First Advisor

McConnell, Christine C.

First Committee Member

Gottilieb, Derek

Second Committee Member

Kang, Hyun (Hannah)

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Document Type

Dissertation

Date Created

8-2024

Department

College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Teacher Education, Teacher Education Student Work

Abstract

The purpose of this case study was to examine the way students perceive their inter-district collaborative off-campus choral performance experience. That purpose allowed me to empower students' voices as I interpreted why students took part in optional collaborative opportunities off-campus, what they took away from the experience, and how they described the individual and collective significance of their engagement with a new population of peers. Observations, semi-structured interviews, artifact collection in the form of concert programs, song literature, and other student-initiated material, and researcher memos were gathered and analyzed to answer the following research questions: Q1 What are students' perspectives of their inter-district collaborative music performance experiences? Q2 How do students describe the purpose of their performance for the present and the future? Q3 How can students’ perspectives inform decisions for designing collaborative experiences even outside of music? Coding led to the formation of four overarching themes. Theme 1: Fulfillment illustrated where students gained satisfaction in musical and social engagement. Theme 2: Challenges exposed the vulnerability felt by students as they encountered rigorous musical demands and social insecurities. Theme 3: Purpose demonstrated the deeper wiring within these student musicians for a passion for music and how experiences like the Festival fulfilled a purpose in their lives. Theme 4: Process revealed how the structure of the festival and the director’s approach were influential in determining the other themes and the outcomes of the day. This type of collaboration proved to be an accelerator and motivator for students from smaller choir programs or smaller communities. Findings revealed how student musicians found meaning in the freedom to create their own artistic interpretations; reflection; diversity of literature, peers, and application of singing; immersive learning in a one-day off-campus setting; and a relational connection to the director.

Abstract Format

html

Extent

186 pages

Local Identifiers

Minard_unco_0161D_11249.pdf

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

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