Persian music is immensely rich in history, culture, and expression. There has always been a very unique style and feel to it with common themes and elements present in all songs created by Persian artists. It has specific unique elements in its composition, quite different from Western classical music, common across all forms of Persian music regardless of genre or generation: highly vocal melodies, greater use of ornamentation, and particular notation. While different, these elements are not incompatible with one another. This musical composition uses a string ensemble of Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass to combine and incorporate the unique styles and elements of Persian music with those of Western classical music. This Persian-inspired waltz brings out aspects of both styles to convey both styles in harmony together and, at the same time, portrays each respective style within the setting and context of the other.

Video conferencing applications, such as Skype, have long been used in classroom settings. Although musicians have been conducting online lessons for years, and institutions such as the Berklee School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music offer online music classes, scholarly research concerning online video conferencing music lessons is limited. Most studies of video conferencing lessons are based on subjective answers, making it difficult to yield conclusive results. As such, the only basis to evaluate the efficacy of video conferencing lessons are those from opinions. This study offers quantitative research on online video conferencing lessons. Between September and December 2017, 22 cello students from Muscatine High School received weekly private online lessons. Students filled out surveys using a Likert scale to rate these lessons and how they felt video and audio quality affected them. Students also received in-person lessons during October 23 or 24 to compare this experience to online lessons. The responses collected throughout the semester were compiled and sorted to reveal data trends. Using information derived from the data, this study concludes that online video conferencing lessons were less productive than in-person lessons but were still effective. In addition, average lesson ratings improved significantly after meeting in-person. In conclusion, this study found that online private lessons are feasible for high school students.

Arnold Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, written in 1912 for an ensemble of flute, clarinet, piano, violin, cello, and voice
arrator (with certain instrumental doublings), has, since its premiere, greatly influenced composers writing chamber music. In fact, this particular instrumentation has become known as the “Pierrot Ensemble,” with variations on Schoenberg’s creation used by Igor Stravinsky, Luciano Berio, and many other composers.

There are many resources devoted to music for chamber winds composed during the twentieth century, including those inspired by Schoenberg’s configuration. Additionally, many sources have comprehensively covered known chamber music composed before 1900. However, there is very little research dedicated to chamber wind music composed since 2000.

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the body of research about the music by: 1) creating an annotated bibliography of 21st century wind chamber music.; and 2) thereby catalyzing the discovery of recently composed wind chamber music. Moreover, I hope to address and encourage diversity through my research. To that end, the Composer’s Diversity Database was used as a primary resource for discovering compositions written since 2000 for wind/percussion-based ensembles comprising six to thirteen players.

ABSTRACT

Wind band directors in the State of Arizona are required by the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association (ABODA) to choose at least one music selection from the “State Lists of Required Compositions” of Florida, Texas, and/or Virginia for their ABODA scholastic concert band festival presentation and adjudication. The works could also be used for school performance. Additionally, the Arizona State Department of Education requires Certified Wind Band Teachers to use the Arizona Academic Standards in the Arts Music – Performing Ensembles (updated in 2015) as source material for the standard that should be met by the conclusion of the academic year. This research explores the educational and pedagogical correlations between the state standards and an annotated list of select Wind Ensemble repertoire.

The Florida Bandmasters Association, Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, and Texas’s University Interscholastic League’s lists of required compositions include thoughtfully selected titles that promote musical growth. A fourth list found in Richard Miles’ textbook series entitled Teaching Music Through Performance in Band (Volume 1-11) which promotes music education through rehearsal preparation and performance-based practices. This list will only include compositions that all four compilations selected. The list will convey the following information:

1. The average grade, title, composer and date of the composition

2. A brief program note about the composition

3. A description of each teaching standard covered by the selected repertoire

Additionally, the author has decided to add some works to the list to ensure the inclusion of race and gender diversity. These additional works may one day make the state required performance lists as time allows the selection process to catch up with the volume of repertoire added.

Inclusive Band at ASU started in Fall 2017. The group started with four Music Students (individuals with special needs) and a fifth one joined in Spring 2018. The Music Students stuck with the same ASU students (Peer Mentors) from the start until Spring 2019 when there was a shift in membership. This caused the Peer Mentors to have to move to new groups. Some moved to a Music Student that played the same instrument while others were because a member graduated or left Inclusive Band and were replaced by new members. This transition was hard for both Peer Mentors and Music Students. The Music Students were used to their Peer Mentors and built a strong friendship with them. Losing them was hard and some still struggle with it several months later. The Peer Mentors also had difficulties adjusting to teaching a different Music Student. They did not know their strengths and weaknesses or the best way to teach them. This challenge led to the creation of the handbook, which is a guide for future members of Inclusive Band to aid with the transition from semester to semester.