Students enter higher education vocal music programs (HEVMP) with various singing techniques from home and desire to supplement that knowledge with professional classical singing skills. However, often the curricula of these programs are not structured to allow the music perspectives of home to influence students' understanding and application of…

This dissertation is about an approach to music teacher education that attempts to prepare pre-service music teachers to find employment while also preparing them to improve the realities of school teaching and learning for themselves and their students. Approaches to music teacher education in the United States have moved from broad…

Voice misclassification threatens the vocal longevity and long-term career success of voice students enrolled in higher education (HE) vocal programs. Not every singer possesses the musculature required to support the unique vocal fold density and subglottal pressure necessary to sing repertoire and roles associated with certain voice types…

Since the end of the 19th century, musical theater has thrived and continued to grow as a prominent American artform. Though musical theater has roots in classical style singing, it quickly capitalized on the inclusion of contemporary music trends, notation, orchestration, and themes. Because of its influence from contemporary styles, musical…

Most states in the country have adopted a broad P-12 licensure for music teacher certification (Henry, 2005). This broad licensure puts a strain on music teacher education programs. Faculty create degree programs which must include coursework from internal and external influencers, all while trying to create a curriculum for preservice teachers…

Teachers represent a large portion of professional voice users in the United States and the development of poor vocal health has related to their work. Elementary music educators are expected to use their voices in both speech and song and are vocally active for much of their workday. This study investigates elementary music teachers'…

The acquisition of literacy skills is a complex and multi-faceted process that begins long before typical school-based literacy instruction. The present study sought to examine and expand research regarding the independent and interactive contributions of neuropsychological development, movement, play, and music on the development of literacy…

Although the implementation of effective instructional practice is paramount to the academic success of gifted music programs in kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12), many learners in gifted music programs lack critical thinking skills, self-directed learning, a learner-centered paradigm, and learner-mentor relationship during instruction.…

With the intent of improving pre-service music teacher preparation for successful teaching in urban classrooms, the purpose of this research study was to explore beginning music teachers' perceptions of preparedness for teaching in urban settings. Though much research exists on urban teacher preparation in general education, few researchers have…

This study was designed to explore differences between instrumental music teachers' self-perceived comfort and competence ratings, using a 7-point Likert scale, on 15 choral teaching skills presented through a researcher-developed survey. Participants, identified through the National Association for Music Education membership list, were contacted…

This study set out to determine if English can be taught effectively to Japanese children through a content-based instruction program that uses vocal music as the content area. A total of 240 children participated in the study. The treatment group at a private elementary school in Tokyo received weekly vocal music lessons taught in English for one…

A comparative analysis was used to study the results from a descriptive survey of selected middle school students in Grades 6, 7, and 8. Student responses to the survey tool was used to compare multiple variables of music participation and duration of various musical activities, such as singing and performing on instruments, to the mathematics…

This document examines the current status of voice teacher education in the 21st century, focusing on the undergraduate experience as an important first step, and links that experience to current trends in pedagogical training as a whole. This document includes the results of a curriculum survey detailing the undergraduate vocal pedagogy courses…

This study aimed to determine the perceived value and frequency of singing, chanting, and additional vocalization techniques in school instrumental ensembles. Vocalization tools are meant to enhance student musicians' concepts of music. Music directors, both band and orchestra, in a southeastern American state completed a questionnaire that asked:…

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of teaching sight-singing to novice, vocal music readers using a structured instructional model through an asynchronous format. Sight-singing literature is inconclusive on definitively best systems, resulting in educators using a variety of methods in the classroom. Research has shown however that…