Short, accessible summaries of current research in music by the staff, postgraduate students, and research associates in the School of Music and MASARA.
2025-03-10
The changing nature of celebrity in musical theatre: the development of star casting
Dr Michelle Pretorius
Celebrity casting in musical theatre is and always will be a hot topic among fans of the genre. However, this is not a new phenomenon. Celebrities and stars have been cast in music theatre shows since the beginning of the artform. So, what has changed that has caused such passionate discourse among theatre lovers? Could it be that the celebrity itself has changed?
In her first published article, Dr Pretorius explores the development of the concept of celebrity since the beginning of the twentieth century and how it has influenced musical theatre as a commercial and artistic genre.
2025-03-06
A theory of joyful experiences in Dalcroze Eurhythmics
Prof Liesl van der Merwe
“My life’s work” — This is how Prof van der Merwe describes her latest research article, published less than two weeks ago in the International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. This “theory of joyful experiences in Dalcroze Eurhythmics” is the result of more than a decade of research, which culminated in her inaugural lecture in 2023 and was further distilled in this article. It deeply examines what makes people experience joy when they participate in Dalcroze Eurhythmics sessions — an approach to music education that combines movement and music.
2025-02-28
A pianist's technique rehabilitation after post-traumatic stress: an autoethnographic study
Ms Carla Lewis
Prof Liesl van der Merwe
Prof van der Merwe and Master's graduate Ms Lewis published this article in Qualitative Health Research in January 2024. This study is a personal account of a professional pianist who experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emphasising the damaging effects of the stigma associated with the disorder as well as the effects of PTSD itself on her piano playing.
2025-02-24
Sharing vulnerability: a duoethnographic enquiry into the development of digital competencies at a South African university
Prof Janelize Morelli
Dr Kristien Andrianatos
Prof Morelli and Dr Andrianatos (NWU School of Languages) published this article in the journal Critical Studies in Teaching & Learning in which they share their professional journey while developing their digital competencies using Mentimeter, an interactive presentation software.
2025-02-20
Clients' experiences of Music and Imagery (MI) sessions
Dr Petra Jerling
Prof Liesl van der Merwe
Prof van der Merwe and PhD graduate, Dr Jerling, recently published this article in Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy.
To understand how MI impacts people, they reviewed 19 studies that included a total of 189 participants. These studies examined how people felt during and after MI sessions. Through careful analysis, they identified six key themes.
2025-02-17
Is there a sonic climate of Zulu history?
Prof Chris van Rhyn
Prof Willemien Froneman
Prof van Rhyn (Director, MASARA Focus Area) and Prof Froneman (NWU alumna and Associate Professor in the Centre for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and the Reparative Quest (AVReQ) at Stellenbosch University) co-authored this article that was published in the International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music in December 2024. The article looks at how climate change, the legacy of colonialism, and art intersect in South Africa, focusing on two early electronic music pieces by composer Kevin Volans.
2025-02-12
A duoethnography about musicking at an older adult care home during COVID-19
Dr Catrien Wentink
Prof Liesl van der Merwe
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people felt lonely, but older adults in care homes were especially isolated due to lockdown restrictions. Community musicians also struggled because they could no longer perform or interact with people through music.
In this study, Dr Wentink and Prof van der Merwe explored what making music (or “musicking”) meant to them and to the residents of a care home during this challenging time.
2024-11-20
A framework for Positive Music Education
Prof Ewie Erasmus
Prof Liesl van der Merwe
Positive psychology and music education are both well-established fields. However, the intersection and dialogue between positive psychology and music education are underdeveloped. In their editorial to a special edition of the International Journal of Education & the Arts, Profs Van der Merwe and Erasmus propose a framework for advancing positive music education.
2024-10-21
Mitigating performance anxiety in opera singers
Mr Thomas Erlank
Mr Erlank delivered a poster presentation on his doctoral research at the 58th National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
2024-07-14
The well-being of classical singers and the music they sing
Prof Conroy Cupido
Prof Cupido delves into the world of classical singing and explores the intricate relationship between the well-being of classical singers and the music they perform. Our expert in opera and vocal pedagogy shares insights on how the music itself can impact the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of performers.