The University of St. Thomas

Graduate Theses

The Master of Arts in Music Education thesis and the research leading up to it are logical outcomes of a student's graduate study and professional experience. Because of the diverse background and experience of the University of St. Thomas' Graduate Programs in Music Education faculty, students are able to undertake research using qualitative, quantitative, descriptive, historical, philosophical, or theoretical methodolgies. Consequently, whereas all students demonstrate the ability to integrate ideas and communicate their findings, some will develop, test, and evaluate a music education problem, while others will gather and interpret historical, descriptive, or philosophical data. Writing the thesis is an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the field of music education, with additional goals of providing information that will be a meaningful and relevant resource to colleagues in the program and to the thesis author.

  Current Abstracts Researcher
Children's and Conductors' Perception of Leadership Behaviors that Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence of Female Conductors of Children's Choirs · 11/15/2007
The purpose of this study was to explore children's and conductors' opinions regarding leadership behaviors in a choral rehearsal of female children's choir conductors that demonstrate emotional intelligence focusing on the Relationship Management competencies of (1) Developing Others; (2) Inspirational Leadership; (3) Building Bonds; and (4) Teamwork and Collaboration.		 Carolyn Neumann
The Effects of the Orff-Schulwerk Approach on Social Listening and Cooperation · 11/15/2007
The intent of this study was to determine if teaching music through the Orff-Schulwerk approach encourages and reinforces behavioral listening and cooperation as a concomitant consequence of the instructions, and not as a result of teacher prompts encouraging the subjects to exhibit these behaviors.		 Tara C. Finne
Exceptional Learners in Band: An Examination of Secondary Band Directors' Attitudes of Mainstreaming in Select San Gabriel Valley Public Schools · 11/15/2007
The intent of this descriptive study was to investigate the attitudes of local band directors and compare their opinions with pros and cons of mainstreaming as identified by previous studies.		 Catherine L. Banim
Comprehensive Musicianship in High School Instrumental Music: A Historical Study of the Thomas Jefferson High School · 11/15/2007
The intent of this study was to examine the comprehensive musicianship approach to instrumental music education utilized by the Thomas Jefferson High School Band Program chronologically from and prior to its beginnings in 1970 through 2007.		 Daniel Fretland
Nature and Nurture: Parental Attitudes Regarding the Development of Singing Ability · 11/15/2007
The intent of this study was to determine parents' attitudes regarding their singing ability, and the beliefs that inform their opinions.		 Keri S. Sollitt
A Descriptive Study to Determine the Opinions of Community Band Members Regarding the Effectiveness of Comprehensive Musicianship · 11/15/2007
Various comprehensive musicianship teaching methods have been used in school instrumental programs throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The intent of this study was to determine the attitudes of adult community band members on the use of comprehensive musicianship teaching methods within rehearsals. 		Cathy V. Augustin
The Development of Music Education Surveys for the Self-Analyzation of the Music Program of a Growing Rural-Suburban Minnesota School District · 05/11/2007
This project is an examination of the process involved with creating a set of surveys to analyze a music program and reveal attitudes toward music as a subject.		 Jeffrey A. Gottwig