Master of Music / Department of Music / Phillip D. Payne / The purpose of this study was to determine if music educators who have had experiences with informal music are more likely to employ informal learning within their classroom. Secondary research objectives included a comparison of survey results against specific demographics of the survey participants, an examination of the types of informal learning that the participants experienced and facilitated, and a look at the perceived barriers and benefits of informal music learning from the viewpoints of the participants. Participants (N=25) were practicing music educators pursuing graduate music studies. The participants were enrolled in a summer Master of Music program at a university in the Midwest. Data was collected by employing a pen and paper survey that provided a demographic description and informal music learning questionnaire. The participants were asked to indicate the frequency of participation in informal music activities prior to becoming a music educator. They further reported what informal music learning activities they facilitate within their school music curriculum. Finally, the participants responded to two short answer questions where they identified barriers and benefits they perceive with the implementation of informal music practices within their music programs. Results from a Pearson correlation showed a moderately strong relationship (p = 0.43) between participants who had informal music experiences (E) and who employed informal music learning within their music curriculum (C). There were no significant differences observed in the results between participants of different gender or school division. Of the short answer responses cataloged, participants cited a lack of experience with informal music and difficulty of connecting informal music learning to the formal music curriculum as the barriers to employing informal music learning in the classroom. The participants discussed the increase in student motivation, expanding musicality, and real-world relevance as the benefits of informal music learning. Knowledge gained from this study may be useful to individuals facilitating informal music learning within music education programs at the primary, secondary, or collegiate levels.

abstract: The North Park Middle School Band, in Pico Rivera, California, is an exemplary model of a band program grounded in the principles of social justice. Three facets guide the program: Social Outreach, Cultural Outreach, and Kids Helping Kids. This qualitative study explores what led the director to create this program, its current structure as well as its historical development, and the impact the program is having on the students involved and the community to which they reach. Between the months of September and December 2012, I spent a total of three weeks with the students, parents, and the director of the North Park Band, Ron Wakefield. In that time, the students were observed during band rehearsals on typical school days. Additionally, I traveled with the band to three separate outreach concerts at the Los Angeles Veterans Healthcare Facility, nursing homes and assisted living centers, as well as the Isaiah House, a homeless shelter for women and children. I observed the students and their interactions with the residents of those facilities, and took detailed observation notes. In addition, a survey was distributed to students in the top two bands, interviews were conducted with current students and a former student, a parent and a former parent, and the director. The North Park Band program structure leads students to develop an unusually high level of responsibility. Students gain an understanding of current issues in society and demonstrate compassion towards other human beings. In many cases, the students discover a sense of life purpose through the program and feel that they have a responsibility to help their community. While a central focus of the program is on humanistic values, it is evident that the students also receive a quality music education. / Dissertation/Thesis / D.M.A. Music 2013

The development of Estonia’s national music culture has really taken place over the last 145 years, thanks to the national choral song festival tradition that began in 1869 and has continued until today. Song festivals have been always important as a form of non-political resistance confirming Estonian identity and self-confidence. Many have characterized Estonia as a “singing nation” and we know that a great contribution to this is provided by music teachers at schools.

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Master of Music / Department of Music / Frederick Burrack / This report gives a detailed description and analysis of two method books used for beginning orchestra classes; Essential Elements for Strings by Michael Allen, Robert Gillespie, and Pamela Tellejohn Hayes, and Strings Basics by Terry Shade and Jeremy Woolstenhulme. Olathe School District #233 in Olathe, Kansas is doing research to decide whether to continue using their current method book, Essential Elements, or switching to a different method book, String Basics, for the 2014-2015 school year. Book 1 from each series is analyzed by looking at the order of concepts taught, how the concepts are introduced, how the book is laid out, illustrations, accompaniment CDs, the teacher’s manual, and additional resources offered by the publishers. The books are then compared and critiqued before a personal recommendation is given on which book would be more beneficial to the students of Olathe.

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<p>Bakgrund</p><p>Musikhistorien är på inga sätt opåverkad av den historiska utvecklingen i övriga samhället. Den är en väsentlig del av olika tidsepokernas rådande kulturer. Skolan har en viktig roll i elevernas socialisationsprocess. Kan en manlig musiklärare använda sig av musik skriven av män, framförd av män och skriven ur ett manligt perspektiv, i en undervisningssituation och räkna med att han når fram till alla elever? Lämnar man inte per automatik halva klassen utanför eftersom musiken inte kan anknyta till deras upplevelsevärld, livsåskådning eller värdegrund. Vilken musik används egentligen i skolan idag och vad säger den?</p><p>Syfte</p><p>Syftet är att utreda om det finns något som skulle kunna kallas en gemensam skolmusiks kanon i den kommun i södra Sverige jag undersöker. Vidare är det av intresse att utreda vad dessa låtar kan säga för lyssnaren ur ett genusperspektiv och att utreda ur vilket perspektiv de är skrivna</p><p>Metod</p><p>Utöver litteraturstudier baseras resultatet på 6 kvalitativa enkäter med musiklärare i en mellanstor stad i södra Sverige. Därefter använder jag mig av en egenkonstruerad mall för att tolka det jag ser som en gemensam skolmusikkanon.</p><p>Slutsats</p><p>Det existerar med hög sannolikhet en gemensam skolmusikkanon. Valet av låtar baseras troligtvis på att de är så pass välkända, enkelt konstruerade och neutrala i förhållande till skolans värdegrund. Icke desto mindre är antalet kvinnliga artister, låtskrivare och musiker kraftigt underrepresenterade i skolans musikundervisning</p>