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Introduction to Brazilian Art Song: a pedagogical guide and analysis for selected art songs for use in the voice studio
No full textThe underrepresentation of Brazilian art song in international concert venues and
studio teaching is linked to restricted access to scores, the absence of an official
International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for Brazilian Portuguese, and a lack of knowledge
regarding Brazilian music history. This study aims to address these issues by increasing
resource availability for performers and educators, thereby advancing the performance
and pedagogical use of Brazilian repertoire.
To achieve this goal, sixteen Brazilian art songs were selected to showcase the
historical evolution of the genre. “Trovas” by Alberto Nepomuceno; “Lua Branca” by
Chiquinha Gonzaga; “Cair da Tarde” and “Canção de Amor” by Heitor Villa-Lobos; “São
João-da-ra-rão” by Ernani Braga; “Azulão” by Jayme Ovalle; “Berceuse da Onda” by Oscar
Lorenzo Fernández; “Dona Janaína” by Francisco Mignone; “Uirapuru” and “Valsinha do
Marajó” by Waldemar Henrique; “Ê-boi” by César Guerra-Peixe; “Balada da Flor da Terra”,
“Amor que Partiu”, and “Ouve o Silêncio” by Claudio Santoro; “Estro Africano No.1: Duas
Cantigas das Águas” by Eunice Katunda; and “Cantares” by Ronaldo Miranda.
The study includes a discussion on modern Brazilian Portuguese IPA, providing IPA
transcriptions, word-by-word translations, and poetic translations for each song. The
appendix features the IPA applied to the vocal lines. Each song is accompanied by a brief
historical context, highlighting the composer's career, stylistic elements, thematic content,
and poetic background. Additionally, a pedagogical analysis addresses aspects of breath
control, register, rhythm and melody, harmony, and piano accompaniment.
By addressing key barriers and fostering greater familiarity with Brazilian music
history and its cultural significance, this study aims to elevate the profile of Brazilian art
song and promote its inclusion in the global classical music repertoire.D. A
Evaluating upper body power and mobility and golf performance in recreational golfers
No full textIncreases in club head speed (CHS) and X-factor are correlated with lower scores and longer driving distances among professional golfers. Research has largely focused on the lower body mechanics with little attention on the upper body. Studies assessing upper body mechanics have generally reported positive correlations, however most research has focused primarily on elite golfers with little research assessing recreational golfers. Thus, this study was conducted to further investigate the relationship between measures of upper body power and mobility and their relationship CHS and X-factor among recreational golfers. Multiple regressions and bivariate correlations were performed between CHS and X-factor and the independent measures of a Counter-movement jump (CMJ) and a series of trunk and upper body mobility and strength measures. Fifteen male participants completed the study (age: 23.1 ± 2.0 years mean 18-hole score: 92.1 ± 8.3). Strong bivariate correlations were reported between X-factor, SRT (r=.62; p=0.01), and SIRT (r=.61; p=0.02), and moderate correlations were reported between CHS and SIRT (r=.57; p=0.03), SRT, and X-factor. Additionally, moderate correlations were reported between the medicine ball throw and CHS. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that SRT and SIRT were the greatest predictors for X-factor, and SIRT was the greatest predictor of CHS (51 & 28% explained variance, respectively). Findings suggest that recreational golfers can be partially assessed using tests of trunk rotation. While previous research using elite golfers established a positive correlation between X-factor and club head speed, the current study did not reveal this relationship but did find that measures of overall trunk mobility were predictive of golf performance in recreational golfers. Given the strong correlations between the tests of rotation and X-factor, the current study supports the use of exercises promoting trunk mobility as training modalities for recreational golfers seeking to improve their overall golf performance.M. S
Fundamental
No full textFUNDAMENTAL is an architectural inquiry that tests the question: “Do architects and the projects they design have the power to start reversing cultural stigmatization historically present in the “affordable” housing typology while allowing occupants and communities to regain their identities?”. Affordable housing is often thought of as just a cost problem based on a monetary system. Although a driving factor in eligibility, money is not the only cost involved, and it is imperative to include emotional, cultural, and sustainable affordability throughout any design. When designing and running these projects, beauty, belonging, and sustainability will allow people to live in and grow a deeper connection to their homes, opening the door to start the reduction of stigma on a cultural level. These goals are achieved within FUNDAMENTAL by preserving the community, neighborhood, and personal scales throughout the project and reinventing the meaning of the home. The project takes a stand against the idea of a “Tower in The Park” by having each of its eight floors and 57 units differ from each other both in materiality as well as layout. Finally, the project is Net-Zero ready and designed to the Living-Building platinum standard. Everyone deserves comfort no matter what they can pay.Thesis (B. Arch.)College of Architecture and Plannin
Sex trafficking
No full textSex trafficking is a significant global problem that results in millions of individuals being sexually exploited annually (Allan et al., 2023). There have been significant strides to better understand sex trafficking across the globe, numerous areas require further exploration (Allan et al., 2023). The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) describes human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons or modern-day slavery, as a crime that involves the exploitation of a person for the purpose of compelled labor or a multitude of forced commercial sex acts (The United States Department of Justice, 2020). While the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has continued to enforce the criminal laws against involuntary bondage and slavery, the enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 brought new benefits, services, and criminal penalties to address human trafficking in a more comprehensive and effective way (United States Department of Justice, 2016). The impact of human trafficking on victims and survivors fluctuates depending on the type of trafficking and the specific situation (United States Department of Justice, 2016). The use of social media and other technologies exacerbates the issue and is used by online predators to sexually exploit our women and children.M. P. A
Latvian and estonian diction in choral music: a conductor's guide
No full textThe International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a tool that can help choirs achieve a unified
pronunciation that honors the language tradition in which they are singing. Achieving accurate
diction is but one step in the process of preparing a choir for performance, yet this step is vital. In
the Western musical tradition, English-speaking singers typically train and sing in five standard
languages: English, French, German, Italian, and Latin. Most English-speaking musicians who
study voice or choral conducting are expected to have some amount of familiarity with the
sounds of these five languages and their relevant IPA symbols. In the interest of broadening the
cultural scope of music that choral musicians perform, I have created this guide for the choral
conductor featuring two other languages: Latvian and Estonian. This guide outlines the IPA
symbols that represent the sounds of Latvian and Estonian, and it includes suggestions for how to
introduce and to model phonemes (individual sounds represented by the IPA) to a choir. In
addition to providing the spellings of sounds, both orthographically and in the IPA, I reflect on
my experience teaching four choral pieces, as well as on common problems I encountered and
how I corrected them. The four choral pieces are “Rotaļa” by Juris Karlsons, “Sudraba Mēness”
by Laura Jēkabsone, “Talve Öö” by Pärt Uusberg, and “Tantsulaul” by Veljo Tormis.M. M
Avian malaria and song performance of the cerulean warbler (setophaga cerulea)
No full textAvian malaria (haemosporidians), commonly infect terrestrial birds worldwide and can have negative consequences for individuals. There is also considerable genetic diversity among these parasites, which presents a challenge in understanding speciation, geographic distributions, and host-parasite relationships. I studied avian haemosporidian infections in a Southern Indiana breeding population of Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea; n = 51) over two years using traditional microscopy and standard molecular methods. I aimed to provide the first documentation of haemosporidian mitochondrial cytochrome-b lineages for the species and estimate population prevalence and parasitemia rates for comparison with earlier studies of the species. Also, I investigated host specificity and geographic distributions of lineages, and potential effects of infection on individual health. Prevalence was 31.4% across both years and I documented 11 unique lineages in the genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium, two of which were novel. Parasitemia was low (<1% of cells infected) for most individuals, indicative of chronic infections, and was not associated with haemosporidian genus. I did not find any negative effects of infection on body mass of males (n = 49); however, body mass of infected individuals was significantly higher, which could reflect survivorship bias in the population. Finally, host specificity did not vary by genus, and for some lineages I inferred likely geographic regions of transmission to Neotropical-Nearctic migrants, including the Cerulean Warbler. These findings advance knowledge of host-parasite interactions for a declining avian species and add to the broader field of avian haemosporidian biology.M. S
Experiences of NCAA sexual minority female student-athletes regarding minority stressors and coping strategies
No full textResearch indicates that sexual and gender minority student-athletes face additional stressors due to their minority status, which is influenced by societal structures and cultural norms pertaining to heteronormativity and hegemonic masculinity. Furthermore, ongoing changes and instances in collegiate athletics underscores the importance of paying particular attention to the experiences of this population. To gain a better understanding of their lived experiences concerning minority stressors and coping strategies, five NCAA female student-athletes who self-identified as sexual minorities were interviewed. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Emerging themes regarding participants’ experiences of minority stress included acceptance and inclusivity, sport as a safe space, lack of acceptance and support, hegemonic masculinity, identity development and expression, and intentionality of minority stressors. Themes regarding coping strategies included resilience, confidence, optimism, shared identities, social support, advocacy, and self-care. Findings are discussed in relation to existing literature. Additionally, implications provided aim to assist in creating a more inclusive environment for sexual minority student-athletes in collegiate athletics.M. S
Predicting career decision making self efficacy: the roles of perceived social support and work experience
No full textCollege and career readiness (CCR) is an emerging theme in government education
guidelines and American School Counselor Association (ASCA) standards. While academic
support plays a key role in CCR, students must also be equipped for career decision-making.
This study explored the predictive nature of perceived social support (PSS) and work experience
for career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE). It also investigated the relationships between
various demographic characteristics and CDMSE. The sample included 134 undergraduate
students attending 31 different institutions across 13 US states. Participants completed an
anonymous self-report survey, which the researcher analyzed with hierarchical regression
analysis.
The analysis revealed that overall PSS (educator, family, and peer support) significantly
predicted CDMSE, as did work experience in the participant’s field of interest. Together, these
factors explained 10.8% of the variance in CDMSE. However, none of the demographic
characteristics included in the model significantly predicted CDMSE. The study explored the
implications of these findings for school counseling and general education practice, educational
training, and future research.M. S
Development and validation of the student perception of academic challenge scale
No full textThis study focuses on creating a reliable and valid instrument to measure high school students’ perceptions of academic challenge. The research is divided into four phases: qualitative analysis, item development, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and validation. Initial data from college students’ retrospective views and high school students’ interviews identified four key themes of academic challenge: effort, expectations, fit, and coursework. Based on these themes, 72 items were created and refined through expert and target population reviews, resulting in 42 items. The EFA, conducted with a developmental sample, reduced the scale to 25 items across three factors (effort, expectations, fit) after removing problematic items. The revised scale was tested with a new sample, confirming its reliability and validity through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and correlations with existing measures. The final scale provides a nuanced understanding of academic challenge from the student’s perspective, emphasizing the importance of effort, teacher expectations, and the fit of coursework to student abilities. This instrument can be used to explore the impact of academic challenge on various educational outcomes and to enhance educational practices by aligning them more closely with students’ experiences.Ph. D
Adult scoliosis and exercise: a survey instrument pilot study
No full textThe relationship between scoliosis pain and exercise is described in the literature as inconsistent
and highly subjective to each patient. Researchers cite a lack of understanding about the true
nature and etiology of scoliosis pain, often referring to it as a “structural deformity (only).” This
survey instrument pilot study aims to better understand scoliosis pain, filling in the gaps left by
existing scales on scoliosis and chronic pain. The scale also aims to assess experiences and
attitudes about utilizing scoliosis for pain relief. The 18-item survey instrument was distributed
to a sample (n=95) of individuals who self-reported having adult scoliosis for 10 years or longer,
who experience scoliosis pain, and who exercise. Reliability and exploratory factor analyses
(EFA) were run on several scale subsets, with pain-related subsets and items showing higher
reliability than exercise items. The most compelling result was the 3-factor solution that
emerged to describe possible latent pain variables - mobility, neurological, and stress effects.
This small, initial pilot study is the initial step in a planned long-term research mission to help
establish evidence-based recommendations that can potentially help a large population of
adults with scoliosis who experience long-term, chronic pain and disabilityM. S