About

Dr. Eila Peterson

Full-time Instructor of Music, Music Theory, Aural Skills

P: 780-465-8326
Education
  • Ph.D, Music Education, Northwestern University, 2002
  • M.Mus, Music Education, University of Calgary, 1986
  • B. Ed, University of Western Ontario, 1979
  • B. Mus, Honours Music Education, 1978
  • A. Mus. (Clarinet - Performer), Western Ontario Conservatory of Music, 1978

Biography

Eila Peterson is serving as a sessional instructor of Music Education, Theory and Aural Skills. Her background both in music and teaching is diverse, with performing experience on several brass, woodwind and percussion instruments. Recognized nationally as an expert in musicianship training (aural skills) within a Kodály context, she serves on the board of the Alberta Kodály Association as an Advisor, on the board of the Kodály Society of Canada as Coordinating Editor, and has presented at conferences in P.E.I., Nova Scotia, Ontario, Indiana, Alberta, and B.C. 

Eila has also adjudicated Band and Brass/Woodwind classes music festivals in 4 provinces to date.  She is a conductor with Festival City Winds Music Society, a community band organization in Edmonton, and plays trombone in the brass quintet Five of a Kind.

Eila has taught at the University of Alberta,  the University of Calgary, Northwestern University, Keyano College, and the University of P.E.I. Prior to her post-secondary teaching, she taught music and other subjects from grades 1-12 in the Alberta school system, as well as early childhood music classes.

Her doctoral research links music cognition with music philosophy to investigate the creative dimension of music listening.  More recently she has focused on music cognition as it applies to music literacy.

Selected Publications

2021 “Harmonia Mundi: a musical journey through time and space.”  Alla Breve, Vol. 45, Apr. 2021.  pp. 32-35.

2008-2014 Coordinating Editor, Alla Breve, (Kodály Society of Canada) Vol. 32, No. 2 to present.  Also contributor for Musicianship series, incl. “An Approach to Rhythm Pedagogy” Vol 33. No. 2.

2008 “Musicianship: Variations on Tonic Solfa” Alla Breve, Vol. 32, No. 1

2006 “Creativity in Music Listening” Arts Education Policy Review, Jan/Feb 2006, Vol. 107, No. 3

2005 Basics of Musical Structure at the Keyboard. An instructional manual for keyboard harmony at the post-secondary level.  Audigraph Music, Edmonton, AB.

2005 “Listening Creatively.”  Bulletin of the International Kodály Society,  Spring 2005, Vol. 30, no. 1.  pp. 3-9.

2004 “Music Listening as a Creative Activity.”  paper presented at the MENC National Conference, Creativity Special Research Interest Group Session, Minneapolis, MN

2002 “Beginning Recorders:  bridging the gap from vocal to instrumental general music.”  Music Alberta Magazine, Summer 2002, Vol. 3, No. 4.