Music Education
School of Education
(formerly the Association of Music Education Lecturers [AMEL] )
ABN 60 517 692 473
Dr
Dorreen Bridges, AM Distinguished Australian music
educator and music education researcher.
Dr Doreen Bridges is the first Honorary Life Member of AARME and is a highly
distinguished music educator and researcher who has been recognised both
in Australia and internationally. She studied music at the University
of Adelaide and in 1946, as Universities Commission professional officer
(music) surveyed Australian tertiary music courses. Doreen taught
at all levels of music education, including the New South Wales Conservatorium
of Music and the Department of Music at the University of Sydney, and was
fhen senior lecturer in music at the Nurwery School Teachers' College in
Sydney. In 1971 she became the first person to be awarded a PhD in
music education by an Australian university and was responsible for the development
of the Australian Test for Advanced Music Studies (ATAMS). Doreen served
on the International Society for Music Education's Research Commission and
has held office in the Australian Society for Music Eduation, of which she
is also an Honorary Life Member. Doreen contributed with Deanna Hoermann
in rewriting the Developmental Music Program and compiled Catch
a Song, a popular's children's song collection. (Some information
from Southcott 1997.)
Prof
Barbara van Ernst, AM Founder and President of the
Association of Music Education Lecturers (AMEL), 1978-1983; and Secretary
of AMEL, 1984-86, 1989-1994.
Prof Barbara van Ernst, AM, BA(Music) Mon., MEd, PhD La Trobe
Barbara was founder and inaugural president of the Association of Music
Education Lecturers (1978), the antecedent to the Australian Association
for Research in Music Education. She was a member and later Head of
the Music Department at Victoria College, which later amalagamated with Deakin
University, where she was then Head of the School Visual Performing and Media
Arts. Barbara moved to Swinburne University of Technology where she
is presently Deputy Vice Chancellor, Lilydale Campus and Deputy Vice Chancellor,
Learning and Teaching.
Dr
Vanda Weidenbach President of the Autralian Association
for Research in Music Education, 1995-98.
Dr Vanda Weidenbach, BMus Adel. , MA Macquarie, PhD UWS .
Vanda retired from the University of Sydney having been Head of the Arts Academic Unit and Co-ordinator of Music Education. Previously she was Head of General Curriculum Studies and Co-ordinator of the M Ed (Arts) Program at University of Western Sydney. Prior to moving to Sydney from Adelaide Vanda was Special Senior Mistress in Music at Norwood High School. Her music training began with piano lessons at the age of 4 thence to Elder Conservatorium where she studied with Clemens Leske at age ten. Later she was awarded Elder Free Scholarship.
Vanda was presented with an Advance Australia Award at Government House in 1983 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to music education. Federal and State Governments have provided funding for research activities with both gifted and talented children and those with disabilities. The Roland Corporation and Apple Education Foundation have funded projects related to the development of software and application of various forms of computer technology. Her research has been published nationally and translated into several languages through such publications as UNESCO's Prospects. She pioneered distance education in music via OPTEL Audiographic Telecommunications Computer System conducting computer interactive music lessons between the university campus and various secondary schools. Vanda is a past President of AARME (1995-98) and has convened conferences for both AMEL and AARME.
Vanda is an eclectic music educator whose range of interests have been broad. She has taught classroom music at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, conducted instrumental and choral ensembles, and produced musicales. Since the mid-1980s, her focus has been on the application of computer technology. How computers provide students with technical information, assist them to develop composition skills, provide models for instrumental and vocal performance, and give critical feedback have been subjects for her research. Of particular interest was the effects of cognitive processing on students using computers as an aid to learning to play keyboard.
