dangers of noise exposure and the mitigating effects of hearing protection devices, the current attitudes on this topic among high school and college-level student musicians remain largely unknown. An electronic survey was administered to high school (n = 195) and university (n = 161)-level band students and ensemble directors (n = 15) regarding knowledge of noise/music-induced hearing loss (MIHL), personal practices with HPDs, and types …

Learning How To Practice Takes Practice, Micah Killion, Robert Duke

John J. Cali School of Music Scholarship and Creative Works

Effective music learning depends on effective music practice. Although time spent with teachers is an important component of young musicians’ development, time spent alone practicing is perhaps even more consequential. Researchers and teachers have offered many prescriptions about effective music practice, yet observations of young musicians’ actual practice reveal that their behavior in the practice room is often quite unlike what teachers envision. The most important aspects of effective practice are the thinking, perceiving, and decision-making that serve to organize how musicians spend their time. We discuss how to help students focus their attention in ways that lead to the …

General Music Pedagogies Through The Lens Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, David Dockan, Carla Aguilar, Martina Vasil, Brent M. Gault, Jason D. Jones, Robin Giebelhausen, Sandra Sanchez Adorno

School of Music Faculty Publications

Common general music pedagogies include Orff-Keetman, Kodály, Dalcroze, Music Learning Theory, and World Music Pedagogy. These approaches engage learners through moving to music, playing instruments, and developing aural skills with repertoire from around the globe. As we look toward the future, general music classroom teachers are working to create engaging and relevant learning spaces. To help make the music classroom relevant for their students, music educators might consider incorporating culturally relevant pedagogy into general music pedagogies. The framework of culturally relevant pedagogy uses academic success, cultural competence, and critical consciousness as pillars for practice. In this article, authors share their …

Examining Stress And Anxiety Levels Among Undergraduate Music Majors At The University Of South Carolina, Elise F. Halbig

Senior Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the stress and anxiety levels among undergraduate music majors at the University of South Carolina (USC) and identify potential stressors that might be unique or more prevalent among that specific population. To evaluate this, a questionnaire consisting of 42 questions was administered to participants. Most of the questions were carefully developed by the researcher; however, the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al, 1983) was used to examine participants' stress levels, and 13 selected questions from the Burns Anxiety Inventory (Burns, 1989) were used to examine their anxiety levels. A total of 45 …

Creating With Industry: Integrating Industry Projects Within A Tertiary Music Curriculum, Sean Foran, Patrick Carroll

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

Australian tertiary contemporary music courses often feature a curriculum that includes aspects of songwriting, music production, music industry, cultural studies, collaborative entrepreneurship and individual creative practice. Research shows that graduates from these programs commonly move into the often-cited 'portfolio career', which integrates diverse aspects of musical practice such as performance, recording, teaching, community engagement, and a digital creative presence.
At SAE University College, the institution is driven by structures and frameworks to ensure that student learning is authentic, collaborative, feedback-focused, and future-oriented. Learning opportunities include real-world tasks, projects and simulations that enable growth through experiential and experimental activities. Learning happens …

The Relationship Between Language And Musical Skill Development In Individuals With Complex Communication Needs: Implications For Interprofessional Pedagogical And Research Practice, Lisa Pierce-Goldstein

Educational Studies Dissertations

The relationship between music and language has long fascinated scholars and educators. Observational and experimental research has yielded evidence of music’s positive impact on language development. However, research has largely focused on individuals who primarily use speech to communicate. Individuals with complex communication needs (CCNs), who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to communicate, are underrepresented in the literature.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between language development and musical skill development in individuals with complex communication needs using alternative assessment tools: the Communication Matrix (CM; i.e., language) and the …

“It’S Like Mental Marginalization”: Stories Of Four Music Students At A Hispanic Serving Institution., Sarah Minette

Visions of Research in Music Education

Researchers have explored the ways in which P-12 teachers and students negotiate Latino/a/x/e cultural and musical identities in the classrooms (Abril, 2009; Lechuga & Schmidt, 2018; Palkki, 2015). While some have connected culturally responsive teaching to the needs of the growing number of Latino/a/x and Hispanic students in P-12 settings (Abril & Kelly-McHale, 2015), currently, no studies within music education address the experiences of music students at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), as well as the music making practices, curriculum, and faculty experiences at HSI. This case study examined how a music department at an HSI served the needs of its …