Joseph Thornber

Thesis

Thesis

Reconstructing Embodied Musical Knowledge at the Keyboard (REM@KE)

Supervisor: Dr Andrea Schiavio

I am investigating the role of embodiment in musical experience and instrument building as part of the wider REM@KE project, which aims to rebuild four historical keyboard instruments whilst using new technologies to study and safeguard these historical objects to make them more accessible in the future.

This is a large-scale international collaborative project funded by a European Synergy Grant. My role specifically will be to explore how educators and builders can benefit from a better understanding of the affordances and constraints of rebuilt historical keyboard instruments, with the aim of making historically informed keyboard activities more accessible in the future.

Biography

Biography

I am a first-year music PhD student having achieved a Distinction in my Psychology of Music MA at The University of Sheffield, for which I was awarded the Charles Bryars Scholarship for research contributing to the benefit of organists.

I have significant performance experience in both piano and organ music, and have a strong interest in music education and education outside of the creative arts, as I am a CELTA-qualified English language teacher.

I am always looking to understand and improve the experiences of students in higher education and am an elected board member at the Office for Students' Student Interest Board.

Research

Research Interests

Musical embodiment, music education, children and musical development, organ research, piano research, keyboard instrument rebuilding.