RESEARCH CONTEXT AND QUESTIONS
Effective music teachers recognize student expertise with information and communication technology (ICT). In the hands of a teacher who is ready to capitalize on this expertise, there is great potential to help students link their formal studies with other musical knowledge through ICT. Our research focuses on a suite of digital tools designed to enhance and even transform music teaching and learning. The Suite includes iSCORE, DREAM, the Notemaker App, and Cadenza.
Research shows that when students use web-based portfolios, they assume more responsibility for their learning and become skilled at setting goals in accordance with the responsibility they assume. iSCORE allows students to personalize their portfolios; set general and task-specific goals; create new work; reflect on, edit, and share work; and respond to feedback from teachers, peers, and parents. iSCORE also has prompts to support teacher and student use of the tool for different genres and levels of proficiency (e.g., advanced piano, composition, and intermediate jazz). Special features designed to support a teaching culture characterized by weekly lessons, such as an audio and text annotation tool and a rehearsal calendar, are also part of iSCORE. The Notemaker App is a direct extension of the annotation tool in iSCORE, and will be released in 2015. Cadenza is a version of iSCORE designed for younger students, and will be released in 2016. A fourth tool, DREAM, is a resource exchange for teachers and was released in September 2014. It can be found at dreammusictool.ca. Version 2 is scheduled for release later in 2015
Our SSHRC-funded partnership (2011–2017) is composed of a team of researchers, studio teachers, curriculum developers, and software designers from Queen’s University, the Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP) at Concordia University, and The Royal Conservatory. The overarching goal of this project is to transform the studio music culture with the aid of a powerful, highly interactive, digital tools that engage students with music-making. A few of the research questions are:
(a) What are the characteristics of the 21st century music studio, as experienced by students, teachers, and parents?
(b) Do students using iSCORE make more use of self-regulation strategies than students in a control situation?
(c) To what extent are self-regulation strategies, and critical and creative thinking, more pronounced in advanced students?
(d) To what extent do digital music tools contribute to the deepening of musical communities for learning?
To answer these questions we will be learning about music studio practices all across Canada over several years. School classrooms will also take part in the research during the latter part of the project.
The expected outcomes of the project are substantial. We expect to determine how these digital tool scan enrich music learning. We also expect that the digitized nature of the approach will extend benefits to students across the country, from urban centres to rural and remote communities. And we expect that a richer music education will enhance the cultural and economic health of society.
PUBLICATIONS
Some of the research below describes using ePEARL in music studios, the parent tool upon which iSCORE was based. Our pilot work, leading up to the SSHRC PG project, involved ePEARL projects in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Since then, we’ve examined how both ePEARL and iSCORE function in classrooms, music studios, and with teachers of piano and voice. More recent publications focus on the second tool that has been developed in The Suite, namely, DREAM. Many of our publications are authored or co-authored by undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students, and students’ names appear in bold in the lists below. Some of our publications are also authored or co-authored by members of our Advisory Board, and these advisors are indicated in italics.
Professional publications
Brook, J. (2015, May). How mobile devices can help students practise ear training. The Canadian Music Teacher, 65(3), 38.
Lau, E. (2015, January). Using recordings to enhance the study of repertoire: The DREAM website. The Canadian Music Teacher, 65(2), 34.
Brook, J. (2014, September). A new “DREAM” resource for Teachers. The Canadian Music Teacher, 65(1), 38.
Contact North (2014). iSCORE, DREAM, and The Annotator App – A Suite of Digital Tools for Music Education.
Brook, J., & Ferretti, J. (2014). ABCs of Mobile Devices. The Canadian Music Teacher, 64(2), 30–31.
Peer-reviewed publications (papers, chapters, conference proceedings)
Upitis, R., Abrami, P.C., Brook, J., Boese, K., & King, M. (submitted September 2015). Characteristics of independent music teachers. Music Education Research.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P.C., Varela, W., King, M., & Brook, J. (submitted September 2015). Student experiences with studio instruction. Music Education Research.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P.C., Brook, J., & King, M. (submitted September 2015). Parental involvement in children’s independent music lessons. Music Education Research.
Upitis, R., Boese, K., Abrami, P. C., & Anwar, Z. (2015). Digital Resource Exchange About Music (DREAM): Phase 2 usability testing. In M.B. Nunes & M. Mcpherson (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference e-Learning (pp. 151–156). www.dropbox.com/sh/wtyfgskzbhi78i4/AAD91x50-9KHrw5BP_yPfnTna/MCCSIS 2015_Proceedings/EL_2015.pdf?dl=0
Brook, J., Upitis, R., & Troop, M. (submitted September 2015). Developing responsive curricula for studio music instruction. Problems in Music Pedagogy.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., Abrami, P. C., & Varela, W. (2015). Exploring the studio music practices of independent music teachers. Canadian Music Educator, 56(4), 4–12.
Upitis, R. (submitted December, 2014). Slow music. In S. A. Ruthmann & R. Mantie (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Technology and Music Education.
Warwick, E. (2015). An observation tool for self-regulatory events in music teaching (T-SREM): Development and testing of a video coding tool for music lessons (Unpublished master’s thesis). Concordia University, Montreal.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., Abrami, P. C., & Varela, W. (2014). Independent music teaching in the 21st century: What teachers tell us about pedagogy and the profession. In O. Odena & S. Figueiredo (Eds.), Proceedings of the 25th International Seminar of the International Society for Music Education (ISME) Commission on Research (pp. 219–315). http://issuu.com/official_isme/docs/2014_11_10_isme_rc_ebook_final_pp37/1
Brook, J. & Upitis, R. (2015). Can an online tool support contemporary independent music teaching and learning? Music Education Research, 17, 34–47. doi: 10.1080/14613808.2014.969217
Varela, W., Abrami, P. C., & Upitis, R. (2014). Self-Regulation and Music Learning: A Systematic Review. Psychology of Music. doi: 10.1177/0305735614554639
Upitis, R. (2014). Transforming independent music teaching with digital tools. In S. O. O’Neill (Series Ed. & Vol. Ed.), Research to Practice: Vol. 6. Music and media infused lives: Music education in a digital age (pp. 89–106). Waterloo, ON: Canadian Music Educators’ Association.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., & Abrami, P. C. (2014). Enhancing music learning with digital tools: A case study of a student using iSCORE. Journal of Literature and Arts Studies, 4, 489–497. doi: 10.17265/2159-5836/2014.06.008
Upitis, R., & Brook, J. (in press). How much professional development is enough? Meeting the needs of independent music teachers. International Journal of Music Education.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. C., Brook, J., Pickup, D., & Johnson, L. (2015). Usability testing for DREAM. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 171, 543–552.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. C., Brook, J., Pickup, D., & Johnson, L. (2015). Digital Resource Exchange About Music (DREAM): Usability testing results. European Journal of Social and Behavioural Sciences (EJSBS), 13(2). ISSN 2301-2218.
Upitis, R. & Abrami, P. C. (2014). Enhancing music learning with digital tools. Proceedings of the 12th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, 267–283. ISSN 1541-5899.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., & Abrami. P. C. (2014). Enhancing music learning with digital tools: A case study of a student using iSCORE. Proceedings of the 12th Annual Hawaii Conference in Education, 697–712. ISSN 1541-5880.
Upitis, R. & Abrami, P. C. (2013). Towards developing independent musicians. Proceedings of the Ireland International Conference on Education, 67–72. ISBN 978-1-908320-20-9.
Upitis, R., Varela, W., & Abrami, P. C. (2013). Enriching the time between music lessons with a digital learning portfolio. Canadian Music Educator, 54(4), 22–28.
Upitis, R. (2013). Using a whole-music approach creatively. In P. Burnard & R. Murphy (Eds.). Teaching music creatively (pp. 153–163). London: Routledge.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. C., & Brook, J. (2012). Providing Effective Professional Development for Users of an Online Music Education Tool (abstract). Proceedings from the 5th International Conference of Education, Research, and Innovation, 2489–2497. ISBN: 978-84-616-0763-1
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. C., Brook, J., Troop, M., & Varela, W. (2012). Learning to play a musical instrument with a digital portfolio tool. Journal of Instructional Pedagogies, 9, 1–15. ISSN: 1941-3394.
Upitis, R. (2012). Music and the arts: As ubiquitous and fundamental as the air we breathe. In G. E. McPherson & G. F. Welch (Eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Music Education, (Vol. 2, pp. 689–693). London: Oxford University Press.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., Abrami, P. C., Varela, W., & Elster, A. (2012). Revitalizing studio music learning through digital portfolios. Proceedings from the Twenty-fourth International Seminar on Research in Music Education (pp. 239–246). Thessaloniki, Greece: University of Macedonia.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. C., Brook, J., Troop, M., & Catalano, L. (2010). Using ePEARL for music teaching: A case study. In G. Pérez-Bustamante, K. Physavat, & F. Ferreria (Eds.) Proceedings of the International Association for Scientific Knowledge Conference (pp. 36–45).
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. C., & Patteson, A. (2010). Developing ecological habits of mind: Approaching environmental issues through electronic portfolios and the arts. Journal of the Canadian Association of Curriculum Studies, 8(1), 68–98.
Upitis, R., Patteson, A., & Abrami, P. (2010). E-learning, ecology, and an arts education institutional partnership. Proceedings of the Canada International Conference on Education (CICE), 225–230.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. & Patteson, A. (2009). Using Electronic Portfolios to Learn About Ecology Through the Arts. In B. White, P. Isaias, & M. Baptista Nunes (Eds.) Proceedings of the IADIS International Conference WWW/Internet, Vol 2 (pp. 41–47). ISBN: 978-972-8924-93-5
Papers presented at conferences and public talks
Upitis, R. & Abrami, P.C. (2016, January). Teachers and technology: How independent music teachers use digital music tools. Paper submitted to 14th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts & Humanities, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Upitis, R. & Abrami, P.C. (2015, November). Developing tools for music education in the digital age: the evidence-based evolution of the Music Tool Suite. To be presented at the 8th annual International Conference of Education, Research, and Innovation, Seville, Spain.
Upitis, R., Boese, K., Abrami, P.C., & Anwar, Z. (2015, July). Digital Resource Exchange About Music (DREAM): Phase 2 usability testing. Paper presented at the 9th International Conference on e-Learning, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Upitis, R., Boese, K., & Abrami, P.C. (2015, July). Demonstrating DREAM: A Digital Resource Exchange About Music. Poster presented at the 9th International Conference on e-Learning, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Compeau, J. (2015, July). DREAM: Navigating and maximizing digital music resources. Paper presented at the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Association (CFMTA) Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Brook, J., Boese, K., Upitis, R, & Manson, S. (2015, June). Growing alone: Examining professional development for independent music teachers. Paper presented at CSSE Conference, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
Manson, S., Brook, J., Upitis, R., & Boese, K. (2015, June). Inspiring artistry in music instruction. Paper presented at CSSE Conference, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON.
Upitis, R. (2015, March). DREAM: An introduction. Paper presented at the Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia.
Brook, J. (2015, January). Characteristics of contemporary Canadian private music studios. Colloquium presented at the School of Music, Queen’s University.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. C., Elster, A., & Weingart, P. (2014, November). Artistic co-creation with digital tools. Paper presented at the World Education Research Association (WERA) Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. C., Brook, J., Pickup, D., & Johnson, L. (2014, October). Digital Resource Exchange About Music (DREAM): Usability testing results. Paper presented at the International Conference on Education and Educational Psychology, Kyrenia, Cyprus.
Litterst, G., Kirk, S., Ajero, M., Branzburg Sick, S., Upitis, R., Lopinski, J. (2014, July). Perspectives on 21st century music making. In G. Litterst (Chair), Perspectives on 21st century music making. Plenary Session conducted at the The Royal Conservatory Summer Summit, Toronto.
Brook, J., Upitis, R., Troop, M., Varela, W., & Abrami, P. C. (2014, July). Considering the Commonplaces: Developing Responsive Curricula in Studio Instruction. Paper presented at the ISME (International Society for Music Education) World Conference, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., & Abrami, P. C., & Varela, W. (2014, July). Independent music teaching in the 21st century: What teachers tell us about pedagogy and the profession. Paper presented at the ISME (International Society for Music Education) World Conference, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., & Abrami, P. C., & Varela, W. (2014, July). Independent music teaching in the 21st century: What teachers tell us about pedagogy and the profession. Paper presented at ISME (International Society for Music Education) Commission for Research in Music Education, 25th International Seminar, Joao Pessoa, Brazil.
Beaudoin, A-J., Braidy, N., De Grace, N., Milot, R., et St-Louise, M. (2014, April). Rencontres éclair pédagogiques. Colloque sur les innovations pédagogiques en enseignement supérieur (CiPES), Université de Sherbrooke. [One of the presenters, Nathalie De Grace, is an iSCORE teacher and she presented her work on iSCORE with CEGEP students at this conference.]
Brook, J., Varela, W., Boese, K., Upitis, R., & Abrami, P. C. (2014, May). Examining how self-regulatory dimensions affect students’ music practice habits. Paper presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education Annual Conference, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON.
Brook, J., Varela, W., Upitis, R., & Manson, S., & Abrami, P. C. (2014, May). Informal music making in studio music instruction: A Canadian Case Study. Paper presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education Annual Conference, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON.
Upitis, R. (2013, October). Why music and technology matter. Paper presented at the Lifelong Kindergarten Lab, Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA.
Abrami, P. C., Upitis, R., & Elster, A. (2014, February). Transforming music education with digital tools: iSCORE and DREAM. Paper presented at the LTTA Congress, University of Wurzberg.
Upitis, R. (2014, February). Why the arts matter. Keynote presentation, LTTA Congress, University of Wurzberg.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., & Abrami, P. C. (2014, January). Enhancing music learning with digital tools: A case study of a student using iSCORE. Paper presented at HICE (Hawaii International Conference on Education), Honolulu, January, 2014.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., & Abrami, P. C. (2014, January). Enhancing music learning with digital tools. Paper presented at HICAH (Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities), Honolulu, January, 2014.
Upitis, R., & Abrami, P. C. (2013, October). Towards developing independent musicians. Paper presented at IICE (Ireland International Conference on Education), Dublin, Ireland.
Brook, J., Ferretti, J., & Lau, E. (2013, July). iSCORE and the Digital Studio: Where do I start? Paper presented at CFMTA Conference, Halifax, NS.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., & Abrami, P. C. (2013, April). iSCORE: A web-based tool for music learning. Paper presented at AERA, San Francisco.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. C., Varela, W., & Elster, A. (2013, January). iSCORE: A web-based tool for enhancing self-regulation in music learning. Paper presented at 11th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., & Abrami, P. C. (2012, November). iSCORE: Providing Effective Professional Development for Users of an Online Music Education Tool. Paper presented at the International Association of Technology, Education, and Development (IATED) Conference, Madrid, Spain.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., Abrami, P. C., Varela, W., & Elster, A. (2012 July). Revitalizing studio music learning through iSCORE. Poster presented at the International Society for Music Education, Bi-Annual World Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Upitis, R., Brook, J., Abrami, P. C., Varela, W., & Elster, A. (2012, July). Revitalizing studio music learning through digital portfolios. Paper presented at the Research Commission of the International Society for Music Education Bi-Annual World Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. C., Elster, A., Varela, W., & Brook, J. (2012, April). On the importance of self-regulation in learning to play a musical instrument: A theoretical basis for designing iSCORE, a digital tool for music learning. Paper presented at the International Organization of Social Sciences and Behavioral Research Spring 2012 International Conference, Atlantic City.
Upitis, R. (2012, February). Learning to play a musical instrument with the support of a web-based portfolio tool. Paper presented at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P. C., Brook, J., Troop, M., & Varela, W. (2012, January). Learning to Play an Instrument by Enhancing Self-Regulatory Skills with Digital Portfolios. Paper presented at the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu.
Troop, M., Brook, J., & Upitis, R. (2011, June). Enhancing the Music Studio Community and Self-Regulated Learning Through the Use of Electronic Portfolios. Paper presented at the Leading Music Education International Conference, University of Western Ontario, London.
Brook, J., Troop, M., & Upitis, R. (2011, April). Developing Self-Regulatory Skills in Learning to Play an Instrument. Paper presented at the Research in Music Education Conference, Exeter, UK.
Upitis, R., Abrami, Brook, J., Troop, M., & Catalano, L. (2010, November). Using ePEARL for music teaching: A case study. Paper presented at the International Association for Scientific Knowledge Conference, Seville, Spain.
Upitis, R., Abrami, P., & Patteson, A. (2009, November). Using electronic portfolios to learn about ecology through the arts. Paper presented at the International Association for Development of the Information Society WWW/Internet Conference, Rome, Italy.