Study group based in Music (ECA) focused on creative and expressive arts research. We identify current topics based on our collective interests and expertise in ethnomusicology, psychology, digital and online education, and applied community music research. We are interested primarily in the material and practical situations of music and arts activities in social life. Our discussions focus on methodological aspects of arts and music research across a wide disciplinary range, from scientific design to interpretive methods, and creative and artistic practice. Read more [here].

Semester 2, 2025-6

Music department’s UNESCO Week of Sound 2026 programme runs from Monday 16 – Friday 20 February — see the full events listings here

• Thu 29 Jan, 12:00-12:30 – ONLINE ONLY — check in, say hi, share what we’re working on – discussion focused on research ethics
• Thu 19 Feb, 10:00 – 11:30 — Qualitative data coding with NVivo software, led by Yi
• Wed 11 Mar, 16:30 18:00 — Alison House Atrium, Dr Elizabeth MacGregor (Music Research Seminar series) – on ‘vulnerability’ in the music classroom
• Thu 12 Mar, 10:00 – 11:30 — Situations study group meeting with Elizabeth, who is now a Teaching Fellow in Music Education and Performance, University of Leeds
• Thu 30 April, 10:00 – 16:00 –  Study group retreat at Dunard Centre HQ (+ sessions online)

Semester 1, 2025-6 [more info]

• Mon 1 Sep, 15:30-16:30 – Conference presentation test-run (Hazel)
• Thu 18 Sep, 15:00-16:30 – Welcome back!  Plus conference presentation test-run (Peter)
• Mon 29 Sep, 15:00-16:30 – What ‘situated approaches’ can and can’t do for music research
• Thu 23 Oct, 15:00-16:30 – Positionality in improvisation pedagogy (Una)
• Thu 6 Nov, 15:00-16:30 – Developing training (skills in design and methods) for situated music research (Nikki)
• Mon 1 Dec, 15:00-16:30 – Doing Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis

Semester 2, 2024-5 [more info]

• Thu 23 Jan, 14:30-16:00 – Understanding musical listening literature
• Thu 27 Feb, 14:30-16:00 – Writing and publishing (research professional skills session)
• Thu 27 Mar, 14:30-16:00 – Dialogue as methodology in music research (presentation of work-in-progress by Morag)
• Thu 24 Apr, 14:30-16:00 – no study group this week
• Thu 29 May, 14:30-16:00 – Musicianship in the situation of the primary classroom
• UPDATED Thu 26 Jun, 14:30-16:00 –  Does the jazz musician leadership metaphor still work?

Semester 1, 2024-5 [more info]

• Fri 13 Sep, 11-12:30 – Summer conference debrief
• Fri 18 Oct, 11-12:30 – Music education research and disciplines / interdisciplinarity
• Thu 14 Nov, 14.30 – 16.00 – Auditory expertise in recording situations
• Thu 12 Dec, 14.30 – 16.00 – Social dynamics in bands

Study day, 18 April 2024

• Creative arts education study day: Current and future situations – Atrium, Alison House + online (MS Teams) – please email n.moran@ed.ac.uk by Tue 16th if you would like to attend

Semester 2, 2023-4

• How do music and arts educational situations prepare us for creative, interpersonal communication? – Fri 2 Feb, 11am
• Classical Music Futures  – who’s doing the research and what do they have to say? –  Wed 14 Feb, 11.30am
• Musical improvisation research and ethics – Tue 26 Mar, 10am

Semester 1, 2023-4

• Creativity and the time-pressured situation of musical performance – Fri 22 Sep, 11am
• Understanding performance anxiety as a University Music situation – Fri 6 Oct, 11am
• Creating and Relating: Embodiment and Sound – Situations group @ UNESCO Week of Sound – Tue 17 Oct, 3pm
• Listening methodologies for qualitative music research – Fri 27 Oct, 11am
• Participation and learner engagement in conservatoire settings – Fri 17 Nov, 11am – with Naomi Kayayan
• Ethnomusicological insights on situated musicality – Fri 8 Dec, 11am

Semester 2, 2022-3

• Together in Music (ed. Timmers, Bailes and Daffern), Part 1 – Tu 7 Feb, 11am
• Together in Music (ed. Timmers, Bailes and Daffern), Part 2 – Fri 3 Mar, 11am
• Situations group study day and social – Tue 14 Mar, 1-6pm – with Jutta Toelle
• Together in Music (ed. Timmers, Bailes and Daffern), Part 3 – Thu 25 May, 11am

Semester 1, 2022-3

• Leadership and taking part in musical ensembles – Fri 16 Sep, 11am
• Making participation happen (music in the community) – Fri 7 Oct, 11am
• Music’s situation in higher education – Thu 27 Oct, 10:30am
• Participating in digital (music) education – Fri 18 Nov, 11am
• Music perception and creativity – Fri 2 Dec, 11am – with Andrea Schiavio

For more information, email Nikki or Una (Reid School of Music, ECA)

Jun 29, 2022

(Original composite image based on "three tenors" from Wallpaperflare.com, and screengrab from https://sculptneonsigns.co.uk/)

(Original composite image based on "three tenors" from Wallpaperflare.com, and screengrab from https://sculptneonsigns.co.uk/)