Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease in which the symptoms of the disease are worsen over time. Core symptoms of the disease are such as tremor-at-rest, rigidity, postural instability, and bradykinesia. Apart from these motor-problems, other problems such as sleep disorder, sensory abnormalities, neuropsychiatric disorders also exist. In addition to the motor-problems, latest literature documented 80-90% of the people with Parkinson’s Disease (PwP) are prone to develop voice impairment known as Parkinsonian Dysarthria, when symptoms deteriorate, causing loss of communication, difficulties in swallowing and breathing that are psychologically devastating and life threatening. Growing research in music therapy (MT) and music-based rehabilitative activities worldwide documented positive effects on PwP. A local research using therapeutic singing as rehabilitative model at the Malaysian Parkinson’s Disease Association (MPDA) also have reported positive benefi.....

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Entrepreneurship generally refers to small business ownership which implies quality of innovation and initiative in creating a new venture. Previous studies on entrepreneurship have indicated that pull and push factors in motivation and the environmental influences are the two main dynamic aspects that prompt women into their decision in creating their own business. In the Malaysian context, some women music teachers have ventured into establishing music businesses after several years of contribution in music teaching. What are the pull factors and influences that prompted these women music teachers into music business ownership after some years of music teaching? This study aims to examine and explore the pull motivational and influencing factors of why women music teachers endeavour in setting up music studios, music schools and entering into small music business ownership. In-depth interviews were conducted with 3 women music entrepreneurs and data was analysed for emerging themes. .....

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Past research has shown that the effects of prolonged exposure to urban acoustic noise are both detrimental to mind and body. In recent years, studies have also indicated that the socially disadvantaged are more susceptible to environmental hazards such as noise pollution. This paper aims to fill a gap in literature through the evaluation of urban soundscapes by analysing the spatiotemporal patterns of acoustic events within selected New York City (NYC) neighbourhoods and comparing the datum to the socio-economic data of the urban environments. In this paper, the author aims to address this question, ‘Does racial/ethnic composition of each neighbourhood influence how acoustic events are distributed, and in what way does this relate to the socio-economic status of each location?’ This study focuses on seven neighbourhoods within the New York City metropolitan area, each location representing one of the seven levels of noise metadata found on NYC’s 311 noise map. The ambient sounds.....

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This study aims to examine whether the American elementary students increase their cultural understanding after a six-week multicultural music programme on China and Cuba, considering factors of age, gender and learning needs. The use of Edwards’ (1994) levels of cultural understanding as a research tool and the way in which this approach can motivate children learning were examined. Participants were 110 second and fifth graders of two schools in New Jersey. Interviews were administered before and after the programme and classroom observations were conducted. Data indicated that such multicultural music programme has increased children’s cultural understanding and reduce their stereotypes on other people. Different levels of cultural understanding have been demonstrated. It was easy for children to achieve the basic level (i.e. Level 1: Knowledge) but it became more and more difficult as the levels proceed (i.e. Levels 2-4: Awareness, Sensitivity and Valuing). Therefore, multicult.....

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The chamber work Mood, scored for Guitar and String Quartet, was inspired by my fieldwork in Pang Ma Pha, Mae Hong Son province in the Northern part of Thailand. I worked with the musician guru Fu Deua who taught me about folk music of the Lisu, the hill tribe. I decided to adapt this music for a Western ensemble to connect a new audience with this little-known musical culture. Mood uses standard string techniques such as plucking and strumming to imitate the sounds of the Sue-bue, a Lisu three-stringed instrument. My compositional process was an exploration of the integration of musical traditions. Through the sound of Western Instruments and the procedures of development, variation, and improvisation, Mood expresses and transforms the original musical idiom it borrows from the Lisu’s tune. This paper describes the process behind Mood, both regarding its underlying philosophy and the compositional procedures I used. Besides, I discuss how Mood relates to other forms of dance music w.....

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This article reviews the status of Lanna music in higher education, offering suggestions for the development of Lanna music in Northern Thai universities. The researcher adopts a phenomenological method, utilising data from a number of interviews (N=20) and observations. The results suggest that Lanna music in higher education plays a significant role in shaping the cultural identity of the community. This unique style of music is often taught as a core area of study, as an extension to existing music curricula, or is being offered elsewhere as a general subject of study pursued by non-music students. In the development of Lanna music curricula, the main objective is to sustain musical traditions, musical creativity and to promote professionalism in performance. The curriculum needs to consider the readiness of the elements, especially those pertaining to culture and community, which form the foundation of knowledge. The curriculum should develop learners on the basis of their interest.....

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This article explores the notion of ‘in-betweenness’ through transcultural thinking in my compositional practice. My thinking has been inspired by Tim Ingold’s philosophical idea of ‘wayfaring’ as a way to navigate processes by which insights emerge from collaborative investigations. 'Interbreathment’ is one of the earlier projects focusing on music and dance collaborations. Associated with a gong installation, this particular project explored a hybrid form of notation between musical and choreographical elements engaging with Chinese, as well as Malaysian indigenous cultural references (Kadazandusun) in which I sought a creative threshold for opening up new cultural dialogues to deepen my experience and understanding of the notions of entanglement and of how highly diverse elements can be unified through collaboration in my compositional work...

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In the nineteenth century, listening to a symphony was a rare and precious treat. Few could afford to attend the symphony regularly, and even those who could would be lucky to hear a favourite work once every few years. There was, however, one way for nineteenth-century music lovers to hear their favourite symphonies anytime on demand: by playing arrangements. Arrangements of symphonies, particularly those for piano four-hands, were phenomenally popular. Amateur musicians would play through arrangements before a concert to familiarise themselves with unknown works and after to re-experience the music they enjoyed. In the twentieth century, recordings took over this function. Today, it is not the sonic magnificence of the orchestra that is rare and precious; it is the act of music-making. This paper examines the roles that four-hand piano transcriptions played in the reception of symphonic repertoire during the nineteenth century and, by way of conclusion, suggests some pedagogical appl.....

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The Holistic Music Educational Approach for Young Children (HMEAYC) is a professional method that aims to provide a music curriculum for children in both mainstream and special education settings. The purpose of this research was to examine the effectiveness of the HMEAYC in communication development through the use of the Soundbeam trigger modes in young children from the mainstream and with special needs. The participants were divided into two groups, and they were aged between 41 and 55 months. All the children received the same number of hours of music instruction per week incorporating the ‘Soundbeam technology’ adapted from the HMEAYC method. The duration was 32 weeks with a 40-minute instructional session once a week. The results and findings showed that both of the groups increased their participation in the musical activities and improved their communication ability by the end of the study. The findings suggest the HMEAYC curriculum framework is beneficial for making conne.....

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One of the greatest challenges for wind instrument beginners is developing the ability to listen for harmony when practicing and performing. Even though harmony is one of the most fundamental musical elements in western art music, attaining such a listening proficiency can be especially difficult for wind instrument beginners who are much more accustomed to focusing on a single melodic line, which can in turn have significant implications for the students’ performance. This study accordingly investigated the benefits of listening for harmony on first-year wind instrument students in the Young Artists Music Program (YAMP) at the College of Music, Mahidol University, Thailand. The students who participated in the study were selected because they had no previous experience playing harmonic instruments and received a score of no higher than 69 percent on their aural skills entrance exams. The main purpose of the study was to explore the ways in which developing the students’ aptitude i.....

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