9/6/09

Two New Dissertations

Two of my doctoral students from when I taught full-time at Boston University have recently reached the stage of final revisions, and will shortly be ready to move forward with their dissertation defense and graduation. Both of their studies are quite interesting, offering new insights into under-explored themes in the broad field of music education:


-Robert Allen (Defense date: December 15, 2009, Boston University): Free Improvisation and Performance Anxiety Among Piano Students


-Nancy Rosenberg (Defense date: November 13, 2009, Boston University): From Popular Music to Theory Pedagogy: Rethinking U.S. College Music Theory Education from a Popular Music Perspective


Both studies examine major challenges commonly faced by music educators, and offer useful new information regarding effective approaches to teaching. The dissertation defense is a public forum, and both online and face-to-face observers are welcome.