Music Pedagogy Commons^™

Simple And Compound Time Signatures Re-Examined, Paula Telesco

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

This handout was created for music minors and non-music majors, most of whom enter my class with some music background. They typically have some understanding of simple meters like 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4. Compound Time is typically a difficult concept to teach, so this handout treats compound meter a bit more in-depth than some textbooks. This handout would be appropriate for not only music minors and non-music majors, but also remedial music theory classes for music majors or even Music Theory 1 classes. I believe it could also be used in high school AP classes. There are three worksheets that …

Understanding Dotted And Undotted Notes, Paula Telesco

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

College and high school music students (whether majors or non-majors) likely know something already about note and rest values, what note gets the beat in some particular meter, and differences between undotted and dotted notes, but they often still have difficulty understanding them, dotted notes in particular. This handout will review this material and introduce an additional way to think about note values, setting the stage for additional approaches to meter, as rhythm and meter can often be difficult concepts to master.

Beyond “Three Blind Mice”: An Exemplar For “Day 1” Of Schenkerian Analysis, Andrew Aziz

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

This document provides a lesson plan and examples for Day 1 of a Schenkerian analysis course. Beginning with tonic prolongation paradigms that provide the structure of a hypothetical soprano-bass framework, the lesson unlocks a hidden Beethoven masterpiece lurking within the counterpoint. The plan also highlights how many melodic notes are "higher" than the soprano as well as how the theory incorporates the notion of tonal hierarchy.

Twenty Questions: An Introduction To Counterpoint, Linear Analysis, And Dissonance Treatment, Daniel B. Stevens

Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy

"Twenty Questions" is a pedagogical resource focused on linear and dissonance-treatment analysis in common-practice music of the 18th and 19th centuries. This resource is designed to be utilized at the advanced high school and collegiate levels. It includes an explanation of contrapuntal analysis in a user-friendly Q&A format, a one-page summary sheet, four sample analyses with commentary, and four assignments with answer keys and extensive commentary for instructors. "Twenty Questions" was first developed as an explanatory guide for analyzing and interpreting Bach's Prelude in C major (WTC, book I). This piece, and the commentary that accompanies it, serves as a …

Master's Recital In Jazz Pedagogy: A Performance-Demonstration Of Rhythm Section Instruments, Compositions And Arrangements By Josh Hakanson, Josh Hakanson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This recital is presented to demonstrate skills and competencies on the rhythm section instruments piano, bass, and drums, as well as showcase compositions and arrangements by the recitalist. The study of the rhythm section instruments has been a valuable asset to my teaching and allowed me to expand my knowledge of how these instruments are used in a functional jazz context. The study of jazz composition and arranging techniques has also supplemented my teaching skills and given me the satisfaction of both writing and performing my own works. Though this recital is not a comprehensive overview of my study at …

Music For Brass Quintet With Orchestral Accompaniment: Commissioned Works, The Annapolis Brass Quintet, And A Survey Of Literature For Brass Quintet And Orchestra, Stacy L. Simpson

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Today’s leading brass chamber ensemble is the brass quintet, whose inception was relatively late compared to the string quartet or woodwind quintet. The first modern brass quintet formed in the 1950s, while the first string quartet can be traced to the 17th century. Compositions for woodwind quintet were written as early as 1811 during the Classical Period.

The New York Brass Quintet, American Brass Quintet, and Annapolis Brass Quintet commissioned a large portion of the currently existing brass quintet literature. The literature grew exponentially as the brass quintet became popular in the 1960s. Also during this time, a new genre …

An Alternative Approach To The Singer's Breath: Method And Workshop, Bradley S. Williard

Theses and Dissertations--Music

This research endeavors to stretch the boundaries of vocal training, a field defined by its century-old techniques and teachings, to include the cultivation of a relationship with the breath, body, and Self. The paper reviews the contributions of Ilse Middendorf and Carl Stough’s work with the breath and body and outlines a new method, Unlock Your Breath (UYB) – Performance Breathwork, which integrates the greatest strengths of those methods. UYB Performance Breathwork teaches the singer’s breath as a way towards deeper embodiment of Self (mind-body-voice relationship), while creating a stronger breath-body-voice connection with minimum effort and maximum efficiency. This …

The Art And Science Of Becoming A Successful Studio Teacher, Teresa A. Bellamy

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

For most professional musicians, it is important to possess the skills necessary to be a studio teacher. While it is crucial to be confident in the actual pedagogical technique required of an instrumental teacher, it is imperative that music teachers also have a thorough knowledge of proper business and marketing tools. In this project, a close examination of the methods used to acquire and use such skills has been made. The research for this project was done in the form of interviews. Four professional music teachers were interviewed on the above topics.

Recommendations For Vocal Pedagogy Curriculum Based On A Survey Of Singers’ Knowledge And Research In Vocal Hygiene, Diana Lindsey Vetter

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Professional voice users such as singers and teachers are at high risk for vocal injury. A literature review was conducted to understand the prevalence of voice problems and the effectiveness of vocal hygiene education. The findings of the review suggested that in order to reduce the impact of voice disorders, it is imperative that the education of singers and teachers include how the voice functions and how to best take care of it.

The purpose of this study was to discover what students on a collegiate level know about vocal anatomy, physiology, and vocal hygiene issues. It was hypothesized that …

An Exploration Of Exposure To Music In High School Males In Appalachian Ohio, Cassandra Mcdonald

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Even with increasing availability of alternative educational systems, individual learning plans, and vocational schools, the high school dropout rate among males is still rising. High school dropouts have a negative effect on a community because their chances of being employed and contributing to the community are reduced. The theoretical frameworks of multiple intelligences, self-efficacy, and developmental constructivism were used to conduct a hermeneutical phenomenological study of the lived experiences of a specific population of male youth in rural Ohio who decided to return to school and complete the requirements for a high school diploma or GED after being exposed to …

A Grading Catalogue Of Selected Works For Solo Trombone And Piano, Brent Michael Mead

Honors Program Theses

The current status of graded repertoire lists for trombonists is almost nonexistent. Selecting works for students can be difficult especially when you are unfamiliar with the large body of solo literature. I created a list of solo trombone works all graded with the same system in which students and teachers could utilize when selecting new pieces of music to perform. Teachers could more readily find new pieces for their students to study by using this grading scale. It can be difficult for trombone teachers to find easier solo literature for students because of the fact that most works that are …

H. Villa-Lobos' Concerto Para Piano E Orquestra N. 4: A Stylistic Analysis, Vicente Della Tonia Junior

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide a stylistic analysis of Heitor Villa- Lobos’ Concerto No. 4 for piano and orchestra through investigation of its form, thematic materials, harmony, orchestration, stylistic influences and keyboard usage. The secondary purpose of this study was to offer the historical background, including the commission of the work, its première, reception and publication, which, along with the composer’s influences, will further illustrate his style and contribution to the genre. This study helps to fill a research gap by promoting and educating performers about Villa-Lobos’ writing. The ultimate goals are to encourage informed performances of …

H. Leslie Adams' Twenty-Six Etudes For Solo Piano: A Performance And Stylistic Analysis, Aaron Balthazar Mathews

Theses and Dissertations

H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932) is a prolific and well-respected American composer, performer, and educator. He currently works as a full-time composer and travels the country promoting his music. Past faculty appointments of H. Leslie Adams include serving as an Assistant Professor of Music at Stillman College, Florida A & M University, and the University of Kansas. Over the years, he has received numerous commissions, honors, and awards including the Composer Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts to study in Bellagio, Italy, the Yaddo Artists Colony fellowship, the Jennings Foundation, and grants from the Rockefeller Foundation and …

Diva Diversity: National Vocal Schools And Qualities, Emma Plotnik

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Hearing the term “opera singer” for many triggers an image of a German dramatic soprano bearing viking horns and powerfully bursting into a high C. Yet, what is it that perpetuates this stereotype that German singers possess weighty instruments with dark timbres? Why are classically trained North American vocal students told by their teachers to sing lightly and delicately when performing French mélodie, and not any other genre?

Research in vocal pedagogy has demonstrated that singers from particular regions have been typified by their vocal qualities in terms of size and color. These qualities by nation mainly stem from contrasting …

2015-2016 Master Class - Nancy Weems (Piano), Nancy Weems, Lirui Xiong, Chen Liang, Munkhshur Enkhbold, Chance Israel, Jiaxian Li, Matthew Calderon, Hikari Nakamura, Yu Lu, Sohyun Park, Trevor Mansell, Sebastian Castellanos

Master Classes

Nancy Weems Performance (December 5, 2015) - Program

The History Of The Guitar, Júlio Ribeiro Alves

Music Faculty Research

Conceived as instructional material for the guitar students at Marshall University (or anyone interested in the subject), it presents the historical process of the guitar in a clear and attainable fashion. Several topics related to the guitar will be discussed in detail throughout the book: the postulates associated with its origins, its evolution through the centuries, its repertoire, composers, performers, techniques, etc., culminating with the achievement of the privileged status of a respected concert instrument which it currently possesses.

Tracing Josef Suk’S Stylistic Development In His Piano Works: A Composer’S Personal Journey From Romanticism To Czech Modernism, Jana K. Manning

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

The purpose of this document is to trace the stylistic development in the piano works of the Czech composer, violinist, and pedagogue, Josef Suk (1874-1935). Suk’s piano music is largely unknown in the United States and, unfortunately, neglected in his homeland. Because the majority of research about Josef Suk is in the Czech language, this work is intended to be the first English language document pertaining to Suk’s piano works. The three chapters synthesize information from both primary and secondary sources, including the composer’s first biography, collection of his letters and speeches, musical scores, dissertations, thematic catalogue of his works, …

The Production Of Sticky Notes And Bible Quotes: Godly Answers For Sticky Situations A Children’S Musical As Directed By Julie Brinkman, Julie Elizabeth Brinkman

Honors College

This thesis reflects upon a director’s experience while directing her first production: Sticky Notes and Bible Quotes: Godly Answers for Sticky Situations by Dennis and Nan Allen. This children’s musical was produced in cooperation with Wylie United Methodist Church of Abilene, TX. Over forty children, with the help of ten adult volunteers, shared the importance of memorizing scripture and looking to God’s Word in times of trouble through song, skits, and the recitation of scripture. While reflecting upon the production process after each rehearsal, the director makes connections between her experiences as director, the content of her music education undergraduate …

2015-2016 Master Class - Elmar Oliveira (Violin), Elmar Oliveira, Junheng Chen, Chen Liang, Vijeta Sathyaraj, Sheng Yuan Kuan, Tinca Belinski, Olesya Rusina, Anastasiya Timofeeva

Master Classes

No abstract provided.

About This Issue, Michael E. Ruhling

HAYDN: Online Journal of the Haydn Society of North America

No abstract provided.

2015-2016 Master Class - James Giles (Piano), James Giles, Chance Israel, Chen Liang, Munkhshur Enkhbold, Matthew Calderon

Master Classes

No abstract provided.

2015-2016 Master Class - Lynn Harrell (Cello), Lynn Harrell, Niki Khabbazvahed, Sheng Yuan Kuan, Elizabeth Lee, Clarissa Viera, Yuliya Kim, Sheng Yuan Kuan

Master Classes

No abstract provided.

2015-2016 Master Class - Nancy Ambrose King (Oboe), Nancy Ambrose King, Sheng Yuan Kuan, Trevor Mansell, John Weisberg, Kendra Hawley, Walker Brandon, Paul Chinen

Master Classes

No abstract provided.

A Jamaican Voice: The Choral Music Of Noel Dexter, Desmond A. Moulton

Dissertations

As we approach the twenty-first century, the world generally is moving away from the dominance of the European aesthetic towards a world music that owes much to the musical resources of the African-American tradition. Jamaica’s social and philosophical music belong mainly to that tradition, which includes the use of rhythms, and timbral and melodic resources that exist independently of harmony. Already in this century, Jamaicans have created two totally new music - Nyabinghi, which performs a philosophical function and Reggae, which performs a social function. The choral music of Noel Dexter is important because it is uniquely Jamaican/Caribbean in its …

Perceptions Of Guitar Use And Training In Music Therapy: A Survey Of Clinicians, Joshua Robert Keller

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine music therapists' perceptions of guitar use and training in clinical practice. Three major research questions dealt with guitar use, guitar training, and clinicians' confidence using the guitar in clinical practice. A quasi-random sample of 1000 board-certified music therapists were invited to complete an online questionnaire with 27 questions in the areas of guitar use, guitar training and experience, and the importance of 28 specific skills. One hundred fifty music therapists (n = 150) responded.

Major findings include: (1) clinicians appear to use the guitar frequently and, on average, see guitar skills as …

Effective Elements Of Conducting: A Study Of High School Orchestra Directors, Matthew J. Brooks

Dissertations, 2014-2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how effectively current high school orchestra directors demonstrate the elements of conducting. To do this, I first selected what elements of conducting would be evaluated and then defined what is effective for each. From this, I created a conductor evaluation form consisting of a 1-Not Effective to 5-Effective rating scale to score how effectively each element is demonstrated. The results would later address the primary research questions:

1. What elements of conducting do high school orchestra directors demonstrate most effectively?
2. What elements of conducting do high school orchestra directors demonstrate least effectively?

Current …

Use Your Words: A Lyrical Guide To The Opera-Inspired Paraphrases Of Antonino Pasculli (1842-1924), Aaron S. Hill

Dissertations, 2014-2019

There are currently ten available works by Antonino Pasculli (1842-1924) for solo oboe or English horn and accompaniment inspired by themes from nineteenth-century operas by Bellini, Donizetti, Meyerbeer, and Verdi. These pieces are so virtuosic that Pasculli has been dubbed the “Paganini of the Oboe.” The technical demands can be so high that performers can neglect to approach artistic and scholarly interpretation of his lyrical passages. Some editions of his music list the referenced act and scene number from the original source. No existing editions include complete text from the original vocal excerpts or the context from the plots of …

What Do I Assume? An Applied Lesson Approach Integrating Critical Thinking And Student-Directed Learning, Ayn T. Balija

Dissertations, 2014-2019

The applied music lesson remains a revered symbol of Western European tradition in American music education. Very little research exists assessing its continued viability as a method in its current form. This paper examines eight author observed assumptions about applied music lessons which flaw the learning process. Through available research, the assumptions demonstrate that the traditional applied lesson is teacher centered and difficult to assess. Exposing the resultant delusions of the eight assumptions reveals how a holistic approach in a studio can engage students in critical thinking and enhance student self-awareness. These primary goals place the educational emphasis on the …

2014-2015 Master Class - Elmar Oliveira (Violin), Elmar Oliveira, Olesya Rusina, Anastasiya Timofeeva, Mozhu Yan, Sheng Yuan Kuan, Terrence Smith, Yalyen Savignon, Yasa Poletaeva, Darren Matias

Master Classes

No abstract provided.

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 …