Music Pedagogy Commons^™

The Four Pillars Of Choral Music Education, Joanna J. Setness

Musical Offerings

This paper investigates how the philosophy of several key choral music educators influenced their working methods and the principles that they emphasized in their teaching.

Lowell Mason, named the “Father of Music Education”, and the first public school music teacher in Boston, spearheaded the school singing movement in the mid 1800’s. F. Melius Christiansen, teaching at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN left a legacy of the “ideal” choral sound and elevated the choir to a prestigious position in schools. John Finley Williamson, with the Westminster Choir, blended “sung-speech” and the quality of individual sound to produce an entirely different …

Medieval Methods: Guido D’Arezzo’S Innovative Approaches To Music Education, Lydia C. Kee

Musical Offerings

Music education has been influenced by many people throughout history, but arguably none of them have done so as much as the monk, Guido D’Arezzo. His teaching methods have been embraced and developed by music educators throughout the centuries. For example, it is recorded that Guido was the first to use the five-line staff as we use it today. This was especially groundbreaking in a world of rote memorization. Today it is used globally in music education. The roots of solfege are also found in Guido’s writings; his syllables have been adapted by Zoltan Kodály. Not only that, but John …

Vanity Of Vanities Or Song Of Songs? Music Education From A Biblical Perspective, Sandra Yang

Faculty Integration Papers

The last chorus of a beloved gospel hymn reads, “Christ without, all is vain! Christ within, all is gain.” Without Him, life at best is the vanity of vanities with nothing new under the sun. With Him, though, as our regenerated new life within, our life is a continual song of songs, full of meaning, full of potential, full of the life that is the very Christ Himself. To know Him and the power of His resurrection (Phil. 3:10) has been my principal aim since I met Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes …

From Italian Opera To Estill: An Overview Of Bel Canto Style Singing Techniques From The Eighteenth Century To Modern Day, Phoebe R. Schoeneweis

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

This paper aims to communicate the ways in which the definition of Bel Canto style singing has changed and developed since the eighteenth century, as well as how the techniques of Bel Canto are still being used today and the way that they impact new and modern vocal techniques such as the Alexander Technique and Estill Voice Training. Solo vocal material has come a long way since the eighteenth century and vocal music has made huge strides in its difficulty and material. Old Italian School voice teachers used to teach the importance and proper use of such vocal features as …

The Partimento Tradition In The Shadow Of Enlightenment Thought, Deborah Longenecker

Channels: Where Disciplines Meet

How did Enlightenment ideals influence seventeenth-century music theory and composition pedagogy? This article investigates the relationship between partimento pedagogy and Rameau’s music theories as influenced by Enlightenment thought. Current research on partimento has revealed its importance in Neapolitan music schools of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Along with counterpoint, partimento was a core subject in the study of composition in the Neapolitan schools; however, as pedagogy and theory began to be influenced by Enlightenment ideals such as the scientific method or a preference for clear systemization, the partimento tradition began to wane. Juxtaposing the Enlightenment ideals of Rameau’s music theory …

The Science Of Singing: A Voice Lesson From Anatomy And Physiology, Gracie Bennett

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The voice is the oldest instrument in existence. Throughout its history, there have been many vocal performances practices. The purpose of my research is to show the correlation between modern vocal practices and the current medical technology available to help us understand the physiology of the voice. I am studying and analyzing the vocal performance and pedagogical practices from the early church to present day. I want to know why these vocal strategies have changed over time. There have been several different schools of thinking in regards to vocal practices. From the Italian style bel canto singing that was widely …

The Partimento Tradition In The Shadow Of Enlightenment Thought, Deborah Longenecker

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

This presentation investigates the relationship between partimento pedagogy and Rameau’s music theories as influenced by Enlightenment thought. Current research on partimento has revealed its importance in Neapolitan music schools of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Along with counterpoint, partimento was a core subject in the study of composition in the Neapolitan schools; however, as pedagogy and theory began to be influenced by Enlightenment ideals such as the scientific method or a preference for clear systemization, the partimento tradition began to wane. In this presentation, I examine Rameau’s music theory as an example of Enlightenment thought in music, juxtaposing the central …

Next Time Won’T You Sing With Me? The Role Of Music Rooted In Oral Tradition As A Resource For Literacy Learning In The Twenty-First Century Classroom, Catherine Milliron

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Most children learn music by rote long before they begin to learn by note. Early music learning is often facilitated through the oral transmission of music – a practice that has existed since long before the emergence of standardized music notation. Orality has long been linked to literacy and the relationship between the two – both in the past and in the present – has been studied in depth by modern scholars. Although it could be supposed that the innovation of music notation has negated the necessity for oral music transmission, in reality the two music transmission methods work in …

Melodic Voicing: How To Have A Professional Sounding Melody In Seven Weeks, Luke J. Williams

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

This presentation will show the first chapter of a method that will help piano teachers teach melodic voicing to a wide range of piano students. This is the first time that these concepts have been packaged as a method.

The Partimento Tradition In The Shadow Of Enlightenment Thought, Deborah Longenecker

Music and Worship Student Presentations

This presentation investigates the relationship between partimento pedagogy and Rameau’s music theories as influenced by Enlightenment thought. Current research on partimento has revealed its importance in Neapolitan music schools of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Along with counterpoint, partimento was a core subject in the study of composition in the Neapolitan schools; however, as pedagogy and theory began to be influenced by Enlightenment ideals such as the scientific method or a preference for clear systemization, the partimento tradition began to wane. In this presentation, I examine Rameau’s music theory as an example of Enlightenment thought in music, juxtaposing the central …

The Interwoven Evolution Of The Early Keyboard And Baroque Culture, Rachel Stevenson

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact that Baroque society had in the development of the early keyboard. While the main timeframe is Baroque, a few references are made to the late Medieval Period in determining the reason for the keyboard to more prominently emerge in the musical scene. As Baroque society develops and new genres are formed, different keyboard instruments serve vital roles unique to their construction. These new roles also affect the way music was written for the keyboard as well. Advantages and disadvantages of each instrument are discussed, providing an analysis of what would …

Oral Transmission: A Marriage Of Music, Language, Tradition, And Culture, Emma E. Patterson

Musical Offerings

There are a number of misunderstandings about ancient oral transmission that negatively affect the way musicians view music history but also the process of how music was and currently is conceived, recorded, and shared. A common misconception is that oral transmission of music is an ancient practice that occurred before written notation of music was developed. However, I seek to prove that there is a false dichotomy between oral transmission and written notation and I focus on the changing definition and importance of oral tradition. Firstly, I discuss the misconceptions of ancient oral transmission. Secondly, I examine the continuing development …

Learning To Play: Cognitive And Physical Development Of Children And Requirements Of Playing The Piano, Amy Carmichael

B.A. in Music Senior Capstone Projects

Musical learning and performance have traditionally been understood as the process of cognitive ability and physical action. If a musician lacks or is underdeveloped in one of these areas, it will either be harder or almost impossible to create music. In this paper, I will focus on the connection between them. Cognitive ability and knowledge increases with age as we gain more facts and experiences. Likewise, a child’s physical abilities expand and become more advanced with age. There is an increasing amount of evidence that links cognitive abilities and physical developments in children’s development.

I will present research on cognitive …

Guido Of Arezzo And His Influence On Music Learning, Anna J. Reisenweaver

Musical Offerings

Throughout the history of Western music, Guido of Arezzo stands out as one of the most influential theorists and pedagogues of the Middle Ages. His developments of the hexachord system, solmization syllables, and music notation revolutionized the teaching and learning of music during his time and laid the foundation for our modern system of music. While previous theorists were interested in the philosophical and mathematical nature of music, Guido’s desire to aid singers in the learning process was practical. Through his innovations, students were able to classify, sight-sing, and visualize the music they were learning, ultimately resulting in an easier, …

Christmas From The Heart, Charles R. Clevenger

Faculty Books

These piano arrangements are suitable for church use as preludes or offertories. Dr. Charles Clevenger, master teacher and long time concert pianist, has edited these tunes for use in the private studio by piano teachers.

Near To The Heart, Charles R. Clevenger

Faculty Books

These piano arrangements are suitable for church use as preludes or offertories. Selections include Day by Day; Great Is Thy Faithfulness; Holy, Holy, Holy/Fairest Lord Jesus; I Surrender All; In the Garden; Near to the Heart of God; O How I Love Jesus; The Lord Is My Shepherd/Savior, Like a Shepherd; The Unclouded Day, and; There Is a Balm in Gilead.