Gospel singing is a musically sophisticated and culturally influential vocal performance style. Yet, its pedagogy is often expressed through the lens of formal/classical training or a Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) umbrella for all non-classical styles. This is problematic because classical training does not produce gospel singing, and most CCM styles are derivatives of the black vernacular singing practices that are foundational to gospel music. It follows that Gospel singing should be foundational to the study of CCM styles. However, in the absence of formal vocal training, little is known about how gospel singers actually develop and maintain healthy gospel singing voices. The purpose of this study is to explore with 12 professional gospel singers, their perceptions of how they have developed and maintain a vibrant and successful gospel singing voice and what role, if any, formal voice training played in that development. The exploration revealed that professional gospel singers are often not only formally trained, but gospel is a key part of their formal training. Their gospel upbringing taught them key cultural practices that both align with and expand the conversation around traditional, CCM, and the growing Gospel voice pedagogy. Their stories offer a different perspective about how gospel singers learn and how they should be taught.

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In this study an attempt was made to measure the effects of verbal discussion on musical expressiveness. Subjects (N =30) were all members of a conservatory symphony orchestra. The subjects were divided into three groups: Group 1 was a listening and discussion group; Group 2 listening only; and Group 3 control group, no treatment. The study used a pre- and post-test design in which all the subjects were requested to play a given melody twice. Analysis of the data, using two-tailed t tests and ANOVAs, revealed no statistically significant differences among the three groups for the effect of verbal discussion on expressiveness. The subjects' self-reports, however, illustrated that they perceived a difference in their expressive playing.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of three practice conditions on beginning band instrumentalists’ performance of a short musical selection. Fifty- nine sixth grade beginning band students were randomly assigned to either a physical practice, mental practice, or no practice (control) treatment. A pre-test score was obtained by having each subject sightread selection #2 from Form A of the Watkins/Farnum Performance Scale. Subjects were then given instructions according to the practice condition to which they had been assigned. After a three minute practice session, subjects were asked to perform selection #2 from Form B of the Watkins/Farnum Performance Scale to obtain a post-test score. All of the performances were tape recorded and scored on the basis of correct pitches and rhythm patterns by three music teachers. Mean scores were analyzed using a one-way ANCOVA and a Scheffe’ Test. The results of the study indicated that students in the physical practice condition scored significantly higher than those in the control group. Mental practice was not significantly different from either the physical practice or no practice (control) groups. / Master of Science