Often neglected in voice study is the understanding that a singer’s instrument lives in his/her body and therefore cannot be packed away like other musical objects. Yoga and mindfulness compliment the belief of a whole body instrument. Data gathered on college campuses report that stress and anxiety are on the rise, thus reinforcing the need for MBSR and yoga as beneficial and proven tools for stress relief. The current state of research in the realm of mental health in colleges merits the study of a cohesive layout of these exercises and their expected outcomes in singing as well as stress management. Therefore, this document will present yoga sequences that align with the core aspects of singing including breath support, fluid vocal production and artistic expression. Exercises founded on principles of mindfulness are provided to bring awareness of mental qualities within a singer. Mental qualities gained from meditation practice include improved self-esteem, lowered anxiety, and increased focus. Yoga sequences will focus on certain areas of the body commonly addressed in voice studies. Collections of yoga asana, or postures, are featured to allow singers to recognize tightness and inefficiencies in their bodies, thus improving vocal function. This guide will combine yoga traditions along with mindfulness research to introduce ancient philosophies to singers and their teachers, resulting in meaningful and productive voice lessons.

Mexican composer Javier G. Compeán finished Sonata III, his most recent composition for solo guitar, in December 2015. Since the composition of his first such work in 2003, the composer has been experimenting with texture, register, dynamic range, extended techniques, harmonic possibilities, timbre, and form in his solo guitar music. In Sonata III, Compeán applied the experience he gained in previous compositions for guitar. This work represents the composer’s current style, in which he returns to a more traditional language but continues to experiment with the technical capabilities of the instrument. Sonata III is Compeán’s most ambitious guitar composition and one of the most important twenty-first century contributions to the Mexican guitar literature. This research focuses on the production of a performing edition of Sonata III. This research also includes a comprehensive analysis of Compeán’s solo guitar music to provide context for guitarists so that they can better understand the composer’s style.

This thesis takes as its broad area of study the solo instrumental music produced since 1960 by the virtuoso performer-composer, and focuses on the works of Australian clarinettist and composer Brigid Burke. The 1960's in music was a decade like no other; the effects of serialism and indeterminacy, the rise of electronic music, and the general climate of experimentation resulted in an explosion of new musical ideas and compositional approaches. One development of this period was the growth of a musician type new to the twentieth century: the virtuoso performer-composer. Brigid Burke (1960- ) is a clarinet soloist, visual artist and a composer of over one hundred works. The majority of Burke's compositional output comprises works for clarinet. In writing almost exclusively for the clarinet, the instrument of which she is a national and international performer, Burke can be viewed as continuing the virtuoso performer-composer trend emanating from the 1960's. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the extent to which Burke's clarinet works represent a unique voice in the international and Australian contemporary clarinet repertoire. Four of Burke's works were chosen for study: Three Sounds on Buildings 2 (2005),

This thesis is divided into three main sections. Part I concerns general aspects of performance, whilst Part II deals specifically with performance aspects of the Double Concerto for Oboe, Harp and Strings by Hans Werner Henze. Part III is a summary and conclusion of Parts1 and 11. It is hoped that this thesis will provide both a fresh approach to performance in general and also to the performance of Henze's double concerto. I have chosen to discuss aspects of Henze's double concerto, because of its significance as a major oboe concerto in the repertoire and the demands it makes on the oboist both as interpreter and technician. / Thesis (M.Mus)-University of Natal, Durban, 1979.

Among the existing body of literature on J.S. Bach’s massive compositional output, a scarce percentage of this research is dedicated specifically to the study of French Baroque court dances and their influence on Bach’s solo vocal repertoire. This study presents secular and sacred solo vocal works by J.S. Bach that were influenced by popular French court dances of the eighteenth century. The study explores musical and dance traits extracted from some of the most popular French Baroque court dances and incorporated into solo vocal repertoire. The intent of this paper is to provide a resource from a performer’s perspective that serves as an informative guide for vocalists, vocal coaches, and voice instructors. It includes biographical information about J.S. Bach, an historical overview of five of the most popular eighteenth-century French court dances, and it features five solo vocal works by Bach whose conception was influenced by French Baroque court dances. The overall goal of this study is to inform the reader about the influences and relationships between French Baroque dance and solo vocal works by J.S. Bach. This study is unique in that it is limited only to those solo vocal works which share a relationship with eighteenth-century French court dances.

Despite a widely held view that serialism is incompatible with jazz improvisation, there are many instances of jazz musicians successfully engaging with this concept. This conflict seems likely to have arisen from differing interpretations of ‘serialism’; however, the question of how a jazz improviser’s approach to serialism might, or perhaps should, differ from a classical composer’s, has been left unasked. In addition, most attempts at the use of serialism within improvisation remain undocumented by the musicians concerned. The chord stranding techniques of Lutoslawski are less well known and less controversial than serialism. Connections between Lutoslawski’s twelve-note chords and traditional twelve-note rows are obvious, as are connections between the concept of harmonic ‘strands’ and the jazz harmonic device of superimposition. The possibilities for use of Lutoslawski’s ideas within a jazz context are interesting and worthy of consideration. This research project involves the composition and performance of jazz pieces applying serialism and chord stranding, as well as the exploration of precedents for these ideas within the jazz tradition. The four CD recordings within this thesis present the initial development of these concepts (CDs 1 and 2); an exploration of serialism in the music of John Coltrane (CD 3); and an album of original material demonstrating the integrated application of these concepts (CD 4). The exegesis describes the broader context of this project and examines the relevant music theory concepts. It uses analysis of transcriptions to show the specific application of techniques. The key outcomes from this research are (i) the development and (ii) the demonstration of techniques for pitch organisation based on serialism and chord stranding that are appropriate for jazz improvisation. The recordings and exegesis show the successful integration of these techniques with existing melodic and harmonic ideas familiar to jazz musicians. It is argued that the approach to jazz improvisation explored within this research represents a novel and radical reinterpretation of the traditional concept of serialism and that this approach is helpful when considering the effective use of serialism in a jazz context. From a broader perspective, this research offers a case study of an improviser grappling with the challenges of synthesis and stylistic integrity and, as such, it has the potential to inform contemporary debates concerning tradition and innovation within jazz. / v. 1 Exegesis -- v. 2 CD Recordings: CD1. Serialism concept development ; CD2. Chord stranding concept development ; CD3. Chris Martin Trio play A love supreme ; CD4. Triptych, 1+1=1 / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1341787 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Elder Conservatorium of Music, 2008

Despite a widely held view that serialism is incompatible with jazz improvisation, there are many instances of jazz musicians successfully engaging with this concept. This conflict seems likely to have arisen from differing interpretations of ‘serialism’; however, the question of how a jazz improviser’s approach to serialism might, or perhaps should, differ from a classical composer’s, has been left unasked. In addition, most attempts at the use of serialism within improvisation remain undocumented by the musicians concerned. The chord stranding techniques of Lutoslawski are less well known and less controversial than serialism. Connections between Lutoslawski’s twelve-note chords and traditional twelve-note rows are obvious, as are connections between the concept of harmonic ‘strands’ and the jazz harmonic device of superimposition. The possibilities for use of Lutoslawski’s ideas within a jazz context are interesting and worthy of consideration. This research project involves the composition and performance of jazz pieces applying serialism and chord stranding, as well as the exploration of precedents for these ideas within the jazz tradition. The four CD recordings within this thesis present the initial development of these concepts (CDs 1 and 2); an exploration of serialism in the music of John Coltrane (CD 3); and an album of original material demonstrating the integrated application of these concepts (CD 4). The exegesis describes the broader context of this project and examines the relevant music theory concepts. It uses analysis of transcriptions to show the specific application of techniques. The key outcomes from this research are (i) the development and (ii) the demonstration of techniques for pitch organisation based on serialism and chord stranding that are appropriate for jazz improvisation. The recordings and exegesis show the successful integration of these techniques with existing melodic and harmonic ideas familiar to jazz musicians. It is argued that the approach to jazz improvisation explored within this research represents a novel and radical reinterpretation of the traditional concept of serialism and that this approach is helpful when considering the effective use of serialism in a jazz context. From a broader perspective, this research offers a case study of an improviser grappling with the challenges of synthesis and stylistic integrity and, as such, it has the potential to inform contemporary debates concerning tradition and innovation within jazz. / v. 1 Exegesis -- v. 2 CD Recordings: CD1. Serialism concept development ; CD2. Chord stranding concept development ; CD3. Chris Martin Trio play A love supreme ; CD4. Triptych, 1+1=1 / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1341787 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Elder Conservatorium of Music, 2008

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is reported in musicians of all experience, levels, and genre. However, solo classical musicians report MPA more often and at higher levels than performers in other genres because of its formal culture and traditional structure. Within solo classical musicians, collegiate training greatly differs between conservatories that award a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) and liberal arts institutions that award a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). In 2 studies, the proposed research examines the differences in general anxiety, MPA, and private lesson content between these two groups. Participants will be from the two groups of types of collegiate music students. In Study 1, participants will take the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI), and a Personal and Musical Background Questionnaire (PMBQ) at 3 times intervals before a public, solo performance in order to assess general connections between anxiety and MPA. In Study 2, participants will partake in weekly session of 1 of 3 interventions (meditation, journal entry, and biofeedback training) in order to determine an effective method for preventing and coping with MPA. Proposed results suggest higher levels of general anxiety and MPA in conservatory music students and lower levels of MPA in participants who undergo biofeedback training. Individuals who report learning about MPA strategies in their lessons will have lower levels of MPA, suggesting the need to consistently address MPA in classical music pedagogy.

South African education is currently in a process of restructuring, stemming from radical political changes in 1994. In 1995 a system of outcomes-based education was adopted by the Department of Education, strategically supported by the South African Qualifications Authority with its twelve relevant National Standards Bodies. Together with this, a system of unit standards, based on the accreditation of credits, learning programmes and qualifications is in a process of development. Music as formal school subject does not enjoy the same financial support from the Education Department as do the so-called "essential" subjects such as Mathematics and Science. Therefore no formal structures to generate unit standards for Music were origmally planned and budgeted for by educational authorities. To fill this need, and to prevent the marginalisation of such an important subject, the MEUSSA (Music Education Unit Standards for Southern Africa) project was initiated by the Music Department of the University of Pretoria early in 2000, involving 18 Master's and doctoral students in various areas of musical expertise. The aim is to generate unit standards for Music(s) in Southern Africa across traditional aspects such as instrumental training, harmony, history, theory and aural training, as well as the relatively unexplored domains of Music Technology, World Musics and Popular Music. Cultural shifts over the last approximately forty years began reshaping the understanding of the world we are' living in, resulting in a transition from a modern to a postmodern culture in Western societies. For the project of writing unit standards for music to be relevant, it was necessary to reflect on these changes and to accommodate them in music education. Frameworks and standards generated in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and England were also investigated and contextualised. Because the field of expertise of the author lies, inter alia, in the field of Aerophones, unit standards were specifically generated for music performance. These standards have to be considered as part of the MEUSSA project, and therefore be read in conjunction with contributions by other members of this team. It is the wish of the author, as part of the MEUSSA team, that this study will contribute towards making music education of high quality available to every learner in Southern Africa. / Thesis (DMus)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Music / unrestricted

The aim of this research is to provide a theoretical framework of the Alexander Technique for organists. Frederick Matthias Alexander was an Australian actor who developed a technique to enable and enhance his own performance. This innovative technique is now used across the world, including South Africa. In this study the researcher provides a Literature Study of the Alexander Technique. Furthermore, he investigates and reports on the practises of a number of organists. A multiple case study approach was adapted and data was collected by means of questionnaires, personal observations and informal interviews. The data gathered in this study is described and analysed. The study culminates with a description of a theoretical framework for the application of the Alexander Technique for organists.