Contact Details

Telephone

work +44 (0)1224 274610

Email

paulineblack@abdn.ac.uk

Address

The University of Aberdeen Room 026
University of Aberdeen
MacRobert Building
King's College
Aberdeen
AB24 5UA
Tel: 01224 274610

Web Links

https://www.researchgate.net/

Biography

Pauline has worked as a music education lecturer at the University of Aberdeen since 2012 and she is Programme Director of the BMus (Hons) Education programme and Performance Coordinator in the department.  She has over twenty years teaching experience in secondary schools and prior to taking up this University post she was Faculty Head (Expressive Arts) at Harlaw Academy in Aberdeen City and music network co-ordinator for Aberdeen City schools. Pauline continues to spend one day per week teaching music in schools and working as a creative practitioner in various contexts. Pauline's professional career has involved teaching and leading participatory music and arts projects in various different contexts, including in school, out of school and in a range of community settings.

Pauline has a particular interest in digital creativity and music technology. She also has a passion for working on interdisciplinary creative projects. 

Pauline has extensive performing experience in a range of genres having performed in classical ensembles, jazz groups, funk / soul bands, brass bands and theatre pits. She currently plays trumpet in the Aberdeen Jazz Orchestra and is trumpeter and vocalist in Aka Ska. Pauline has extensive experience conducting youth music ensembles and working with instrumental ensembles, in particular jazz ensembles, samba bands and junior concert bands. She directs the Aberdeen University Jazz Orchestra and Band as well as the Jazz at the Blue Lamp Community Jazz Big Band. In September 2016 Pauline was part of the Aberdeen City team receiving a Will Michael Jazz Diploma in recognition of showing an outstanding commitment to jazz education. 

Pauline is undertaking part time doctoral study at the University of Edinburgh where she is investigating musical improvisation in schools.

Research Interests

Jazz Education

Informal music pedagogy 

Current Research

Aberdeen Performing Arts: Music Hall Babies

Jazz and improvisation in education

Teaching Responsibilities

MU1051/ MU1551 Performance 1 and 2 (Course Coordinator)

MU1537 Introduction to Contemporary Composition

MU1538 Digital Musicianship: Music Making in the Digital Age

MU2026/MU2526 Performance 3 and 4 (Course Coordinator)

MU3024 Performance 5 (Course Coordinator)

MU3524 Music Education Studies 1 (Course Coordinator)

ED352C Professional Focus: Exploring Music in the Primary School

MU3094 Practical Musicianship Skills

MU4098 Applied Musicianship

MA4/PGDE (Primary) Expressive Arts

Developing Professional Practice 1

Developing Professional Practice 2

External Responsibilities

Freelance Music Education Practitioner (1 day per week) 

Committee Member Scottish Association for Music Education (SAME)

SQA Visiting Assessor (Performance)

SQA Verifier for Music Technology

Adjudicator, SCBF (Scottish Concert Band Festival)

Arts Award Adviser

Member of the Music and Social Intervention Network (AHRC)

External Examiner, University of Huddersfield, BA (Hons) Secondary Music with QTS 

Admin Responsibilities

Programme Director BMus (Hons) Education

PGDE Music Subject Tutor

Performance Coordinator

School Experience Coordinator

Course Coordinator:

MU3094 Practical Musicianship

MU3524 Music Education Studies 1

MU1051/MU1551 Performance 1 and 2 

MU2026/MU2526 Performance 3 and 4

MU3024 Performance 5

MU4801 Performance Recital

Director of University Big Band and Jazz Band

Memberships

Scottish Association for Music Education (SAME)

International Society for Music Education (ISME)

Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research (SEMPRE)

Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM)

Conference Presentations

'Exploring Creative Approaches in the Music Classroom' SAME Conference 19: Transforming Music Education: Inspiring Teachers, Supporting Learners, University of Stirling, September 2015

'Just starting out with music technology?' SAME MusTech 5: University of the West of Scotland, January, 2016

'An introduction to radio broadcasting' SAME MusTech 5: University of the West of Scotland, January, 2016

'Ukulele in the primary school' Enhancing Learning School of Education student conference, University of Aberdeen, February 2016

'Pedagogical Change in the Scottish Secondary School Jazz Combo: Improvisation, Collaboration, Spontaneity and Risk.' Poster Presentation: ISME MISTEC Commision, Dublin, July 2016

'On Being and Becoming a Jazz Musician: Perceptions of Young Scottish Musicians' ISME Conference, Glasgow, July 2016

'Engaging with Research in Music Education' hosting Poster session at SAME Conference 20: Transforming lives through learning, looking inwards, looking outwards, looking forwards. University of Stirling, September, 2016

'Ukes Factor' Enhancing Learning School of Education Student Conference, University of Aberdeen, December 2016

Publications 

View publications