KU News Release

Professor to research and compare community music programs

LAWRENCE — Martin Bergee, professor of music education and music therapy at the University of Kansas, was principal investigator for a music education research proposal that recently earned full funding from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. The study, titled “Galvanizing factors of communities chosen to be one of the Best 100 Communities for Music Education,” is part of the foundation’s Sounds of Learning Phase V initiative.

Joining Bergee on the project is Christopher Johnson, KU professor of music education and music therapy and associate dean for research and graduate studies at the School of Fine Arts, and Becky Eason, associate director of KU’s Institute for Educational Research and Public Service. The research team received $87,746 in funding.

The study’s purpose is to compare communities that maintain and promote high-quality music programs to communities that do not. The research will be conducted by analyzing local communities through demographics, surveys and interviews.

“Music programs help to forge strong communities, which in turn provide support for strong music programs,” said Bergee. “Music education, in and out of school, is a part of strong communities and meets the needs of community members of all ages. Our research hopes to find which elements within these communities tend to foster good music programs.”

The team hopes to have the final report to the National Association of Music Merchants by fall 2009.

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