An in depth exploration of an artists commitment to studio time and development of a body of work. Author illustrates the steps of the process in developing a professional portfolio, the generally accepted forms of electronic storage and... more
An in depth exploration of an artists commitment to studio time and development of a body of work. Author illustrates the steps of the process in developing a professional portfolio, the generally accepted forms of electronic storage and display, and the technology resources required ...
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Research Interests: Psychology and Piano
Topic areas of the articles include a) development of curricula: Julia Brook, Rena Upitis & Meagan Troop (Canada) have examined how studio music teachers treat the problems of the subject matter, learner, context and teacher knowledge in... more
Topic areas of the articles include a) development of curricula: Julia Brook, Rena Upitis & Meagan Troop (Canada) have examined how studio music teachers treat the problems of the subject matter, learner, context and teacher knowledge in the process of teaching/learning to play the instrument; Maksim Bendelston (Latvia) has analyzed the guitar curricula in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria and Russia within the context of the development of early school-age children's musical culture; b) repertoire selection in the process of teaching singing: Debra Hedden (USA) & Asta Rauduvaite (Lithuania) have explored how music teachers in Lithuania selected literature for teaching children to sing and how they learned to make those selections. The authors have arrived at the conclusion that the repertoire selection process appeared to be aimed at creating a holistic experience that encompassed musical skills, personal and musical growth, meaning and memory of performances, and aesthetic ...
Supplemental material, Survey_and_Intervew_Questions for Exploring post-degree employment of recent music alumni by Julia Brook and Sue Fostaty Young in International Journal of Music Education
The body of research examining deliberate practice and self self-regulation regulation in musical instruction has grown extensively over the past decade. Compelling ompelling evidence indicates that students with higher levels of self... more
The body of research examining deliberate practice and self self-regulation regulation in musical instruction has grown extensively over the past decade. Compelling ompelling evidence indicates that students with higher levels of self self-regulation regulation develop superior performance skills and experience more fulfillment as musicians. But in order to develop the self self-regulatory regulatory behaviours that are the hallmarks of skilled and expressive musical musicians, students need to be supported and guided as they learn to explicitly set goals and monitor and reflect on their progress. Developing these behaviours involves the incorporation of strategies that presuppose a certain level of discipline and organization on the part of the student. One way of supporting students is through digital tools, including electronic portfolios designed specifically to enhance self self-regulation. regulation. The research reported in the present paper describes how a we web-based base...
Many piano teachers have difficulty finding professional development opportunities beyond their own performance training or reading various books on piano teaching. To serve the professional development needs of piano teachers, an on-line... more
Many piano teachers have difficulty finding professional development opportunities beyond their own performance training or reading various books on piano teaching. To serve the professional development needs of piano teachers, an on-line digital video library (DVL) was developed that allowed piano teachers to view video clips of a master piano teacher on demand. A multiple case-study methodology was employed to examine the experiences of five piano teachers as they interacted with the DVL for four weeks. Each teacher in the study was able to individualize her viewing choices, facilitating professional learning that could be immediately carried over into her professional practice. This book examines the field of piano pedagogy, the process that piano teachers go about in becoming pedagogues and how the DVL was a beneficial and efficient professional development activity that enhanced the professional development of piano teachers.
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This paper captures students’ perceptions of various informal and formal learning spaces in their schools. It is part of a three-year study on architecture and pedagogy examining close to a dozen schools in North America and Europe, aimed... more
This paper captures students’ perceptions of various informal and formal learning spaces in their schools. It is part of a three-year study on architecture and pedagogy examining close to a dozen schools in North America and Europe, aimed to encapsulate the complex relationships between student experience and school design in public, purpose-built, and Waldorf schools. One elementary and one secondary school in Canada are represented in the present paper. The data are comprised of individual interviews, focus-group interviews, and photographs of each school building and grounds. Students involved in the study were greatly impacted by their school environment: the data revealed shared architectural ideals amongst students. The importance of providing an outlet for students to voice their innovative ideas regarding school design is emphasised by the findings of this study.
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The body of research examining deliberate practice and self-regulation in musical instruction has grown extensively over the past decade. Compelling evidence indicates that students with higher levels of self-regulation develop superior... more
The body of research examining deliberate practice and self-regulation in musical instruction has grown extensively over the past decade. Compelling evidence indicates that students with higher levels of self-regulation develop superior performance skills and experience more fulfillment as musicians. But in order to develop the self-regulatory behaviours that are the hallmarks of skilled and expressive musical musicians, students need to be supported and guided as they learn to explicitly set goals and monitor and reflect on their progress. Developing these behaviours involves the incorporation of strategies that presuppose a certain level of discipline and organization on the part of the student. One way of supporting students is through digital tools, including electronic portfolios designed specifically to enhance self-regulation. The research reported in the present paper describes how a web-based electronic portfolio, called ePEARL, served to enhance the experiences of students...
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The purpose of the study was to determine how music teachers respond to DREAM, a virtual space for exchanging information about digital learning tools. The research determined how teachers experienced DREAM during beta testing in terms of... more
The purpose of the study was to determine how music teachers respond to DREAM, a virtual space for exchanging information about digital learning tools. The research determined how teachers experienced DREAM during beta testing in terms of (a) navigation, (b) search and browse functions, and (c) quality of resources. Data were collected from over 80 music teachers using focus groups, questionnaires, log sheets, and site analytics to determine if the tool met their teaching needs. Participants in the final phase of testing completed a questionnaire about professional context and skill level using computers and mobile devices and also filled out log sheets at the end of each of four testing sessions. User experiences were analyzed in terms of usefulness, efficiency, and satisfaction. With each new phase of beta testing, navigation and search mechanisms were improved and more resources were added by the participants. By the end of the study, DREAM provided an intuitive and efficient too...
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The research reported in the present paper explored the architectural features that help to facilitate opportunities for social interactions in the entryways and foyers of elementary and secondary schools. The sites for the study included... more
The research reported in the present paper explored the architectural features that help to facilitate opportunities for social interactions in the entryways and foyers of elementary and secondary schools. The sites for the study included six elementary and secondary schools in Canada, Germany, and Iceland. The study used photographs of entryways and entrance foyers as the primary data sources for the architectural features of each school. Researcher observations and field notes, as well as interviews with students, teachers, and administrators complemented the content analysis of the photographs and provided information about how the entryways impacted social interactions. The data analysis revealed six core themes of architectural qualities that affected how students, teachers, and administrators experienced their surroundings and interacted with one another. Our research provides evidence that the physical features of entryways and foyers play a role in how children and adults in...
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Our paper is a conversation with the implicit and explicit expectations of the academy, namely that as doctoral students we must achieve a high degree of intellectual autonomy and generate new knowledge. We contest the implications of... more
Our paper is a conversation with the implicit and explicit expectations of the academy, namely that as doctoral students we must achieve a high degree of intellectual autonomy and generate new knowledge. We contest the implications of this view of learners and learning that ...
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ABSTRACT
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... I am honoured to have the support of two outstanding Committee Members: Dr. John Freeman and Dr. Rebecca Luce-Kapler. Thank you John for your knowledge and your support ... writing process. Rebecca, thank-you for sharing your... more
... I am honoured to have the support of two outstanding Committee Members: Dr. John Freeman and Dr. Rebecca Luce-Kapler. Thank you John for your knowledge and your support ... writing process. Rebecca, thank-you for sharing your expertise in complexity thinking and in the ...
Establishing a love of music and of the piano is the goal of piano instructors. However, many of these students come with a passion for music gained through various listening and performing experiences. It, then, becomes part of the role... more
Establishing a love of music and of the piano is the goal of piano instructors. However, many of these students come with a passion for music gained through various listening and performing experiences. It, then, becomes part of the role of the teacher to implement the ideas that their students bring with them. This case study examines the practices of one piano teacher as she attempts to provide instruction that provides coherence, but also allows for sufficient space for random possibilities to emerge. To love music, to love the piano—this is what most piano teachers would say when they asked what they want their students to achieve. Piano teachers want their students to love the piano as much as they do. However, what piano teachers enjoy about playing the piano, and even the types of music that they value, may be very different than their students' interests and intentions for pursuing piano instruction. It is common for most piano teachers in Canada to have been trained thr...
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To the accepted three cornerstones for innovation of undergraduate music major curricula—creativity, diversity, and integration—must be added fourth, professionalization, that is, the establishment of viable professional identities. This... more
To the accepted three cornerstones for innovation of undergraduate music major curricula—creativity, diversity, and integration—must be added fourth, professionalization, that is, the establishment of viable professional identities. This article focuses on a subset of Canadian music undergraduate singers, reporting on research into the structure and reality of the eight cultural domains in Canada, and investigating three important themes that emerge from statistics for the training of singers in postsecondary training: the range of work available to music graduates, the portfolio nature of working musicians’ careers, and the increasing significant role of technological fluency in musicians’ careers today.
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Understanding the supports and constraints available in rural communities is integral to the education of professionals who choose to practise in rural settings. Previous research has indicated that many professionals do not have an... more
Understanding the supports and constraints available in rural communities is integral to the education of professionals who choose to practise in rural settings. Previous research has indicated that many professionals do not have an accurate understanding of rural contexts and how rural settings impact personal life and professional practice. To address this gap, an interprofessional course centring on professional practice in rural and remote communities was developed. This course was designed to be reflective of rural practice, not only in content but also in the way the course was delivered. Findings from this case study indicated that students’ understanding of the complexity of rural settings was enhanced on multiple levels. The interactive and experiential nature of the course allowed students to develop working relationships that increased both their understanding of the value of interprofessional collaboration as well as the professional opportunities that are available in r...
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The purpose of this research was to identify the various types of employment held by music alumni at one university. We also compare the perceptions of alumni who currently work primarily in music with those of alumni who work outside the... more
The purpose of this research was to identify the various types of employment held by music alumni at one university. We also compare the perceptions of alumni who currently work primarily in music with those of alumni who work outside the field. A mixed-methods research design that relied on surveys and interviews was used to gather data. Alumni employed primarily outside the field held a wide variety of roles and many reported incorporating their musical skills in these roles and they continued to engage in a variety of activities within the field of music. Those whose employment was primarily in music were more likely to have reported choosing to enroll in a music degree program with an express intention of gaining music-focused employment. Findings from this study illustrate that while graduates of music programs do find employment success, further investigation is necessary to identify the breadth of roles available, yet untapped, for music graduates and the perhaps entrepreneur...
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Even though there are demonstrated benefits of using online tools to support student musicians, there is a persistent challenge of providing sufficient and effective professional development for independent music teachers to use such... more
Even though there are demonstrated benefits of using online tools to support student musicians, there is a persistent challenge of providing sufficient and effective professional development for independent music teachers to use such tools successfully. This paper describes several methods for helping teachers use an online tool called iSCORE, including embedded online support, targeted email messages, webinars, and face-to-face workshops. Using contemporary frameworks for characterizing continuing professional development, the success of each of these teaching approaches, separately and in combination, is considered through an examination of teacher feedback, uptake of the tool by students, and the interview data from an advisory board made up of teachers, educators, software designers and developers, publishers, and business leaders. Inherent tensions and difficulties in designing appropriate professional development are discussed.
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The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how one classically trained musician adapted his pedagogical practices to accommodate the needs and interests of his students. A case-study methodology was employed to... more
The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how one classically trained musician adapted his pedagogical practices to accommodate the needs and interests of his students. A case-study methodology was employed to explore the perceptions and practices of this teacher, and data were collected over a two-year period through interviews and observations. Findings indicated that students were engaged in music-making throughout the lesson, and that many of the lesson characteristics aligned with Lucy Green's (2002, 2008) descriptions of an informal pedagogical orientation. The overarching aim of the teacher's instruction was to support students’ development of musical knowledge and skills that would enhance their learning, and to expand their understanding of musical genres and performance practices.
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This research examines the pedagogical practices of a self-taught musician who teaches music at an elementary school in Canada. Research on the ways that popular musicians teach has shown that many teachers use a combination of informal... more
This research examines the pedagogical practices of a self-taught musician who teaches music at an elementary school in Canada. Research on the ways that popular musicians teach has shown that many teachers use a combination of informal and formalized structures. We used Personhood theory as a conceptual framework to illuminate how the context and disposition of the musician–teacher informs their pedagogy. These findings demonstrate how context and disposition inform pedagogical practices and the ways that the teacher’s personhood contributes to students’ learning. We collected data through interviews with the teacher and school principal, distributed questionnaires to students and observed performances. Findings show that one’s personhood can contribute to the medium, message and messenger within a music education setting. Personhood theory helps frame the nested nature of these relationships and these findings point to the need to support development of in-service and pre-service ...