The purpose of this basic qualitative study (Merriam & Tisdell, 2016) was to analyze Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) judge perceptions of vocal and visual expression and what elements make up expressive performances. A secondary purpose was to explore how BHS judges perceived and utilized information gleaned from training. I interviewed ten current BHS judges from […]
IJRCS
Scoping the Literature of Transgender Singing: Experiences and Pedagogical Insights in Choral Contexts
Choral conductors have expressed interest in working with transgender singers more effectively, however, opportunities for professional development and resources in this area have been limited. This article reports a scoping review designed to explore the experiences of transgender singers in choral settings. Results offer insights for choral conductors seeking to enhance their support for this […]
Embodying the Music: A Survey of Choral Music Educators on Conducting Injury and Wellness Techniques
The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify the most common choral conducting-related injuries, and determine the ways conductors completing the survey have adapted their physical gesture to accommodate or avoid pain and discomfort. Utilizing a researcher-designed online survey, we asked choral music educators to identify and describe musculoskeletal and vocal injuries sustained throughout […]
Women Conductors of College Men’s Choirs – Redefining the “Brotherhood”
Collegiate men’s choirs have unique and storied traditions dating back to the Civil War and the founding of many prominent colleges in the United States (Albinder & Jones, 2008). Historically, these ensembles created a place for fraternity, brotherhood, and social outlets for young men (Jones, 2010). Consequently, there are few documented instances of women conducting […]
Melodic Recall: Qualitative Insights on Singers’ Strategies for Memorizing Scores of Simple Songs
In a choral setting, memorizing multiple choral scores and maintaining the stability of recall can be a challenge. This study investigates strategies for memorizing scores of simple songs. Music college students with extensive choral experience memorized three unfamiliar songs and recalled them after brief one minute practice. A mixed-methods research design facilitated the integration of […]
Making Space for Inclusive Approaches: A Review of Adolescent Gender Identity in High School Choirs
Gender identity has received significant attention in choral music education, perhaps more than any other field of music education research. Issues concerning gender in choirs continue to prove challenging for adolescents and secondary school teachers. This article synthesizes a narrative literature review on gender identity research in high school choirs, offers suggestions for inclusive choral […]
