Joanne Rutkowski

Joanne Rutkowski, Professor Emerita at The Pennsylvania State University, has expertise in early childhood and elementary general music. Her research, focused on the nature of children's singing voices, has been presented at international and national conferences and published in numerous journals and books. She held leadership and editorial positions with The International Society for Music Education and the Early Childhood Music Education Commission (ISME/ECME), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Early Childhood Music and Movement Association (ECMMA), and The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA). Joanne was the music advisor for the children’s television series, “Pinkalicious and Peterrific”, produced by WGBH. In 2018 she was ECMMA’s Hall of Honor inductee. Joanne currently serves on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Music in Early Childhood and is a frequent reviewer for a variety of other journals and publications.

• Ph.D., University at Buffalo
• M.F.A., University at Buffalo
• B.M., Miami University (OH)

• Early Childhood Music and Movement Association (ECMMA) Hall of Honor, 2018

Articles published in refereed journals

Weimer, K. & Rutkowski, J. (2023). Making musical connections: Developing healthy and expressive singing instrumentalists. The Music Educators Journal, 109(4), 42-50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002743...

Rutkowski, J. & Kooistra, L.K. (2021). The validity and efficacy of Spheres of Musical Understanding: A fluid, situational and context-specific model. International Journal of Music in Early Childhood, 16(1), 37-49. https://doi.org/10.1386/ijmec_...

McCarthy, M., Madura, P, Rutkowski, J., & Nichols, J. (2020). A historical study of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) Music Education Group, 1965-2015. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 224, 28-45.

Rutkowski, J. (2019). Investigation of the effect of a male singing model on kindergarten children’s use of singing voice achievement. International Journal of Music in Early Childhood, 14(2), 167-180. doi: 10.1386/ijmec_00003_1

Rutkowski, J. (2017). Helping all children learn to sing (with activities). Media Journal in Music Education, Volume 1. www.mjme.net. Republication of original work in www.musicedseries.org

Rutkowski, J. (2017). “The nature of young children’s singing voices: Why some children don’t sing in tune” Media Journal in Music Education, Volume 1. www.mjme.net. Republication of original work in www.musicedseries.org

Rutkowski, J. (2015). The relationship between children’s use of singing voice and singing accuracy. Music Perception, Special Issue, 32(3), 283-292.

Demorest, S., Dalla Bella, S., Hutchins, S., Loui, P., Pfordresher, P., Rutkowski, J., & Welch, G. (2015). Methodological perspectives on singing accuracy: An introduction to the special issue on singing accuracy (Part 2) (Music Perception, Special Issue, 32(3), 227-231.

Demorest, S., Dalla Bella, S., Hutchins, S., Loui, P., Pfordresher, P., Rutkowski, J., & Welch, G. (2015). Theoretical perspectives on singing accuracy: An introduction to the special issue on singing accuracy (Part 1). Music Perception, Special Issue, 32(3), 266-271.

Rutkowski, J. (2013). Kindergarten children's use of singing voice achievement and developmental music aptitude in the context of informal music instruction. ECMMA Perspectives, 8(2), 6-11.

Rutkowski, J. & Hsee, Y.F. (2009). An old dog learns new tricks: Re-evaluating beliefs about music education for young children. Invited submission to The Mountain Lake Reader, 4, 24-29. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Rutkowski, J. & Miller, M.S. (2003). A longitudinal study of elementary children’s acquisition of their singing voices. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 22(1), 5-14. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Rutkowski, J. & Miller, M.S. (2003). The effect of teacher feedback and modeling on first graders' use of singing voice and developmental music aptitude. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 156, 1-10. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Rutkowski, J. & Miller, M.S. (2003). The effectiveness of frequency of instruction and individual/small group singing activities on first graders' use of singing voice and developmental music aptitude. Contributions to Music Education, 30(1), 23-38. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”) Funded by a Penn State College of Arts and Architecture Faculty Research Grant

Rutkowski, J. (2002). An investigation of pre-school children’s aural recognition of a familiar melody. Early Childhood Connections: Journal of Music- and Movement-Based Learning, 8(4), 36-42.

Rutkowski, J. & Chen-Haftek, L. (2001). The singing voice within every child: A cross-cultural comparison of first graders’ use of singing voice Early Childhood Connections: Journal of Music-and Movement-Based Learning, 7(1), 37-42. Also requested for reprint in China Music Education. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Rutkowski, J. (1998). The nature of children’s singing voices. Canadian Music Educator, 40(3), 43-47. Paper reprinted from Sharing the Voices: The Phenomenon of Singing. Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada; 1998: Proceedings of the International Symposium, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, June 20-23, 1997 (pp. 201-209). (also listed under “Works Published in Symposium Proceedings and Presentations”)

Rutkowski, J. (1996). Effectiveness of individual/small group singing activities on kindergarten children's use of singing voice and developmental music aptitude. Journal of Research in Music Education, 44(4), 353-368. Reprinted in Investigacao em Psicologia da Musica, December 2007 (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”) (Funded by a Penn State College of Arts and Architecture Faculty Research Grant and a Penn State Research Initiation Grant).

Rutkowski, J. (1994). A comparison of adolescents' in-school and out-of-school music experiences and involvement. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 13(1), 17-22.

Rutkowski, J., Fisher, A., & Shelley, D. (1992). The relationship between pre-service elementary education majors' music experience/preference and their achievement in a music course for the elementary classroom teacher. Pennsylvania Music Educators' Association: Bulletin of Research in Music Education, 17, 19-27. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Rutkowski, J. (1990). The measurement and evaluation of children's singing voice development. The Quarterly: Center for Research in Music Learning and Teaching, 1(1-2), 81-95. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Rutkowski, J. (1989). Rebuttal. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 100, 49-53. (Invited contribution)

Rutkowski, J. (1989). By invitation: "The problem singer: What does research suggest? Part II: Song materials and remediation strategies". General Music Today, 2(3), 24-29.

Rutkowski, J. (1989). The problem singer: What does research suggest? Part I: The nature of the problem. General Music Today, 2(2), 19-32. By invitation

Rutkowski, J. (1985). Final results of a longitudinal study investigating the validity of Cooksey's theory for training the adolescent male voice. Pennsylvania Music Educators' Association: Bulletin of Research in Music Education, 15, 3-10. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Rutkowski, J. (1985). The child voice: An historical perspective. Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, 6(1), 1-15, by invitation. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Articles published in non-refereed journals

Rutkowski, J. (October 2019). The Seattle Singing Accuracy Protocol. Column in the NAfME Learning and Development Special Research Interest Group (SRIG) Newsletter, By invitation

Rutkowski, J. (2018). Research sessions at the PMEA conferences: A 30-year retrospective. Research Column for the PMEA News, 83(2), 48-51. By invitation.

Rutkowski, J. (2003). Did You Know This?!?! An overview of research presented at the PMEA conference, Research Column for the PMEA News.

Rutkowski, J. (2001). Exploring the many voices of children. Kindermusik Notes, February/March, 1-2. By invitation

Rutkowski, J. (1988, March). An investigation of the relationship of major and minor tonalities with the extramusical emotions of happy and sad. Pennsylvania Music Educators Association News, 20-23. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Rutkowski, J. (1985, March). Helping the non-singer in a classroom setting: What techniques really work?" Pennsylvania Music Educators' Association News, 42-43. By invitation. (Reprinted in Ohio Music Educators' Association: General Music Journal, Fall 1985, pp. 13-15.)

Rutkowski, J. (1983). Choosing elementary choral literature: What factors should I consider? Choral Cues, December, 8.

Rutkowski, J. (1981). The junior high school male changing voice: Testing and grouping voices for successful singing experiences. The Choral Journal, December, 11-15.

Articles published in symposium proceedings

Nelson, P. & Rutkowski, J. (2019). An action research study to investigate preservice music teachers’ ability to assess children’s singing using the Singing Voice Development Measure”. In T. Brophy (Ed.), Proceedings of The Seventh International Symposium on Assessment in Music Education. Chicago: GIA Publications, Inc. (Also listed under “Research/Scholarly Presentations”)

Rutkowski, J. (2010). The Singing Voice Development Measure: Assessing children’s use of singing voice in the elementary general music classroom. In T. Brophy (Ed.), Proceedings of The Second International Symposium on Assessment in Music Education – The Practice of Assessment in Music Education: Frameworks, Models, and Designs. Chicago: GIA Publications, Inc. (Also listed under “Presentations, Guest Lectures, Visiting Professorships”)

Hewitt, J., Rutkowski, J., Taggart, C. & Weaver, M. (2009). Preparing teacher educators: A panel discussion of best practices. In M. Schmidt (Ed.), Collaborative Action for Change: Selected Proceedings from the 2007 Symposium on Music Teacher Education. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. (Also listed under “Presentations, Guest Lectures, Visiting Professorships”)

Rutkowski, J. & Hedden, S. (2007). A history of the Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music Education. Invited submission to Proceedings of the Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music Education, 15-31. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Hsee, Y.F. & Rutkowski, J. (2006). Vygotsky’s scaffolding in music lessons for preschoolers. In L. Southers (Ed.). Touched By Musical Discovery; Disciplinary and Cultural Perspectives, Proceedings of the ISME Early Childhood Commission 2006 Conference.

Rutkowski, J. (2004). Issue reaction: Honors theses in the creative and performing arts". In Innovations in Undergraduate Research and Honors Education: Proceedings of the Schreyer National Conference, pp. 51-52. Published by the National Collegiate Honors Council.

Rutkowski, J., Chen-Haftek, L. & Gluschankof, C. (2002). Children’s vocal connections: A cross-cultural study of the relationship between first graders’ use of singing voice and their speaking ranges. In Children’s Musical Connections: Proceedings of the 2002 ISME Early Childhood Commission Conference. ISBN 87-7701-949-0, Danish University of Education, Copenhagen, Denmark. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Rutkowski, J., Campbell, D. & Miller, M.S. (2002). The ‘6^th grade singing slump’: Continuation of a longitudinal investigation. In Proceedings from the 2001 Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music Education. University of Arizona, pp. 99-111. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Rutkowski, J. (1998). The nature of children’s singing voices: Characteristics and assessment. In Sharing the Voices: The Phenomenon of Singing. Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada: Proceedings of the International Symposium, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, June 20-23, 1997, pp.201-209. (Supported by a grant from The Pennsylvania State University Office of International Programs, International Partnerships and Academic Linkages (also listed under “Articles Published in Refereed Journals and Presentations”)

Rutkowski, J. (1991). Response to 'Policy Development in Arts Education for Early Childhood Programs’. In A. Barresi (Ed.). Policy Issues in Music Education; a Report of the Proceedings of the Robert Petzold Symposium, Music Education "Committee for Institutional Cooperation" Conference. The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music. (also listed under “Research/Scholarly Papers Presented”)

Rutkowski, J. (1984). Two-year results of a longitudinal study investigating the validity of Cooksey's theory for training the adolescent male voice. In M. Runfola and L. Bash (Eds.), Proceedings of the Research Symposium on the Male Adolescent Voice. Buffalo, NY: University of Buffalo Music Department, pp. 86-96.

Books

Runfola, M. & Rutkowski, J. (2010). TIPS: The Child Voice (2^nd edition). Lantham, MD: Rowan Littlefield Publishing Group.

Rutkowski, J. & Runfola, J. (1997). TIPS: The Child Voice. Reston, VA: Music Educators National Conference.

Chapters in books

Rutkowski, J. (2019). Assessment of singing voice development. In T. Brophy (Ed.), Handbook of Assessment Practice and Policy in Music Education (pp. 629-651). New York: Oxford University Press. Invited author

Rutkowski, J. (2018). Development and pedagogy of children’s singing. In A. Reynolds and S. Burton (Eds.), Engaging Musical Practices: A Sourcebook for Elementary General Music. Lantham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, pp. 33-50. Invited author

Rutkowski, J., Thompson, K.P. & Huang, Y. (2011). Cited quantitative research articles in music education research journals, 1990-2005: A content analysis of selected studies. In P. Madura (Ed.), Advances in Social-Psychology and Music Education Research, the SEMPRE Studies in the Psychology of Music series. Farnham, UK: Ashgate Publishing.

Rutkowski, J. (2006). Tapas: Balanced vocal and musical nourishment for young singers. In A.J. Gumm (Ed.), The Choral Director’s Cookbook, pp. 93-94. Galesville, MD: Meredith Music Publications.

Rutkowski, J. (2005). Music learning theory and Gordon’s curricular model in teacher education”. In C. Taggart & M. Runfola (Eds). The Development and Practical Applications of Music Learning Theory, pp. 327-344. Chicago: GIA Publications, Inc. Invited author

Rutkowski, J. & Trollinger, V. (2005). Experiences: Singing. In J. Flohr (Ed.) The Musical Lives of Young Children, pp. 78-97. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Music Education Series. Invited lead author

Rutkowski, J. (2003). Choral warm-ups for young singers. Contributions for Choral Warm-ups, Sally K. Albrecht, Editor; Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing Company.

Rutkowski, J. & Dansereau, D. (2002). Early childhood music educators. Entry for Women and Music in America since 1900: An Encyclopedia, pp. 163-166. Westport, CT: An Oryx Book, Greenwood Press. Invited author

Rutkowski, J. (1993). Music in the lives of adolescents: A comparison of in-school and out-of-school experiences. In R. Lerner (Ed.) Early Adolescence: Perspectives on Research, Policy, and Intervention, pp. 221-238. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Runfola, M. & Rutkowski, J. (1992). Schools/curriculum: General music curriculum. In R. Colwell (Ed.) Handbook of Research in Music Teaching and Learning, pp. 697-709. An MENC project published by Schirmer Books. Invited author

Current Professional Service

• Editorial Board member:
  International Journal of Music in Early Childhood
  PMEA News
• Invited reviewer for manuscripts submitted to:
  International Journal of Music Education
  Music Perception
  Psychology of Music
  Oxford University Press

Membership in Professional Organizations

• ISME (International Society for Music Education)
• NAfME (The National Association for Music Education)
• PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association)
• ECMMA (Early Childhood Music and Movement Association)
• GIML (Gordon Institute for Music Learning)

Community Service

• Board President, The Music Academy, State College PA