On the horizon

I'm settling into summer break quite nicely. After three summers of intense doctoral work and comps, I am enjoying a bit more 'down' time. That's not to say I am not keeping myself occupied, but I am really trying hard to enjoy being in the present, relax, and feel ok about relaxing. That is not in my nature. So, I am writing this from my backyard-enjoying the smells of freshly cut grass, the birds, and an iced-coffee. But of course, there is a list of things in the back of my mind that need to get done, but I am trying not to think about them too much (ie, clean out the breezeway-do we really need a speaker that doesn't work?!)

So, this post is a bit about this summer, and what is coming up for me in terms of research and some teaching. Yesterday I began the first round of interviews for my dissertation. I have asked six individuals to join me in a journey that will explore the experiences of gay and lesbian K-12 music educators and how they negotiate the personal identity and sexuality identity. This is an inter-generational (cross-generational??) study that includes a first-year teacher through a retired educator. I am really excited to work with these folks but wary of how my emotions my get involved, considering my involvement with LGBTQ youth. However, I will do my best to put that to the side. I have a nice lengthy researcher's journal that basically goes with me wherever I go. I write down comments I hear, my responses (internal and external), and others' responses. The hope of this study is to better understand the needs of our gay and lesbian colleagues, which will hopefully generate discussion (much needed, I might add) in the profession. We'll see what happens. I am looking forward to this experience!

Next month I will be presenting a paper (the pilot study for my dissertation) at the Feminist Theory and Music 14 conference in San Francisco. This will be the third time that I have presented at this conference-the first being at ASU after I had completed my master's degree. I remember thinking "who the hell would live down here in this heat" (it was September and still rocking 100+ temps). My, how things have changed.

In August I will be a part of a panel at the National Flute Convention  . While I don't identify as a flute player, I do teach in a school that has a large amount of diversity. The session description: 
                          Embracing our Races: Connecting with Communities of Color
Presented by the Cultural Outreach Committee, this panel shares the ways they connect with underserved communities. Panelists include Caen Thomason-Redus, Director of Community and Learning at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Teresa Campbell, MacPahil Center for Music, Sarah Minette, faculty at South High School (MN), and Andrea Myers, Director of the Hopewell Music Cooperative (MN). Paula Gudmundson, moderator.

I find the term 'underserved' to be problematic, but I think this will be a great experience!


In September the Society for Music Teacher Education (SMTE) is descending down to Minneapolis and I couldn't be more excited! I have three research posters that I will be presenting. The first is based on part of my literature review for my dissertation, entitled: "Communists and Queers": Historical purges of gay and lesbian educators. This is an UGLY history of American Education that started back during the Cold War and heavily encouraged by Senator Joe McCarthy. So, I am looking forward to putting together a poster that will be provocative and at the same time educational.

I am also working on a pretty cool research project with two friends, Dr. Amy Spears and Dr. Danelle Larson, and we will be sharing a poster as well. Our research stems from a night at a piano bar in Chicago a few years back. (Three researchers walk into a bar.....). Our research is looking at how piano bar musicians learn their music and share their music as a case for informal music making and music education. The research has been super fun. Go to a bar, get a drink, listen and watch the musicians and then ask them questions. Best.Ever.

The other SMTE project that I am working on...or will be working is with Dr. Lori Gray and Dr. Kyle Chandler. We considering the implications for changes in music educator curriculum and how that may be reflected in actual teaching practices-with my school as the 'model' school. Super excited to be working on this!

The last project I am working on is with Dr. Shilad Sen of Macalaster College in St. Paul. Shilad is a fantastic musician, but is actually a computer/math/stats/IT sort of guy (totally foreign to me and not something I completely understand). BUT he is totally into gender related issues and asked me to jump on board a study that is examining how women are perceived and critiqued on a Facebook page dedicated to jazz transcriptions. It is FASCINATING and it is fun to work with someone outside the music education community, but also someone who gets the music education community. 

So. That's a lot of projects this summer to keep me occupied. As long as the weather stays like it does, I anticipate a lot of time sitting in the backyard with a computer on my lap and some sort of iced-beverage next to me.