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Date Available
1-20-2026
Year of Publication
2026
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Music (MM)
College
Fine Arts
Department/School/Program
Music
Faculty
Olivia Swedberg Yinger
Faculty
Martina Vasil
Abstract
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) is an increasingly popular group of non-classical musical styles. Music therapists need to know how to sing a wide variety of CCM genres authentically, yet little information exists on effectively teaching vocal CCM techniques to music therapists. The purpose of this study was to conduct a scoping review on CCM singing instruction and to synthesize implications for music therapists. I used EBSCOhost and ProQuest to search for reports in English published after 2002 containing the terms “Contemporary Commercial Music” or “CCM,” and variations of the term “sing.” I identified 26 reports that met inclusion criteria, including journal articles, books, theses/dissertations, conference abstracts and interviews, primarily consisting of expert opinions about CCM vocal instruction. Results indicated that most teachers of CCM were voice teachers and vocal pedagogues (n = 23) and that they most frequently taught jazz, pop, rock, musical theater, and country. Included reports revealed an emphasis on basic vocal technique, using one’s full vocal range, considering the original context of a specific song, differentiating instruction for students, and a focus on teacher preparation and development. In synthesizing the data for music therapists, I propose a new theoretical model called the System of INstructional Guidelines for Music Education (SING for ME) model focused on the learning process of CCM voice instruction for music therapists. Through this model, I explain how tutors provide differentiated instruction to learners, using specific music repertoire to achieve learning outcomes. The model also emphasizes the importance of professional development for tutors and the necessity to understand sociocultural contexts within which learning occurs.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.09
Archival?
Archival
Recommended Citation
Lawwill, John A., "CONTEMPORARY COMMERCIAL MUSIC: A SCOPING REVIEW WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR MUSIC THERAPY PRACTICE" (2026). Theses and Dissertations--Music. 288.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/music_etds/288
