Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • SUMMER 2018 • PAN PIPES 13 M usic does things that are much larger," Dr. Juliet Hess said in a conversation aer her initiation into Michigan State University's Alpha Lambda Chapter as a Friend of the Arts. It is true: we all have moments within music that have shaped and developed our association with it, whether it is a performance or just jamming to the radio on a long road trip with friends. Dr. Hess grew up encompassed by music. Encouragement from her mother, a double- bassist and her long-term piano instructor, made it natural for her to continue her education in music. e exposure she had in college to music built her foundation for her academic work within the subject. Aer a bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Toronto (U of T) in music education, she continued further at U of T to complete a PhD emphasizing anti- oppression work in music education. For Dr. Hess, this research was shaped by an experience during her first year of undergrad when she experienced a Ghanaian drumming performance. From then on, she embedded herself into the Ghanaian musical community in Toronto and grew within it, which also created a platform for her future academic work. Ghanaian music is drastically different from traditional western music and draws upon aural tradition. For Dr. Hess, it offered a completely separate learning experience than the one she'd been exposed to in the past. is new association created questions she would seek answers to in the sociological and philosophical scholastic world, but it also created a focus in her world outside of academia. Dr. Hess continued her study of Ewe music, eventually becoming a teacher for the music, and creating programs in her work as a public-school music teacher in an area with a high degree of socioeconomic need. "I get worried about people thinking they needed to be at a particular level to participate," Dr. Hess mentioned, and she wasn't just speaking on the subject of Ghanaian drumming, but all of music in general. "Music isn't something only certain people do," she added as she explained how this affected her research. Because everyone is in touch with music, in some way, from Hip-Hop to Classical, all of the way to Ghanaian drumming, music can be used as a way to connect cultures and create community between societies. Music brings people together, roots us, "it does social justice work," she said in a discussion about our current political climate. Dr. Hess critiques engagement with world music as a way to perform "tolerance" — a quality she views as limited, at best. Rather, she believes that participation in different musics "requires reciprocity and ethical engagement." Dr. Hess added that musical engagement can foster open- mindedness, and she wants to use this framework to encourage students to think both about their own experiences and beyond them. Because, aer all, music is a way to engage in a classroom space, but gives an experience beyond that of homeroom. rough programs such as Ghanaian drumming, students can make connections to cultures and customs that cross the globe, and perhaps, aided by the experience, become more open-minded. Part of Dr. Hess's research is finding ways to support different people in the same space; it's about "being better teachers in ways that include more people in music," she explained. With Dr. Hess's philosophical background and work as an educator and teacher educator, it has allowed her to integrate the questions she asked into practice. is is why Dr. Hess's research is situated to "ask questions from outside the box, about the box." Her resume on the topic is extensive; her scholarship focuses on anti-oppression education, the potential of activism in music education, and the question of ethics in world music study. However, when asked which types of musical experiences have been the most valuable, her response was surprising. "It's the kind of moments where I realize I've gotten to see a music on its own terms, rather than on my terms," Dr. Hess said. A moment in particular includes research in a classroom of Javanese Gamelan music, and aer a period of five weeks the unfamiliar tempo and style integrated into her understanding and she felt the togetherness of it. Her work and studies have continued at Michigan State University, engaging students in discussions about Sociology and Philosophy of Music Education, including difficult conversations about issues such as race and racism in music education. As a chapter, Dr. Hess caught our attention, not only because of her monumental music achievements and research, but also her dedication to music education and her students. e sisters of our chapter who had the pleasure to experience Dr. Hess as their professor at Michigan State University spoke heavy praises in our consideration of her nomination as a Friend of the Arts. It wasn't until aer we initiated Dr. Hess that our chapter discovered her family history within Sigma Alpha Iota. In Canada, becoming a Sigma Alpha Iota sister was not an option for Dr. Hess during her collegiate years. However, her mother was initiated into SAI at the University of Cincinnati, and later became president during her time there. Dr. Hess told the story passionately, how when she mentioned her initiation to her mom, her mother's reply was an instant: "We're sisters!" Which is exactly how the sisters of SAI's Michigan State Alpha Lambda Chapter feel. We're elated to announce the newest addition to our Sisterhood. Our sisters are inspired by the work that Dr. Hess has contributed, and will contribute, to the music and academic community. — Submitted by: Anna Krupka, Treasurer, Alpha Lambda Chapter Friend of the Arts Dr. Julie Hess and members of the Alpha Lambda Chapter at Michigan State University. Creating a Space of Understanding Culture Through Music

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