Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing  (AIRS)

University of Prince Edward Island

December 2011

To AIRS members:

Just 2 ½ years ago AIRS held its first annual meeting at the University of Prince Edward Island. Since then, over 70 researchers in 9 teams have collaborated in research on singing and development, education, and well-being. We have shared our growing knowledge in many different ways over these months-- a highlight being the annual meeting, coast to coast. The second one was in Seattle in conjunction with the International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition (ICMPC), and the third was in St. John’s, Nfld, in conjunction with the Festival 500 Phenomenon of Singing Symposium.

For the AIRS Season Greeting in Song  (click on the hyperlink) Bing-Yi Pan has transmographied 4 human AIRS member voices in gladsome harmony, accompanied by moving images of the participants in the 2011 AIRS Annual Meeting.  Enjoy! (If you would like to add snowflakes to the video, be sure to click on the snowflake at the right of the screen).

After a pilot project in London Ontario, the AIRS  Intergenerational Singing program  ( directed by Professors Rachel Heydon and Carol Beynon, University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Education) has had a successful run at a second site -  in Chatham Ontario.  The Co-ordinator of the Seniors home called in the press in recognition of the value of the program for the residents. Congratulations  AIRS 3.2 - on its way to the development of a handbook so that the developing curriculum for IG singing programs can be shared more broadly.

According to Carol Beynon, Associate Vice-Provost, School of Graduate Studies, University of Western Ontario  "Both the residents and children are so disappointed that the program has come to an end, and I am hopeful that it will continue on a monthly basis. We learned a great deal through the process and have just completed the interviews.

Sincere thanks to graduate student assistants Joelle Nagle Crestan and Jen Hutchison who contributed so much to this part of AIRS 3.2"

Do you like to sing?

Join the UPEI Multicultural Choir & Song Circle!

Share songs from various cultures; Learn more about singing; Meet friends from across the campus & around the world
1st Meeting  - Was a great success - Check out the impromtu repertoire   at the new web-space for the group

and join us next week for more!  Already singing songs from 

Korean, Chinese, Maltese, French, Kenyan, Italian, Canadian,  British,  American, and animal (Babe the animated musical) cultures! 

Add your voice and songs to the mix!

Meetings/rehearsals take place 4:30 - 5:30, same place