The aim of this thesis is to obtain a deeper understanding of students’ approaches to musical knowledge as it is distributed through one-to-one tuition in higher music education (HME). With a cultural-psychological perspective according to Bruner, the project was designed as a longitudinal, qualitative study of eight students in the performance program that concludes with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. Two main musical genres were represented: Western classical music, and jazz and contemporary music. The students had one-to-one tuition on violin, classical guitar, saxophone and electric guitar, and were observed at three consecutive lessons per semester during one academic year. Many-sided data were collected: video recordings of instrumental lessons, semi-structured interviews with students and teachers, and the participants’ diary notes in connection with the observed lessons. In the analysis, the students’ approaches to knowledge of music cultural tools were focused. The results show that the students use three main approaches in relation to one-to-one tuition: adaptation, reflected navigation and indifference. These approaches vary and overlap, and are connected to the local cultural situations that are being studied, as well as to differences by instrument and genre. The different strategies used by the students are discussed in relation to apprenticeship in higher music education, and in relation to the consequences for students’ musical learning and knowledge development. The results are also connected to the Bologna process and the development of research-based teaching in HME. Methodological considerations and suggestions for further research are put forward. / Genom projektet, Instrumenatlisters musikaliska kunskapsutveckling. Finansierat av Vetenskapsrådet / Genom projektet, Vem äger lärandet? Finansierat av Myndigheten för nätverk och samarbete inom högre utbildning

The aim of this thesis is to obtain a deeper understanding of students’ approaches to musical knowledge as it is distributed through one-to-one tuition in higher music education (HME). With a cultural-psychological perspective according to Bruner, the project was designed as a longitudinal, qualitative study of eight students in the performance program that concludes with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. Two main musical genres were represented: Western classical music, and jazz and contemporary music. The students had one-to-one tuition on violin, classical guitar, saxophone and electric guitar, and were observed at three consecutive lessons per semester during one academic year. Many-sided data were collected: video recordings of instrumental lessons, semi-structured interviews with students and teachers, and the participants’ diary notes in connection with the observed lessons. In the analysis, the students’ approaches to knowledge of music cultural tools were focused. The results show that the students use three main approaches in relation to one-to-one tuition: adaptation, reflected navigation and indifference. These approaches vary and overlap, and are connected to the local cultural situations that are being studied, as well as to differences by instrument and genre. The different strategies used by the students are discussed in relation to apprenticeship in higher music education, and in relation to the consequences for students’ musical learning and knowledge development. The results are also connected to the Bologna process and the development of research-based teaching in HME. Methodological considerations and suggestions for further research are put forward. / Genom projektet, Instrumenatlisters musikaliska kunskapsutveckling. Finansierat av Vetenskapsrådet / Genom projektet, Vem äger lärandet? Finansierat av Myndigheten för nätverk och samarbete inom högre utbildning

American mezzo-soprano, Beverly Wolff has not received the credit or respect that she deserves in operatic history. Her career began in 1952 and flourished until her retirement from the stage in 1981. Her intense characterizations, innate musicianship, and intelligence made her one of the most sought-after performers from the 1950s to the 1970s. For thirty years, she worked with some of the operatic world’s finest musicians, including Leonard Bernstein, Gian-Carlo Menotti, Samuel Barber, Ned Rorem, Beverly Sills, Norman Triegle, Placido Domingo, among others. She was represented by Columbia Artists Management Inc (CAMI), one of New York’s oldest and most prestigious management companies, and maintained an active performance schedule that often included operatic, concert, and recital performances in the same week. She trained at the American Vocal Academy in Philadelphia and was inducted into its Hall of Fame. She performed in New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, New Orleans, and Atlanta and was an active member of the New York City Opera, Handel Society, Tanglewood, and the Handel Society of Washington, D.C. Wolff is credited with over sixty recordings. She also appeared on several of NBC’s live operatic programs, which brought opera to the masses. Perhaps most importantly, she created and debuted several important roles in American opera. Few have heard of her; the purpose of this document is to fill in this gap in operatic history, and to clarify and correct misinformation about her. In this document, I will answer the following questions: What determines a performer’s worth? What secures a performer’s place in history? Finally, and more specifically, what imprints did Beverly Wolff leave for posterity?

The literature on psychological well-being indicates that high levels of psychological well-being encourage a psychological loop that reinforces itself, lifting an individual on an 'upward spiral' of continued psychological flourishing, which may contribute to positive human functioning. In addition, the literature suggests that effective intervention can raise the levels of psychological well-being. There are features inherent in the training of student pianists that can contribute to their psychological vulnerability, especially with regard to self-concept and anxiety. Therefore, they can benefit from an intervention that may raise their level of psychological well-being, thus contributing to their resilience in coping with the challenges presented by their training as well as their piano performance. Clinical observations as well as research indicate that the Tomatis Method can enhance psychological well-being and improve academic functioning. Furthermore, Tomatis' theories and observations suggest that this programme can also enhance music performance, especially with regard to self-listening skills. However, although Tomatis indicates that he observed the same results with instrumentalists as with singers, his writings mostly refer to singers. Except for a single case study by Madaule in 1976, there seems to be no other scientific evidence that the Tomatis Method has benefited student pianists. Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the effect of the Tomatis Method on student pianists' psychological well-being and piano performance. The empirical study consisted of a two-group pre-post assessment mixed-method design, involving thirteen 2nd year to postgraduate student pianists from the School of Music and Conservatory, of the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). These students were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 7) which was exposed to the Tomatis Listening Programme, and a non-intervention control group (n = 6). Quantitative data were obtained by means of a battery of tests, which included self-report inventories regarding psychological well-being and music performance anxiety, as well as scales regarding piano performance. The levels of the participants' psychological well-being were measured with the Scales of Psychological Well-Being (Ryff, 1989), the Affectometer 2 (Kammann & Flett, 1983), and the Profile of Mood States (Mc Nair et al., 1992). Participants' levels of music performance anxiety were measured with the Music Performance Anxiety Inventory for Adolescents (Osborne & Kenny, 2005), and the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (Kenny et al., 2004). The quality of the students' piano performances was assessed by means of a general impression expressed as a percentage, Mills' constructs (1987) for the assessment of music performance, and Piano Performance Rating Scale (PPRS) which was developed for this study. Qualitative data were acquired by means of interviews, group discussions, projective drawings, written reports, personal observations and the Tomatis Listening Test Results indicated improvement regarding some aspects related to student pianists' psychological well-being and piano performance. Further research with regard to these aspects is required. / Thesis (M.Mus.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The literature on psychological well-being indicates that high levels of psychological well-being encourage a psychological loop that reinforces itself, lifting an individual on an 'upward spiral' of continued psychological flourishing, which may contribute to positive human functioning. In addition, the literature suggests that effective intervention can raise the levels of psychological well-being. There are features inherent in the training of student pianists that can contribute to their psychological vulnerability, especially with regard to self-concept and anxiety. Therefore, they can benefit from an intervention that may raise their level of psychological well-being, thus contributing to their resilience in coping with the challenges presented by their training as well as their piano performance. Clinical observations as well as research indicate that the Tomatis Method can enhance psychological well-being and improve academic functioning. Furthermore, Tomatis' theories and observations suggest that this programme can also enhance music performance, especially with regard to self-listening skills. However, although Tomatis indicates that he observed the same results with instrumentalists as with singers, his writings mostly refer to singers. Except for a single case study by Madaule in 1976, there seems to be no other scientific evidence that the Tomatis Method has benefited student pianists. Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the effect of the Tomatis Method on student pianists' psychological well-being and piano performance. The empirical study consisted of a two-group pre-post assessment mixed-method design, involving thirteen 2nd year to postgraduate student pianists from the School of Music and Conservatory, of the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). These students were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 7) which was exposed to the Tomatis Listening Programme, and a non-intervention control group (n = 6). Quantitative data were obtained by means of a battery of tests, which included self-report inventories regarding psychological well-being and music performance anxiety, as well as scales regarding piano performance. The levels of the participants' psychological well-being were measured with the Scales of Psychological Well-Being (Ryff, 1989), the Affectometer 2 (Kammann & Flett, 1983), and the Profile of Mood States (Mc Nair et al., 1992). Participants' levels of music performance anxiety were measured with the Music Performance Anxiety Inventory for Adolescents (Osborne & Kenny, 2005), and the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (Kenny et al., 2004). The quality of the students' piano performances was assessed by means of a general impression expressed as a percentage, Mills' constructs (1987) for the assessment of music performance, and Piano Performance Rating Scale (PPRS) which was developed for this study. Qualitative data were acquired by means of interviews, group discussions, projective drawings, written reports, personal observations and the Tomatis Listening Test Results indicated improvement regarding some aspects related to student pianists' psychological well-being and piano performance. Further research with regard to these aspects is required. / Thesis (M.Mus.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

This research aims at a music piece for audience participation using mobile phones as musical instruments in a music concert setting. Inspired by the ubiquity of smart phones, I attempted to accomplish audience engagement in a music performance by crafting an accessible musical instrument with which audience can be a part of the performance. The research begins by reviewing the related works in two areas, mobile music and audience participation at music performances, builds a charted map of the areas and its intersection to seek an innovation, and defines requisites for a successful audience participation where audience can participate in music making as musicians with their mobile phones. To make accessible audience participation, the concept of a networked multi-user instrument is applied for the system. With the lessons learnt, I developed echobo, a mobile musical instrument application for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch). With this system, audience can download the app at the concert, play the instrument instantly, interact with other audience members, and contribute to the music by sound generated from their mobile phones. A music piece for echobo and a clarinet was presented in a series of performances and the application was found to work reliably and accomplish audience engagement. The post-survey results indicate that the system was accessible, and helped the audience to connect to the music and other musicians.

Theory as an approach to generative composition and interactive computer music. Inspired by the notion of Performance Indeterminacy, software has been developed that attempts to simulate the interactions of improvising performers using a multi-agent system based on the ‘Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma’. Composition activities and programming activities have formed a symbiotic relationship throughout the creation of the portfolio as each has constantly informed the other. Stylistically, the works presented fall into the experimental genre, although individually they address a wide range of aesthetic goals. The main contribution of this portfolio is a new approach to generative composition based on behavioural models, creating a sense of form bottom-up through modelling the social dynamics of music performance. Through this approach, the direct modelling of musical structures is avoided; instead larger scale forms emerge through the interactions of an ensemble of ‘improvising’ agents. This method offers a departure from previous complex systems work in the area of music, creating computer models of specific musical situations. Links between the Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma and music are also established and combined with current music technologies. / Thesis(Ph.D.)- University of Adelaide, Elder Conservatorium of Music, 2008

Theory as an approach to generative composition and interactive computer music. Inspired by the notion of Performance Indeterminacy, software has been developed that attempts to simulate the interactions of improvising performers using a multi-agent system based on the ‘Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma’. Composition activities and programming activities have formed a symbiotic relationship throughout the creation of the portfolio as each has constantly informed the other. Stylistically, the works presented fall into the experimental genre, although individually they address a wide range of aesthetic goals. The main contribution of this portfolio is a new approach to generative composition based on behavioural models, creating a sense of form bottom-up through modelling the social dynamics of music performance. Through this approach, the direct modelling of musical structures is avoided; instead larger scale forms emerge through the interactions of an ensemble of ‘improvising’ agents. This method offers a departure from previous complex systems work in the area of music, creating computer models of specific musical situations. Links between the Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma and music are also established and combined with current music technologies. / Thesis(Ph.D.)- University of Adelaide, Elder Conservatorium of Music, 2008

This submission investigates the interpretation and performance of selected solo and chamber works for flute by American composers Lowell Liebermann (b.1961) and Robert Beaser (b.1954). The exegesis presents a discussion of the interpretation and preparation of the included works from two differing perspectives. First, it examines the repertoire from the perspective of the composer, drawing on audio recordings of interviews and lessons conducted by the author in the United States of America. Second, it reviews the recitals from the perspective of the performer with emphasis on the preparation and performance of the selected repertoire. The discussion draws on two recitals by the author and associate artists that were recorded and presented in Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide on 11 December 2008 and 16 June 2009. Excerpts from the recitals are used to demonstrate the discussion and the CDs of the complete recitals are therefore integral to the submission. / Thesis (M.Mus.) -- University of Adelaide, Elder Conservatorium of Music, 2009

Le travail de recherche examine plusieurs problématiques relatives à la perception, la représentation et la catégorisation des stimuli musicaux durant l’écoute. Nous souhaitons enquêter ces processus cognitifs dans le cadre des différentes approches théorétiques présentes dans la littérature scientifique internationale. En particulier, la thèse s’est focalisée sur le processus de segmentation perceptif du morceau pendant l'écoute, et a analysé au moyen de deux expériences comportementales, les différents rôles des nombreuses caractéristiques structurelles et dynamiques dans le développement de la représentation de la composition musicale par Pauditeur. Ils sont aussi considérés les variables liées au musicien et à l’écouter. Les données expérimentales obtenues sont étudiées en relation avec les modèles modernes de auditory map of salience, et parallèlement, avec les modèles plus spécifiques de segmentation développés pendant ces trente dernières années dans la cadre de la psychologie cognitive de la musique. Pour les expériences on a utilisé un paradigme de segmentation musical avec deux écoutes de morceaux atonales et un ordre balancé de présentation. Les résultats expérimentaux démontrent que la carte de saillance n'est pas une trame immuable pouvant être remplie avec des combinaisons de caractéristiques du stimulus. Au contraire, elle peut être modulée par la répartition de l'attention « goal directed » il travers, par exemple, une modulation des seuils perceptifs spécifiques pour certaines caractéristiques. / This research examines several issues related to the collection, representation and the categorization of musical stimuli during the listening. We investigate these cognitive processes in the with reference to the different theoretical approaches existing in the international scientific literature. In particular, the thesis focuses on the process of perceptual segmentation of musical pieces during the listening. Two behavioral experiments allow analyzing the different roles of many structural and dynamic features in the development of the listeners’ representation of the music. Experiments take into account also the variables related to the musician and the listener. The experimental data obtained are discussed with regard to the current models of auditory map of salience, as well as with models of music segmentation models. In the paradigm of musical segmentation we used subjects have to hear and segment two versions of an atonal piece. Order of presentation is balanced across participants. The results demonstrate that the saliency map is not an immutable frame deriving only from the features of the stimuli. On the opposite, it can be modulated by goal-directed attention through, for example, modulation of specific perceptual thresholds for certain characteristics.