Jonathan McElroy, Ph.D., professor in the Music and Theatre Arts Department, has published an article, “The Power of Rap in Music Education; A Study of Undergraduate Students’ Original Rap Creations,” in the British Journal of Music Education, The article examined an undergraduate music class that incorporated the creation of students’ individual original raps to understand the value of studying rap and its impact upon students’ education.
The case study utilized the students’ raps to address the following research questions: “1.) How, if at all, does studying hip-hop through the creation of a rap provide a transformative experience and growth in students? 2.) How are student experiences reflected in the use of music composition through the creation of an original rap? and 3.) How does the process of creating an original rap provide insight into students’ experiences?”
The British Journal of Music Education (Cambridge University Press) is a fully refereed international journal, which provides clear, stimulating and readable accounts of contemporary research in music education worldwide, and a section containing extended book reviews which further current debates. The journal strives to strengthen connections between research and practice, so enhancing professional development and improving practice within the field of music education. The range of subjects covers music teaching and learning in formal and informal contexts including classroom, individual, group and whole class instrumental and vocal teaching, music in higher education, international comparative music education, music in community settings, and teacher education.