Performing Music and Poetry: A Pedagogy of Listening

• In Event: 29.058 - Understanding the Strength of A/r/tography as a Theory and a Research Methodology

Abstract

1. Objectives and Purpose: This panel presentation invites attendees to critically engage with a/r/tography and how it combines with other research methodologies. As such, the objectives and purposes of the second panellist are: (1) to briefly highlight the development of a/r/tography, particularly to reveal how it relates to autoethnography; and (2) to reveal and enhance the intersections of music and poetry in a/r/tography.

2. Perspectives or theoretical frameworks: The second panellist recently established the connection between autoethnography and a/r/tography (Author, 2008; 2013). He will speak to new research whereby employing a pedagogy of listening, and by learning how to listen attentively contributes to the intersections of music and poetry, and can shape artistic, performative research in new and pedagogically innovative ways (Author, 2014). This research explores listening carefully, not only to the words, but to the images, rhythms, melodies, thoughts, and feelings that the words and music evoke.

3. Modes of inquiry: This media rich presentation will be an exploration of the notion of a didactic autoethnography. Didacticism is a way of writing that emphasizes the instructional and informative qualities in literature and other types of art. This inquiry is not only a collection of reflections embellished with music, poetry, and song. It is a story that is intended to teach about (1) the wonder and power of performing arts, (2) the processes we observe in composing complex, powerful arts based songs, (3) the ways we have been inspired and changed by the process, and (4) how this collaboration opens up possibilities for scholarly research that is both critical and creative.

4. Data sources: By analysing personal reflections and music as raw data, the second panellist explains how a/r/tography provides rationale for implementing a broad variety of approaches in different situations – with different music, poetry, settings, and styles – to demonstrate the depth and breadth of understanding in art and pedagogy.

5. Substantiated conclusions: By carefully listening to, and exploring the nuances of texts, sounds, images and feelings, this presentation will exemplify how these distinctions can influence and expand pedagogy and new research ideas (Author, 2014).

6. Scholarly Significance: For musicians and poets, important discoveries about the self and others (e.g., the audience) are often based upon acoustic experiences. And acoustic experiences require sound production, performance processes, and listening, to the self and to others.

Author

• Peter J. Gouzouasis, The University of British Columbia