For my research, I am studying why musicians appear to be involved in stronger emotionally connected groups than other subjects. Throughout the beginning process of this research project, I have been studying the brain’s reaction to listening to music and interacting with other musicians. I have learned that music has made a great impact on society and health. As I continue to do more research, I will work at finding more reasoning behind the tightly knit connections and relationships that continuously become established through music settings. Learning and understanding how music works within our brains is important because it can be a universal language that can work to improve the unity of humanity. The current plan for the completion of my project is to get a solid understanding and base of knowledge regarding the brain’s reaction to music and how individuals can form connections through those reactions. Once I understand how music impacts relationships, I will conduct interviews with a wide range of musicians to hear their perspectives on their experiences with music and relationships. The end goal is to update part of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire’s music major page to provide more insight and information to future Blugolds regarding the impact of the music program on individual lives. Through my project, I hope the audience will find the value and importance of having music in their lives for more than the auditory sensation.
For my research, I am studying why musicians appear to be involved in stronger emotionally connected groups than other subjects. Throughout the beginning process of this research project, I have been studying the brain’s reaction to listening to music and interacting with other musicians. I have learned that music has made a great impact on society and health. As I continue to do more research, I will work at finding more reasoning behind the tightly knit connections and relationships that continuously become established through music settings. Learning and understanding how music works within our brains is important because it can be a universal language that can work to improve the unity of humanity. The current plan for the completion of my project is to get a solid understanding and base of knowledge regarding the brain’s reaction to music and how individuals can form connections through those reactions. Once I understand how music impacts relationships, I will conduct interviews with a wide range of musicians to hear their perspectives on their experiences with music and relationships. The end goal is to update part of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire’s music major page to provide more insight and information to future Blugolds regarding the impact of the music program on individual lives. Through my project, I hope the audience will find the value and importance of having music in their lives for more than the auditory sensation.
The purpose of this project is to learn about Fabric Manipulation for the Spring 2025 UWEC productions of A Dolls House and Guys and Dolls. This will develop professional skills not available in the current UWEC theatre arts curriculum. Learning these skills will also help with future professional development. To learn these skills, we used pattern making books and body blocks to make a half scale costume. Then we took the actor's measurements and created a pattern for them. Starting with half scales gave us a good through line from start to finish in making costumes for both casts.
This research project seeks to compare the craftsmanship and performance of commercially available handmade oboereeds produced by ten professional oboe reed makers and share our observations via ourOboeForEveryone.com website. By focusing on key parameters such as pitch, response,dynamic capabilities, and ease of playing, we aim to help adult amateur and student oboistsmake informed decisions regarding reed selection for purchase.
Can the clarinet learn to play with a singing quality by studying vocal repertoire and technique? This was the central research question addressed in our UWEC Student-Faculty Research that we considered through the study of repertoire and historical context of Bel Canto music written by French composer Pauline Viardot as well as a vocal approach to the selected pieces. Dr. Alyssa Powell guided my study of three pieces that demanded slightly different artistic approaches. These were, Fleur desséchée, Povera me, and L’innamorata, all by the remarkable and lesser-known composer, Pauline Viardot. For each piece, I learned the French and Italian diction with the help of Dr. Ken Pereira, considered agogic stress of the text with the music, determined the articulations needed to convey the many vowels and consonants present in the language via the clarinet, considered registration as a singer would, and combined the results of this work in a performance. I performed the three works alongside Shawn Muench, local pianist, in a recital. Examining the tone colors, breathing habits, and articulations from a vocalist’s perspective was especially helpful in stretching my musical interpretive skills.
