Research For Youth, Music and Education

RYME - Research For Youth, Music & Education is a Canadian research project that researches youth participation and engagement in MusicAL activities, the research project is also known as Youth Participation in Music or as RYME Youth. The research is a funded by SSHRC as noted in a University of Western Ontario News article, and has been a collaboration between Simon Fraser University and the University of Western Ontario.

AbOUT RYME

Goals

A group of researchers collaborated to create a research project that CREATES opportunities for youth and adults to share and develop IDeaS for positive youth engagement. The purpose of the research is to explore what gets students involved in musical activities (initiators), what keeps them involved in their musical activities (sustainers), and what positive outcomes and benefits are derived from being involved in musical activities.

Simon Fraser University's Youth Participation In Music Project is a part of the RYME research group and is a partnership between Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Education and the University of Western Ontario's Don Wright Faculty of Music. "A key aim of the research is to develop a more comprehensive approach to music education and young people’s music participation through a “culture of inquiry,” where young people can reconsider musical practices through the lens of critical cultural literacy".

Importance

There is a need to research the impact and influence of various musical activities on the lives of young people. Within the 21st century, young people have become increasingly exposed to a wealth of musical activities and ideas due to the availability of technology, increased mobility, and via social networking. An increasing availability and ease of access to music commenced int the late 20th Century due to the availability of personal computers, the internet and other forms of music sharing.. Due to this availability and a larger scope of music to choose from, many young people are using music beyond the traditional parameters of passive listening. Social networking such as YouTube and MySpace have made the distribution and sharing of music that youth create, alter or want to share an attainable endeavour.

About the people of RYME

Background of the project director

The RYME project director, Dr. Susan O'Neill is an international music psychologist and educator who has "expertise in various research approaches involving both quantitative and qualitative methods, longitudinal studies, large-scale survey research, and in-depth qualitative interview studies" Dr. O'Neill's research in youth, music and education was expanded during her time as a Senior Lecturer at Keele University, UK, where she was the director of Young People and Music Participation Research Project

Research Collaborators and Research Project Team

Name

University

Role

Dr. Susan O'Neill

Simon Fraser University

Project Director

Dr. Yaroslav Senyshyn

Simon Fraser University

Research Collaborator

Dr. Carol Beynon

University of Western Ontario

Research Collaborator

'''Deanna C. C. Peluso, M.Ed.

Simon Fraser University

Project Coordinator

Ian DeLong, M.Ed.

Simon Fraser University

Graduate Research Assistant

David Erickson, M.Ed.

Simon Fraser University

Graduate Research Assistant

Jin Thindal, M.Ed.

Simon Fraser University

Graduate Research Assistant

Research Associates

Name

University

Country

Dr. Lee Bartel

University of Toronto

Canada

Dr. Lucy Green

Institute of Education, University of London

United Kingdom

Dr. Gary McPherson

University of Melbourne

Australia

Past Research Assistants

Past Research Assistant Listing

Term

Graduate - Simon Fraser University

Paul Boissonnault, M.Ed.

April 2010 - December 2010

Jason Lapenskie, B.A., B.Ed.

April 2010 - September 2010

Graduate - University of Western Ontario

Daniela Bute

Sept 2008 – Jan 2009

Laura Fitzpatrick

Sept 2008 – Aug 2009

Kayla Krasnor

Jan 2009 – June 2009

Undergraduate - University of Western Ontario

Jennifer Blackwell

May 2009 – Aug 2009

Irene Cho

Oct 2007 – May 2008

Aaron Neeb

May 2009 – Aug 2009

Céline Poirier

Sept 2008

Brooke Taylor

Oct 2008 – May 2009

Amy Wallace

Oct 2008 – May 2009

Partnerships and Funding

The research project is in partnership with:

University Affiliations

Funding

Research For Youth, Music and Education (Youth Participation In Music) is funded by SSHRC - The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

SSHRC Awards Granted
  • 2009: Major Collaborative Research Initiatives - Dr. Susan O'Neill
  • 2008: SSHRC Standard Research Grants - Youth Participation in Music - Awarded to Dr. Susan O'Neill

Past Research

Previous research projects of Research for Youth, Music & Education include:

Keele University, United Kingdom

The Young People and Music Participation Project at Keele University:

RYME Official Website