Mrs Pauline Black

Biography

Pauline is Head of Music Engagement and Senior Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen. Her professional career has involved teaching and leading participatory music projects in various different contexts, including in Higher Education, in schools and in a range of community settings.

Pauline has particular interests in informal learning and improvising, jazz in education, digital creativity and music technology. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and the Higher Education Academy.

Pauline has over 20 years teaching experience in secondary schools and was formerly Faculty Head (Expressive Arts) at Harlaw Academy in Aberdeen City. She is also pursuing a PhD exploring learning in jazz and improvising, at the University of Edinburgh.  

She has several years of experience of fulfilling board roles in the music industry and is currently co-chair of Jazz in Education UK and a board member for Sound New Music Incubator, as well as being a nominator for Scottish Album of the Year. Pauline is a former Chair of Jazz from Scotland and sits on the committee of Jazz at the Blue Lamp. She is President Elect for the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM).

Throughout lockdown she endeavoured to find various ways to continue to engage musicians in music making and sharing. Pauline's research and practice explores music, excellence, inclusion and identities and what these key terms mean to different communities. She enjoys playing trumpet and singing in a range of ensembles and genres. Pauline also directs the JATBL 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. 

Research Overview

Jazz in Education

Informal learning

Creative approaches to teaching and learning music

Current Research

Jazz and improvising in education

Collaborative composing using cloud based software

Past Research

Music and Social Intervention

Music Hall Babies: Aberdeen Performing Arts

Lockdown composing

Collaborations

Music and Social Intervention: AHRC Research Network

University of Aberdeen/ University of Melbourne Graduate School of Education - collaborative composing using cloud based software

Teaching Responsibilities

MU1051/ MU1551 Performance 1 and 2 (Course Coordinator)

MU2026/MU2526 Performance 3 and 4 (Course Coordinator)

MU2038 The Emerging Musical Practitioner

MU2535 The Emerging Musical Practitioner 2

MU3033 Music Education Studies 1 (Course Coordinator)

MU3036 The Digital Music Practitioner (Course Coordinator)

MU3533 Music Education Studies 2 (Course Coordinator)

MU351H Musicking and Communities (Course Coordinator)

MU3539 Facilitating Composing and Improvising

MU4021 Developing Professional Practice 1 (Course Coordinator)

MU4022 School Experience 1

MU4521 Developing Professional Practice 2 (Course Coordinator)

MU4722 School Experience 2

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

Personal Tutor