This thesis focuses on the design and evaluation of interactive music systems that enable non-experts to experience collaborative music-making in public set- tings, such as museums, galleries and festivals. Although there has been previous research into music systems for non-experts, there is very limited research on how participants engage with collaborative music environments in public set- tings. Informed by a detailed assessment of related research, an interactive, multi-person music system is developed, which serves as a vehicle to conduct practice-based research in real-world settings. A central focus of the design is supporting each player's individual sense of control, in order to examine how this relates to their overall playing experience. Drawing on approaches from Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and interac- tive art research, a series of user studies is conducted in public settings such as art exhibitions and festivals. Taking into account that the user experience and social dynamics around such new forms of interaction are considerably in u- enced by the context of use, this systematic assessment in real-world contexts contributes to a richer understanding of how people interact and behave in such new creative spaces. This research makes a number of contributions to the elds of HCI, interactive art and New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME). It provides a set of de- sign implications to aid designers of future collaborative music systems. These are based on a number of empirical ndings that describe and explain aspects of audience behaviour, engagement and mutual interaction around public, in- teractive multi-person systems. It provides empirical evidence that there is a correlation between participants' perceived level of control and their sense of cre- ative participation and enjoyment. This thesis also develops and demonstrates the application of a mixed-method approach for studying technology-mediated collaborative creativity with live audiences.

In the last two decades of the twentieth century in particular, a renewed interest arose in the relationship between music making and intelligence. This yet again led to the question of whether or not music making has any influence on intelligence. As a result of popular views, incorrect and incomplete reports and research which has not been based on an adequate scientific foundation, however, claims about the potential of making music to increase intelligence are currently being questioned. Even though the literature study could not prove beyond all doubt that music making increases intelligence, it is nevertheless significant that most of the top achievers in the matric final examination make music, play in orchestras or sing in choirs. The main objective of the study is to determine the nature of the relationship between music making and intelligence. A further aim of the study is also to establish whether the making of music contributes towards equipping learners with life skills which enable them to be successful in their lives later on. In addition to the literature study, this study also includes an empirical investigation. For the purposes of this study the Baron Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version was used. The experimental group consisted of forty nine learners who are members of either the Northwest Youth Orchestra or the Musikhane orchestra. A control group consisting of fifty learners from the same schools as the experimental group was involved as well. In-depth interviews were also held with the conductors of respectively the Northwest Youth Orchestra and the Musikhane orchestra. Questionnaires were completed by music teachers in the Northwest Province and by some of the Musikhane workers, in order to compare the qualitative results of the questionnaires and interviews with the quantitative results of the BarOn EQ-i:YV questionnaire. The findings of the study are based on an empirical study, which includes qualitative and quantitative testing. It was indicated, amongst others, that the positive influence of music making on academic achievement is to be found on the affective rather than the cognitive level. Furthermore, music making equips learners with certain life skills, like self-discipline, self-confidence and good inter- and intrapersonal relationships, which help them to be successful in other areas of their lives, such as their school work. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Music))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

In the last two decades of the twentieth century in particular, a renewed interest arose in the relationship between music making and intelligence. This yet again led to the question of whether or not music making has any influence on intelligence. As a result of popular views, incorrect and incomplete reports and research which has not been based on an adequate scientific foundation, however, claims about the potential of making music to increase intelligence are currently being questioned. Even though the literature study could not prove beyond all doubt that music making increases intelligence, it is nevertheless significant that most of the top achievers in the matric final examination make music, play in orchestras or sing in choirs. The main objective of the study is to determine the nature of the relationship between music making and intelligence. A further aim of the study is also to establish whether the making of music contributes towards equipping learners with life skills which enable them to be successful in their lives later on. In addition to the literature study, this study also includes an empirical investigation. For the purposes of this study the Baron Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version was used. The experimental group consisted of forty nine learners who are members of either the Northwest Youth Orchestra or the Musikhane orchestra. A control group consisting of fifty learners from the same schools as the experimental group was involved as well. In-depth interviews were also held with the conductors of respectively the Northwest Youth Orchestra and the Musikhane orchestra. Questionnaires were completed by music teachers in the Northwest Province and by some of the Musikhane workers, in order to compare the qualitative results of the questionnaires and interviews with the quantitative results of the BarOn EQ-i:YV questionnaire. The findings of the study are based on an empirical study, which includes qualitative and quantitative testing. It was indicated, amongst others, that the positive influence of music making on academic achievement is to be found on the affective rather than the cognitive level. Furthermore, music making equips learners with certain life skills, like self-discipline, self-confidence and good inter- and intrapersonal relationships, which help them to be successful in other areas of their lives, such as their school work. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Music))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

The island of Kökar, located in the outer archipelago of the Åland islands of Scandinavia, is traditionally a society known for its rich culture connected to the living tradition of traditional folk music. In media the island is portrayed as The island of Fiddles. Yet at the same time the number of people actually playing, singing and dancing in the traditional style is declining year by year. With the application of Thomas Turinos conceptual framework on participatory- and performative music making, island culture is analyzed, looking at what wider societal values are expressed within the contemporary musicking practices. The study shows example of different types of musicing contexts, key actors and -arenas, as well as ideas on the connection between music and a Kökar island identity. The essay provides empirical evidence for how different musical events such as a cultural festival, a choir and a fiddler team can contribute to social sustainability, in accordance with Turino's theory of participatory music making as part of artistic citizenship.

The arts are an essential part of any student’s well rounded education. The future of music in education will depend on its ability to deliver relevant, effective, and measurable outcomes. However, the expectations and performance nature of traditional curricula often foster a sense of musical elitism and ostracizes students that are solely interested in music as a recreational outlet. Incorporating recreational music-making into education can provide opportunities for students to experience self-expression, creativity, social connection, and enjoyment. These values will not only enhance their education, but also lead to acquired skills for use in all areas of their lives. Activities such as drum circles, for example, break down the musical elitism that has been reenforced through barriers of economy (purchasing instruments), technique (learning a required skill set), and language (learning to read music). This document will establish a case for recreational music-making in education through examination of the role of music education, the concept of recreational musicmaking, and the numerous health and wellness benefits associated with recreational music-making. Included will be a discussion of elementary, secondary, and higher education music curricula. Additionally, the importance of using percussion instruments will be established along with explanations of basic techniques. Finally, a discourse about the language barrier in music is included. The intended results of this document include creating an educated audience for music professionals, a larger presence of music-making in society, music advocacy and support, improved creativity and self-expression for professional and amateur musicians, strengthened community connections, and an overall improvement in health and well-being for music participants.

This thesis describes a qualitative action research process undertaken ‘in the field’ over approximately eight years of the development of an alternative paradigm for music education. This new paradigm evolved from a simple, practical approach that was not, in the first instance, designed to be transformational, but which quickly showed itself to have potential for providing a different model for conceptualising musical engagement. ¶ It is argued that the standard and widely accepted approach to music education has aspects that does not encourage on-going music making. This study conceptualises that ‘traditional’ Western approach in terms of a ‘virtuosic mountain’ that prioritises and rewards technical achievement. The concept of the virtuosic mountain is developed in terms of three ‘P’s’: Perfection, Practice and Performance. The concept was developed by not just reviewing current literature but also by analysing that literature in light of the developing new paradigm as a means of comparing and contrasting the approaches. ¶ Called ‘The Music Education Program’, this new paradigm is based on a practical approach to the sharing of music making beyond institutional boundaries like the school gate. Children do not ‘perform’ in the community but seek to engage others in making music with them without reference to age, disability or skill level. The focus is on the social outcomes that derive from music making rather than the improvement of skills, which develop as a natural part of community engagement. In this respect, the approach has roots in community enculturation processes that are no longer prominent in Western society. ¶ The new paradigm is presented with a contrasting set of ‘three I’s’: Intent, Identity and Involvement, which are designed to illustrate how the community ‘outreach’ of the Music Education Program provides a model for consciously reconceptualising our approach to music education through re-visiting what might be regarded as ‘old’ practices in a ‘new’ guise. The three ‘I’s’ are illustrated through a series of critical incidents that highlight the necessary change in theoretical underpinnings that the practical application of the Program demands. This includes a particular focus on the Intent behind our music making, rather than the ‘quality’ in terms of technomusical outcomes; stress on the individual and group choices that develop musical Identity; and demonstration of the ways in which this paradigm may contribute to voluntary, rather than enforced, Involvement. ¶ The critical incident data is supplemented by some survey and evaluation data which supports the view that the social component of musical engagement provides an alternate focus to musical development than does an achievement paradigm. The range of data collected shows that classroom teachers can take a significant role in the encouragement of music making in the primary school without relying solely on the expertise of those with specific musical training; and that overcoming negative attitudes and experiences can transform not only the teacher’s relationship with music but produce a positive effect on her students. ¶ The model described here has evolved through a longitudinal process that constantly maintains the centrality of the practical operation of the program. In so doing, it moves away from theoretical constructs that often do not seem to relate directly to practitioners but, at the same time, it avoids prescriptive methodology. Theory is elucidated through practice in a way that encourages teachers to develop their own practices that are consistent with underlying principles. This model is transformative in nature, having first a transformative effect on the principal researcher and thence on those teachers engaging in professional development with the Program. ¶ Since the Music Education Program does not yet have students who have exited the school system, this study does not attempt to claim success in the long-term in terms of promoting ongoing engagement through life. Data suggest, however, that it has had an impact in encouraging teachers to reconnect with music making and enables them to share that music making with their students, thereby helping to develop more school-based musical engagement that is also affecting the broader community in the Australian Capital Territory.

abstract: People are motivated to participate in musical activities for many reasons. Whereas musicians may be driven by an intrinsic desire for musical growth, self-determination theory suggests that this drive must also be sustained and supported by the social environment. Social network analysis is an interdisciplinary theoretical framework and collection of analytical methods that allows us to describe the social context of a musical ensemble. These frameworks are utilized to investigate the relationship of participatory motivation and social networks in a large Division I collegiate marching band. This study concludes that marching band members are predominantly self-determined to participate in marching band and are particularly motivated for social reasons, regardless of their experience over the course of the band season. The members who are highly motived are also more integrated into the band's friendship and advice networks. These highly integrated members also tend to be motivated by the value and importance others display for the marching band activity suggesting these members have begun to internalized those values and seek out others with similar viewpoints. These findings highlight the central nature of the social experience of marching band and have possible implications for other musical leisure ensembles. After a brief review of social music making and the theoretical frameworks, I will provide illustrations of the relationship between motivation and social networks in a musical ensemble, consider the implications of these findings for promoting self-determined motivation and the wellbeing of musical ensembles, and identify directions for future research. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Music 2015

This study investigates how the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas might shape practice in music education. In a climate of accountability and performativity within wider educational policy-making, the drive for ever-increasing efficiency has overtaken notions of professional judgement and ethical practice. This study opens by introducing current strands of international meta-policy priorities in education, and explores moves to redress the emphasis on standardisation and accountability through the rediscovery of notions of responsibility in the work of Biesta drawing on Bauman (1993), who in turn finds a way forwards in Levinas’ ‘ethics as first philosophy’. Emmanuel Levinas is introduced as a major thinker of the twentieth century whose influence is increasing throughout social science disciplines and who, writing firstly as a teacher, provides valuable philosophical tools with which to investigate current practices in education. Over the past three decades competing paradigms for music education have tended to polarise rather than ground thinking in music education research. More recent notions of music-making as ethical encounter (Bowman, 2000) and as the practice of hospitality (Higgins, 2007) have taken forwards Small’s relationship-oriented conceptualisation of ‘musicking’ (1998), and these provide the starting point for this study’s search for an ethical underpinning for music education. Levinas’ first major work (1969) provides two key strands of thought – the polarities of totality and infinity, and the exhortation to ‘look into the face of the Other’. These tools open up explorations of how pupils encounter difference, the unfamiliar, and of how narrow conceptions of learning in the music classroom may be understood as an ethical problem. At the heart of this study is the report of ethnographically-informed fieldwork undertaken in a Scottish secondary school, following a group of 13-year-olds through an academic year of class music lessons. Participant observation and semi-structured interviews were methods employed alongside participant self-documentation in order to gather pupils’ experiences and perspectives on how they encounter the Other through their music-making at school and in their everyday lives. A critical realist theoretical framework enabled the experiences and perspectives of pupils to be set within a deep, layered conception of social reality, uncovering the dynamic interplay of structural forces and pupil agency. Through the lens of Levinas’ philosophy pupils’ ‘practices of facing’ were brought to light and conceptualised as agential. ii From these ‘practices of facing’ the study’s conclusions are drawn. Music-making is conceptualised through terms in which Levinas spoke of language, as having as its first impetus a reaching out to the Other, ‘putting a world in common’. This grounds, and is generative of, an epistemological diversity within which aesthetic and praxial approaches are anchored in one underlying, ethical orientation, where the attentiveness and openness of aesthetic sensitivity are as significant as the developing of skills and competencies in enabling an ever-deeper entering-into ‘infinity in the face of the Other’. This study offers a critique of the present educational environment which prioritises predetermined outcomes and narrow models of knowing, thereby, according to a Levinasian view, legitimising practices of violence and domination, and sets out an alternative orientation, where richly contextualised learning in the music classroom and a radical openness might allow for an infinity of possibility to break in.

Detta masterprojekt handlar om omvandlingen från att ”bara” vara en musikalisk hantverkare till att bli en kreativ musikskapare. Musiken som det här projektet har resulterat i är åtta låtar, i instrumentala genrer med teman och improvisationer. Metoden som har tillämpats är forskning genom konsten. I den inledande fasen av processen fanns det ett icke-dömande förhållningssätt till musikskapandet där fokus låg på att skapa musik utan att ta hänsyn till om musiken som skapades var bra eller dålig. Under resans gång utkristalliserade sig målet till att bli arbete mot en två-dagars inspelningssession tillsammans med en kvintett i studio 1 på Kungl. Musikhögskolan i Stockholm. Genom denna process har åtta parametrar visat sig vara av betydelse för att bli en kreativ musikskapare. Parametrarna är välmående, lekfullhet, struktur, fokus, mål och drivkraft. Studiens resultat påvisar att de verkar samexistera och nära varandra och på det sättet utgör de tillsammans en grund för kreativitet i musikskapandet. / This master project is about the transformation from ”only” being a craftsman in the art of music into becoming a creator of music. The music in this case has resulted in eight songs in some kind of instrumental genre with themes and improvisations. The method for this journey is research through the arts. In the initial phase of the process there were a non-judgemental approach to music making where focus layed on the act of creating music, not paying any attention to whether the music was good or bad. As the process moved on, goals outlined themselves into becoming work towards two days of recording with a quintet in the biggest studio in the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Through this process, eight parameters have shown to be of importance in the act of becoming a creative music maker. The parameters are Well-being, Playfulness, Structure, Focus, Goal and Driving force. They seem to co-exist and feed one another and in that way lay a foundation for creativity in music making.

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