The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a contingent live music intervention on full term infants’ amount of crying and parent-infant interaction in the first six weeks of life. Subjects (N = 65) were parent-infant dyads who were randomly assigned to either a no-contact control or experimental treatment group. The researcher wrote an original lullaby with each mother in the experimental group and gave instructions as to how to use the lullaby as reinforcement for infant quiet, non-crying behavior. All subjects participated in an assessment for infant crying behaviors once a week for six weeks as well as a six-week follow up video of parent-infant interaction. Infant crying behavior was measured by recording the total number of minutes each infant cried one day a week for six weeks. Parent-infant interaction was measured by observation using the LoTTS Parent-Infant Interaction Coding Scale (Beatty, Stacks, Partridge, Tzilos, Loree, & Ondersma, 2011). All participants were asked to complete a Value of Music survey, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Cox, Holden, & Sagovsky, 1987). All subjects in the experimental group were assessed once a week for six weeks for total number of times the contingent music was used. Results indicated that training in the contingent music intervention significantly reduced infant crying duration while increasing mother-infant interaction behaviors for mothers in the experimental group. Analysis by demographic variables such as mother parity, socioeconomic status, and marital status showed no significant group differences on infant crying or interaction scores despite the body of research showing these variables usually affect the quality of caregiver/infant involvement and attachment. Mothers that used the contingent music intervention were more motivated to sing and valued the use of music with their infants more than did mothers in the control group. The outcomes of this study warrant the need for further research on additional benefits of decreased crying time on the infant/caregiver relationship including infant sleep time and caregiver stress. / A Dissertation submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester 2017. / June 23, 2017. / Contingent, Crying, Interaction, Mother, Music, Newborn / Includes bibliographical references. / Jayne Standley, Professor Directing Dissertation; Bruce Holzman, University Representative; Clifford Madsen, Committee Member; John Geringer, Committee Member.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of different instrumental accompaniments on the intonation of violinists, violists, and cellists in a melodic context. The following questions guided this research: (1) Are there differences in tuning accuracy of melodic content between accompanied and unaccompanied conditions among string musicians? (2) Are there differences in tuning accuracy of melodic content between accompaniment octaves? (3) Are there differences in intonation accuracy between string, oboe, and piano accompaniments? (4) Are there differences between the number of flat, sharp, and in-tune responses of participants? (5) Are there differences in string musician preferences between accompaniment types? (6) Are string musicians’ self-perceptions of tuning accuracy associated with performed pitch accuracy? (7) Are there differences between age and experience of participants in intonation accuracy with various accompaniment types? Performances of Frère Jacques were recorded by a cellist, oboist, pianist, and a violinist to serve as accompaniment stimuli for the study. Additionally, a questionnaire was created to measure preferences for accompaniment, perceptions of tuning accuracy, and collect background information of participants. The participants (N = 103) were high school (n = 60) and collegiate (n = 43) violinists (n = 55), violists (n = 22), and cellists (n = 26). Participants performed an excerpt of Frère Jacques in Eb major in five conditions: with a cello accompaniment, oboe accompaniment, piano accompaniment, violin accompaniment, and as a solo. Absolute cent deviation from the tonic, mediant, subdominant, and dominant scale degrees were collected from each participant for analysis. A significant main effect of intonation was found for accompaniment conditions. Participants performed more in tune with the cello, oboe, and violin accompaniments than with the solo. Additionally, they performed more in tune with the oboe accompaniment than with the piano accompaniment. The octave of accompaniment and instrument performed also did not appear to affect intonation. A significant main effect was found between high school and college participants. High school participants performed with less pitch acuity than college participants. An additional significant main effect was found between the deviations of analyzed notes. The Ab (subdominant) had significantly higher mean cent deviation than the Eb (tonic) and Bb (dominant). No differences were found between instruments performed and no interactions between variables were found. Participants demonstrated a propensity to perform with sharp intonation. Sharp responses occurred more frequently than in-tune (defined as ±6 cents) and flat responses with high school participants. Additionally, performances with the oboe accompaniment produced more in-tune responses than other conditions. In-tune responses occurred more frequently with collegiate participants; however, sharp responses occurred more frequently than flat responses. Performances with the oboe accompaniment also produced the most frequent flat responses as well as the lowest number of sharp responses. Questionnaire responses indicated that participants preferred to perform with the string accompaniments more than the non-string accompaniments. Participants least preferred to perform with the oboe accompaniment compared to the other accompaniments. A significant main effect was found in participants’ rating of their perceived intonation accuracy between conditions. Although participants rated their intonation as highest with the cello, their performances did not reflect this perception. A significant main effect was also found between the levels of participants. High school participants rated their intonation lower than college participants. No significant main effect was found between instrumental groups and no significant interactions were found. A moderate positive correlation was found between participants’ perception of their intonation and their actual performance of intonation with the violin accompaniment. Additionally, a weak positive correlation was found for the cello accompaniment and the solo condition. Participants’ rating of their perceived intonation correlated positively to the actual pitch accuracy for the string accompaniments and solo condition while no associations were found for non-string accompaniments. / A Dissertation submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester 2019. / April 19, 2019. / accompaniment, intonation, string instruments, timbre / Includes bibliographical references. / John M. Geringer, Professor Directing Dissertation; Bruce Holzman, University Representative; Katarzyna Bugaj, Committee Member; Clifford K. Madsen, Committee Member; Michael M. Thrasher, Committee Member.

The purpose of this study was to create an instructional program for high school vocal music students which would be consistent with recent theoretical writings in the areas of aesthetic perception and response.Recent literature was surveyed with the intention of deriving basic principles which could increase the ability to perceive the aesthetic qualities in an art work and which could improve the capacity to respond to Aesthetic perception is improved by focusing the attention directly on the art object, by displaying a certain amount of psychical distance, by participation in the interaction between percipient and art object as well as prior experience and expectations. Further, factors which enrich aesthetic perception are the coordination of intellectual and emotional processes, theorganization of stimuli into the most simple or most complete figures, and finally, the human ability to study the art object with the absence of judgment-making.Aesthetic response may be cultivated by recognizing the patterns of tension and resolution inherent in musical works, by using the necessary contemplation time to react to an art work and by awareness of the fact that there is no standard response to an art work on behalf of the human being. However, man's capacity to respond to music is universal. Developing this capacity for aesthetic responsiveness enables man to reach his deepest human potential.A teaching program was created which incorporated the objectives of increased ability to perceive and improved capacity to respond to musical art works. The method was derived from several aesthetic theories and subscribed to no one particular theory. The sequence of instruction was ordered so that the music would be experienced, then studied, then experienced again in an escalating developmental pattern. Students in such a program would be asked to play a vital role in the interaction relationship between art work and performer percipient. The student performer then becomes a creator who through derived sensitivity and understanding brings the music to life.Sample instructional modules were supplied to serve as suggestions for creating a rehearsal laboratory for music exploration. While retaining excellent musical skill standards in rehearsals, the modules attempt to contribute positively to the musical sensitivity and understandings of high school music performance students.In conclusion, it may be stated that the goals of any music education program should include the increased sensitivity to and the greater understanding of the inherent aesthetic qualities of the music studied. Objectives to these ends may be considered as the increased. ability to perceive the aesthetic qualities present in a musical composition and the improved capacity to respond to the qualities which are perceived.

Diss. Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2007. / Med litteraturhenvisninger.

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