{"title":"“She Gave Us the Courage to Explore”: Mentoring Practices of Miss Dorothy DeLay","authors":"Dijana Ihas","doi":"10.1177/19484992221094813","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19484992221094813","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this exploratory intrinsic case study was to delineate the mentoring practices of the preeminent violin pedagogue Miss Dorothy DeLay and to evaluate the transmission of these practices onto her mentees. The psychological and behavioral traits that influenced her mentoring style were also examined. Data sources included semi-structured interviews, field notes, and analysis of qualitative documents. The findings illuminated a broad range of mentoring practices that DeLay’s students were exposed to during their studies with her, including mentoring students at psychosocial and career levels as well as role-modeling. Of all of DeLay’s mentoring practices, however, capitalizing on the strengths of individual students and intentional socialization into the field appears to be the most beneficial to the development of young aspiring musicians. Her mentoring and teaching practices were transmitted to her mentees through processes of replication, mutation, and aspiration. DeLay’s personality traits, such as cognitive awareness of others and empathy, seemed to play a role in shaping her mentoring style.","PeriodicalId":36814,"journal":{"name":"String Research Journal","volume":"12 1","pages":"21 - 42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45402316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Examination of Orchestras and Repertoire Performed at the American String Teachers Association’s National Orchestra Festival (2004–2020)","authors":"John-Rine A. Zabanal","doi":"10.1177/19484992221094817","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19484992221094817","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this study was to examine participating orchestras and performed repertoire at the American String Teachers Association’s (ASTA) National Orchestra Festival from 2004 through 2020. Participating orchestras (N = 309) primarily consisted of string orchestras and high school–level orchestras with a majority originating from the Southern region of the United States. The most performed full orchestra pieces included Symphony No. 9, op. 95 by Dvořák and Symphony No. 2 by Tchaikovsky, and the most performed string orchestra piece was the Holberg Suite, op. 40 by Grieg. The most frequently cited composers were Dvořák for full orchestra and Mozart for string orchestra. The most frequently cited arrangers were Isaac for full orchestra and Dackow for string orchestra. Female composers and arrangers were highly underrepresented compared with males. Performed repertoire primarily consisted of pieces that conformed to European music traditions. Directors who are unfamiliar with orchestra literature could use these findings as a resource for commonly selected repertoire suitable for high-achieving school orchestras. In addition, findings could provide a catalyst for directors to select music that is more representative of their student population.","PeriodicalId":36814,"journal":{"name":"String Research Journal","volume":"12 1","pages":"5 - 20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49159369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beyond the Corner: Introducing a String Music Program to Youth in Detention","authors":"B. Thompson","doi":"10.1177/19484992221094818","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19484992221094818","url":null,"abstract":"Offering music programs in prisons is one way that artists may contribute to the correctional system’s rehabilitative goals. To explore the role music may play in rehabilitating youth in detention, I developed a string program at a Youth Development Center. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the outcomes of implementing the string program at the center. Eight of the program’s members, aged 13 to 17 from various cultural backgrounds, volunteered to participate in this study. Data collection included field notes and interviews with the youth and facility staff members. Results showed that the program was beneficial to students and the center. Although students learned to play string instruments, rehearse in an ensemble, and perform in public, they also reported feeling a sense of achievement and increased personal potential. In addition, students and staff members noted students’ improved communication skills, increased frustration tolerance, perseverance, and behavior regulation as a result of participating in the string program. Reported benefits to the center included pride in student success, community development within the center, the staff’s increased sense of making a difference, and positive press.","PeriodicalId":36814,"journal":{"name":"String Research Journal","volume":"12 1","pages":"61 - 83"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47954483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tawnya D. Smith, K. Hendricks, Ronald P. Kos, Andrew Goodrich
{"title":"Balancing String Instruction in an Instrumental Lab Setting: An Intrinsic Evaluative Case Study","authors":"Tawnya D. Smith, K. Hendricks, Ronald P. Kos, Andrew Goodrich","doi":"10.1177/19484992211020735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19484992211020735","url":null,"abstract":"There is an expected increase in the need to provide adequate string-specific training for non-string specialists in the future and for preservice music teachers to develop the requisite pedagogical content knowledge to teach a variety of instruments. A multiyear instrumental lab ensemble university course was designed to help preservice music teachers integrate knowledge and skills in various instrument- and ensemble-specific areas. The purpose of this intrinsic evaluative study was to determine the extent to which the new course was successful toward these aims. Data included interviews of students and instructors, observations of lab classes, and reflective journals of teaching faculty and two external observers. Data were coded and then analyzed using the program goal statements found in the course syllabus. Findings indicated that students considered the lab format more authentic to their teacher preparation than their previous coursework, and that performance and pedagogy skills on secondary instruments elevated more rapidly than anticipated. Recommendations include the need for more explicit connection between course readings and lab activities, and improved guidelines for course teaching assistants.","PeriodicalId":36814,"journal":{"name":"String Research Journal","volume":"11 1","pages":"19 - 38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/19484992211020735","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49517907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Analysis of Ratings and Interrater Reliability at the American String Teachers Association’s National Orchestra Festival","authors":"David A. Pope, J. Mick","doi":"10.1177/19484992211021012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19484992211021012","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this study was to examine the assigned ratings, interrater reliability, and possible influences of school level and instrumentation on adjudicators’ evaluations of orchestra performances at a national-level adjudicated music festival. Data consisted of the overall ratings assigned to orchestra performances (N = 55) at the 2017, 2018, and 2019 American String Teachers Association’s National Orchestra Festival (NOF). Analysis revealed that 83.64% of all participating orchestras earned a I/Superior or II/Excellent overall rating. A logistic regression model revealed that both school level and instrumentation were not significant predictors of earning a I/Superior overall rating. Individual members of each three-judge adjudication panel assigned identical ratings to 61.82% of orchestra performances and possessed a mean internal consistency of .90. Orchestra teachers can use the results of this study to weigh the educational benefits of participating in the NOF.","PeriodicalId":36814,"journal":{"name":"String Research Journal","volume":"11 1","pages":"67 - 82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/19484992211021012","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47559628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Status of Band and Orchestra Programs in North Carolina","authors":"David S. Miller, R. MacLeod, J. S. Walter","doi":"10.1177/19484992211020767","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19484992211020767","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this study was to examine K–12 instrumental music education in North Carolina. Specifically, we investigated course offerings, teacher demographics, teaching responsibilities, and music program funding. We administered a survey to the members of the North Carolina Music Educators Association listserv who indicated band or orchestra as their teaching area. Participants identified themselves as teachers of orchestra (n = 44), band (n = 173), or a hybrid of both (n = 17). Of schools that offered instrumental music, 95% offered band and 36% offered orchestra. More than 20% of orchestra teachers were “very likely to retire within 5 years.” The majority of teachers relied on fundraising to provide adequate music education for students. Results of this study were analyzed and compared to national averages reported in the Give a Note Foundation’s 2017 report: The Status of Music Education in United States Public Schools. Implications for orchestra teachers, music programs, music teacher preparation curriculum, and future research are discussed.","PeriodicalId":36814,"journal":{"name":"String Research Journal","volume":"11 1","pages":"51 - 65"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/19484992211020767","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46877035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
John M. Geringer, Katarzyna Bugaj, Katie A. Geringer
{"title":"Irish Fiddle and Western Classical Violin: Listener Perceptions and Acoustical Differences","authors":"John M. Geringer, Katarzyna Bugaj, Katie A. Geringer","doi":"10.1177/19484992211020686","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19484992211020686","url":null,"abstract":"This report is a summary of two studies. In the first, we compared examples of Irish fiddle performances with Western classical violin performances. Acoustical analyses showed that both classical examples produced average spectral centroids higher in frequency, higher harmonic to noise ratios, more use of vibrato, more disjunct intervals, and less ornamentation. Expert listeners described the classical examples as resonant, ringing, and brighter. Tone in the Irish examples was characterized as varied, gritty, and full-bodied. In the second study, we asked 72 music majors to listen to different recordings and respond in two ways. The first section consisted of extremely brief examples of four different solo violin styles: classical, jazz, old-time fiddle, and Irish. The second section consisted of longer examples of either Irish or classical performances. The listeners were asked to describe salient features of each. They frequently identified the following characteristics of the Irish excerpts: grace notes, double stops, ornamentation, and dance-like. In contrast, classical extracts were described using the terms: vibrato, melody, intervals, and extended technique. Implications for music listening are discussed.","PeriodicalId":36814,"journal":{"name":"String Research Journal","volume":"11 1","pages":"5 - 17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49216762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hidden Ground: Exploring an Approach to Educational Music for Strings","authors":"Maia Giesbrecht, B. Andrews","doi":"10.1177/19484992211020746","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19484992211020746","url":null,"abstract":"This article presents the findings of a study that explored the composition of Canadian educational music. Particularly, the authors focus on the analyses of composers’ scores on creating new string compositions for young musicians within the New Sounds of Learning Project. On a macro level, the composers predominantly composed multiple movements (three to four), using single section (A), binary (AB), ternary, or variation forms (A, A’, A”, A”’, etc.), and they adopted simple meters throughout. At the micro-level, the majority of the compositions also included a technical element that was used to further skill development, that is, lack of meter to focus attention, syncopation to develop rhythmic fluency, interactive rhythms between parts to promote player coordination, modular structure to address varied skill levels, or free rhythm to promote imaginative thinking. The findings will be of interest to those members of the music profession who promote or would like to promote the dissemination of new music for strings within educational settings in Canadian music classrooms.","PeriodicalId":36814,"journal":{"name":"String Research Journal","volume":"11 1","pages":"39 - 50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/19484992211020746","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43049568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Alterations in Violinists’ Practice Behaviors in Response to Differing Technical Demands in the Material","authors":"A. Strietelmeier","doi":"10.1177/1948499220924419","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1948499220924419","url":null,"abstract":"The pedagogical literature strongly suggests that when a musician works on a specific piece of repertoire, one should choose practice strategies tailored to the challenges presented by that material. Such a behavioral choice could represent an instantiation of focused and deliberate practice, a critical aspect of the relationship between experience and the acquisition of expertise. However, most of the literature investigating individual practice has used a single stimulus for all participants, or else has employed surveys or other proxy measures of practicing behavior. In this study, participants of three different experience levels (high school, collegiate, or professional violinists) practiced three excerpts, each featuring a different signature challenge. Results suggest that practice is highly idiosyncratic, that participants do adjust their approaches to the challenges of the material, but that individuals of differing experience levels identify remarkably similar problems within the material.","PeriodicalId":36814,"journal":{"name":"String Research Journal","volume":"10 1","pages":"13 - 31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/1948499220924419","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44474515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"American String Teachers Association Research Award 2019","authors":"G. Barnes","doi":"10.1177/1948499220926170","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1948499220926170","url":null,"abstract":"This article is based on a speech that Barnes presented at a meeting of the Collegiate Roundtable at the American String Teachers Association 2019 National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.","PeriodicalId":36814,"journal":{"name":"String Research Journal","volume":"10 1","pages":"12 - 5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1177/1948499220926170","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47928047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}