OU Music Education Faculty, Students Showcase Research at National Conference

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NORMAN, OKLA. — Four faculty members and four doctoral students from the University of Oklahoma’s music education program represented OU at the National Association for Music Education’s Biennial Music Research and Teacher Education Conference on Sept. 25-28 in Atlanta. The event brought together over 650 researchers and students from across the country to share their work and discuss advancements in the field of music education.

The OU group participated in sessions, poster presentations and symposia, addressing topics such as doctoral qualifying exams, equity in collegiate choral conducting and historical research in music education.

Historical research in music education has gained notable attention in recent decades. Scholars explore previously overlooked periods, regions and methodologies, leading to new discoveries. Christopher Baumgartner, Ph.D., associate professor of music education and president-elect of the Southwestern Division of the association, notes its growing prominence within music education research. He says that OU is at the forefront, with Casey Gerber, Ph.D., associate professor of music education, serving as the association’s historical research chair. Gerber is currently working on two projects: “Community Bands in Oklahoma from 1880-1940” and “The History of the Falls Creek Choir and Orchestra.”

“There aren’t many people conducting historical research in music education, but Dr. Gerber is one of the leading experts in this area,” Baumgartner said. Gerber’s work has been recognized, with much of it published in the Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, a respected peer-reviewed journal.

The OU faculty also presented on a range of other topics.

Baumgartner and graduate students Lane Folds, Shelby Swanson and Leon Williams presented research on “An Examination of Qualifying Exams in Doctoral Music Education Programs Across the United States.”

Melissa Baughman, Ph.D., associate professor of music education, collaborated with graduate student Kenzie Heaney to deliver a presentation on “Supports, Challenges and Equity Issues Among Women in Collegiate Choral Conducting.”

In another session, 2016 OU master’s alumnus Bradley Regier joined Baughman as a panelist to discuss “Undergraduate Music Students’ Self-Reports of Conducting Anxiety.”

Eric Pennello, Ph.D., lecturer of music education, participated in a national team that examined “Considering Music Education in Rural Schools: A Multi-Faceted View of Related Perspectives, Practices and Issues.”

Beyond research presentations, Baumgartner was a panelist in the Society for Music Teacher Education’s Colloquium on Career Mentoring for Music Teacher Educators.

“This conference offers an outstanding networking opportunity, particularly for our graduate students,” Baumgartner said. “It is inspiring for them to see the breadth of research in our field. Presenting nationally allows them to build connections with peers and future colleagues.”

OU School of Music director Jonathan Nichol, DMA, says he is exceptionally proud of his colleagues and students. “Four faculty members and four graduate students presenting at a leading national conference showcase our program’s diverse and impactful research in music. We are exceptionally proud of them,” he said.

The University of Oklahoma’s Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, now celebrating its centennial, produces over 400 concerts, recitals, plays, musicals, operas and dance performances annually. Learn more at ou.edu/finearts.