Ledgerwood Presents at Boston University Symposium

In every field of study, there is give and take between the professionals of that field. They exchange ideas with each other, and interact with the theories put forth by the great minds of the past. It is an ongoing conversation, spanning the history of discovery and learning.

 

Dr. David Ledgerwood recently received the opportunity to add his own extensive research in music education to that conversation. Ledgerwood, the Chair of MBU’s Music Department, received his DMA in Music Education from Boston University; the University subsequently extended him an invitation to present his research on Musical homeschooling at their second annual Conversation symposium. Conversation exists as a venue for current students and faculty to present their findings on various topics relating to a myriad of fields, including Society, Economy, Medicine, Science, Arts, and Education.

 

Dr. Ledgerwood participated specifically in the music education track. The week-long presentation for music teachers features graduates, members of the DMA class, and Boston University’s music education faculty. From this venue, Ledgerwood was able to recount his findings to fellow music teachers, some of whom hold teaching positions worldwide.

 

In his workshop, Ledgerwood gave a summary of his doctoral dissertation entitled Musical Homeschoolers in Southern Wisconsin. His purpose was, “to provide academia a window into the educational and musical lives of homeschooling families and to encourage rigor in the homeschooling community.” He explored the effect of parental control on the motivation of the child, looked at how the family worked their schedule around music, and which styles of music they allowed. Ledgerwood was even able to study how one mother used music to work with her daughter, whom she suspected of having ADHD.

 

The opportunity was, in a sense, a dream come true for Ledgerwood. “One of the goals I had in writing my dissertation was to give academia a window or picture into homeschooling,” he reiterated.  “The opportunity to present my research in various conferences, including the one in Boston, to a group of people largely unfamiliar with homeschooling, was the realization of a long sought goal.”