Researcher.
"My research and creative work lives in both the academic and music performance worlds and is pursued with the goal of knowledge creation that may impact both scholarship in music education and the practical endeavours of musical artist-teachers."
Sample Publications
The effect of mental practice on melodic jazz improvisation achievement. Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain, 28(1), 40–49.
Although there has been some modest progress toward identifying cognitive models of jazz improvisation abilities, there still remains a dearth of research dealing with how musicians acquire this ability and the particular kinds of practice that would be most beneficial toward that end. This study, conducted with colleagues Peter Miksza and Iantheia Calhoun, examined the effects of mental practice, physical practice, and mental and physical practice combined on the ability to create a melodic jazz solo within chord progressions possessing relatively simple or complex harmonic characteristics. We also explored whether improvisation achievement varied as a function of general mental imagery ability.
Article
Although there has been some modest progress toward identifying cognitive models of jazz improvisation abilities, there still remains a dearth of research dealing with how musicians acquire this ability and the particular kinds of practice that would be most beneficial toward that end. This study, conducted with colleagues Peter Miksza and Iantheia Calhoun, examined the effects of mental practice, physical practice, and mental and physical practice combined on the ability to create a melodic jazz solo within chord progressions possessing relatively simple or complex harmonic characteristics. We also explored whether improvisation achievement varied as a function of general mental imagery ability.
Article
A comparative analysis of method books for class jazz instruction. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 35(3), doi:10.1177/8755123317692640
Given the overall lack of jazz pedagogy training in preservice music teacher education, many teachers who choose to incorporate jazz performance in their programs may rely extensively on a jazz class method book to constitute the jazz curriculum. This study analyzed and compared instructional content areas that are emphasized in published jazz class method materials.
Article
Podcast
Given the overall lack of jazz pedagogy training in preservice music teacher education, many teachers who choose to incorporate jazz performance in their programs may rely extensively on a jazz class method book to constitute the jazz curriculum. This study analyzed and compared instructional content areas that are emphasized in published jazz class method materials.
Article
Podcast
The effects of aural versus notated instructional materials on achievement and self-efficacy in jazz improvisation. Journal of Research in Music Education, 58(3), 240–259. doi:10.1177/0022429410377115
Although numerous potentially valuable pedagogical methods for jazz improvisation have been proposed, empirical research evaluating the effectiveness of particular instructional procedures is still relatively rare. Instructional methods that are associated with higher levels of self-efficacy for instrumental jazz improvisation may enhance motivation levels to continue to pursue improvisation training and also may increase the confidence level that future teachers feel toward teaching this skill. This study investigated the effects of aural versus notated pedagogical materials on achievement and self-efficacy for instrumental jazz improvisation performance.
Article
Although numerous potentially valuable pedagogical methods for jazz improvisation have been proposed, empirical research evaluating the effectiveness of particular instructional procedures is still relatively rare. Instructional methods that are associated with higher levels of self-efficacy for instrumental jazz improvisation may enhance motivation levels to continue to pursue improvisation training and also may increase the confidence level that future teachers feel toward teaching this skill. This study investigated the effects of aural versus notated pedagogical materials on achievement and self-efficacy for instrumental jazz improvisation performance.
Article
Music, Cognition, and the Brain Initiative
Western University’s Music, Cognition, and the Brain initiative brings together faculty members and students from the Don Wright Faculty of Music, the Brain and Mind Institute, the National Centre for Audiology, and related areas. The initiative facilitates collaborative research on musical experience and expertise, and cross-disciplinary educational opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Website
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