Associate Professor Diana Blom

Associate Professor Diana Blom

Associate Professor,
Music & MCMT

Biography

Diana Blom is Associate Professor, Music, in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts. Current research interests focus on music education, tertiary performance (assessing group performance, collaboration, interpretation); preferences for, responses to, and descriptions of, music; the relationship between music and words in the musical; music and ANZAC war commemoration; and how arts practitioners working in academia view their practice as research. As a composer and performer (harpsichord and piano), she engages in practice-led research and in 2011 received an APRA/AMCOS music award, with Dawn Bennett, for a project of newly composed viola and piano music, Australia East & West. In 2011 she was a member of a team awarded an ALTC Innovation and Development Grant into 'e-Portfolios for creative arts students'. Recent publications in several journals, including Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, Higher Education Research & Development, International Journal of Education and the Arts, International Journal of Music Education, have resulted from several of these research interests. She is co-author, with Matthew Hindson and Damian Barbeler, of Music Composition Toolbox (Science Press), a composition text for secondary and lower tertiary students. Diana is a composer, represented by the Australian Music Centre and SOUNZ, published by Wirripang Pty. Ltd., Orpheus Music and Wai-te-ata Music Press, and a performer on harpsichord, piano and toy piano. Recent publications include 'Triptych', settings of war letters; The Cat's Meow for acoustic piano and CD soundbed, a collaborative composition with Adrian Barr (score and CD published by Wirripang Pty. Ltd., 2011). Her work for solo piano, The Travelling Chinese Orchestra, was selected for performance at the 2010 International Society for Contemporary Music, World New Music Days. Ball Games, Squash, Table Tennis, Basketball, were published in 'Wirripang Australian Piano Anthology 2011', Book One, Grades 1-4, in 2011. The Muffin Fiend, a children's opera, was performed at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in 2016. Diana has an interest in Australian writers and has written many songs, setting to music words of David Malouf, Helen Garner, Jocelyn Ortt-Saeed, Tim Malfroy, Robyn Ravlich, Lloyd Jones, Fiona Kidman, Kerri Hulme, Judith Wright, Jennifer Rumsey and Peter Goldsworthy.

This information has been contributed by Associate Professor Blom.

Qualifications

  • PhD University of Sydney
  • MA University of Michigan
  • MMus University of Sydney
  • BMus University of Canterbury (NZ)

Organisational Unit (School / Division)

  • Music & MCMT

Contact

Email: D.Blom@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone: (02) 47360 164
Mobile:
Location: C.G.22
Penrith (Kingswood)

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Publications

Books

  • Encarnacao, J. and Blom, D. (2020), 'Teaching and Evaluating Music Performance at University: Beyond the Conservatory Model', : Routledge 9781138505919.

Chapters in Books

  • Encarnacao, J. and Blom, D. (2020), 'Teaching and evaluating music performance at university : a twenty-first century landscape', Teaching and Evaluating Music Performance at University: Beyond the Conservatory Model, Routledge 9781138505919.
  • Blom, D. and Strickland, R. (2020), 'Reassessing what we call music : investigating undergraduate music student response to avant-garde music of the 1960s-early 70s through performing Annea Lockwood's "Piano Burning"', Teaching and Evaluating Music Performance at University: Beyond the Conservatory Model, Routledge 9781138505919.
  • Stevenson, I. and Blom, D. (2020), 'The iPad Orkestra ensemble : creative and collaborative learning', Teaching and Evaluating Music Performance University: Beyond the Conservatory Model, Routledge 9781138505919.
  • Blom, D., Smyly, B. and Encarnacao, J. (2020), 'Back to the future : a role for 1960s improvisatory scores in the 21st century university music performance program', Teaching and Evaluating Music Performance at University: Beyond the Conservatory Model, Routledge 9781138505919.
  • McPhee, E. and Blom, D. (2020), 'Engaging music performance students in practice-led reflective essay writing and video/recording analysis', Teaching and Evaluating Music Performance at University: Beyond the Conservatory Model, Routledge 9781138505919.
  • Barr, A. and Blom, D. (2020), 'Curriculum as catalyst : from rock guitarist to transcendent improvisation', Teaching and Evaluating Music Performance at University: Beyond the Conservatory Model, Routledge 9781138505919.
  • Blom, D. and Hitchcock, M. (2017), 'Perceived usefulness and relevance of ePortfolios in the creative arts : investigating student views', ePortfolios in Australian Universities, Springer 9789811017315.
  • Blom, D. (2016), 'Using intercultural-historical autoethnographic writing to research a composer's story within an Australian-Asian compositional aesthetic', The Routledge International Handbook of Intercultural Arts Research, Routledge 9781138909939.
  • Blom, D., Stevenson, I. and Encarnacao, J. (2015), 'Assessing music performance process and outcome through a rubric : ways and means', Assessment in Music Education: From Policy to Practice, Springer 9783319102733.
  • Blom, D. (2014), 'Developing collaborative creativity in university music performance students through paired essay writing', Developing Creativities in Higher Music Education: International Perspectives and Practices, Routledge 9780415709941.
  • Blom, D. (2008), 'Teaching class-based music performance at tertiary level: Focusing theory on practice', Inside Outside Downside Up - conservatoire training and musicians' work, Black Swan Press 9780975751961.
  • Blom, D. and Bishoff, A. (2008), 'Creating 'a very fulfilled and wonderful piece': Asia-Pacific Musics as an Impetus for upper primary class composition', Music of the Spirit: Asian-Pacific Musical Identity, Australian Music Centre 9780909168650.
  • Blom, D. and Edwards, R. (2006), 'Preparing Ross Edwards' Kumari for performance: conceptual planning', Intercultural Music: Creation and Interpretation, Australian Music Centre 9780909168605.

Journal Articles

  • Arthur, P., Khuu, S. and Blom, D. (2021), 'Visual processing abilities associated with piano music sight-reading expertise', Psychology of Music, vol 49, no 4 , pp 1006 - 1016.
  • Blom, D. and Hanrahan, K. (2021), ''Time', a modern folksong in the age of COVID', Global Media Journal: Australian Edition, vol 15, no 1 .
  • Blom, D., Bennett, D. and Stevenson, I. (2020), 'Developing a framework for the analysis of program notes written for contemporary classical music concerts', Frontiers in Psychology, vol 11 .
  • Arthur, P., McPhee, E. and Blom, D. (2020), 'Determining what expert piano sight-readers have in common', Music Education Research, vol 22, no 4 , pp 447 - 456.
  • Blom, D. (2020), 'Drawing texture with the toy piano', Revista Vortex, vol 8, no 2 .
  • MacRitchie, J., Zicari, M. and Blom, D. (2018), 'Identifying challenges and opportunities for student composer and performer peer learning through newly-composed classical piano scores', British Journal of Music Education, vol 35, no 2 , pp 153 - 175.
  • Blom, D. and Bennett, D. (2017), 'The artistic research teaching employability nexus : expanding the nexus to students', NiTRO: Non Traditional Research Outcomes, vol August 17 .
  • Bennett, D., Rowley, J., Dunbar-Hall, P., Hitchcock, M. and Blom, D. (2016), 'Electronic portfolios and learner identity : an ePortfolio case study in music and writing', Journal of Further and Higher Education, .
  • Blom, D., Bennett, D. and Stevenson, I. (2016), 'The composer's program note for newly written classical music : content and intentions', Frontiers in Psychology, vol 7 .
  • Arthur, P., Khuu, S. and Blom, D. (2016), 'Music sight-reading expertise, visually disrupted score and eye movements', Journal of Eye Movement Research, vol 9, no 7 , pp 1 - 11.
  • Blom, D. (2016), 'Exploring the interpretative platform : composer and pianist thinking on Greenbaum's First Light', Australian Journal of Music Education, vol 50, no 1 , pp 39 - 52.
  • Arthur, P., Khuu, S. and Blom, D. (2016), 'A preliminary study : is the metronome harmful or helpful?', Australian Journal of Music Education, vol 50, no 2 , pp 71 - 82.
  • Viney, L. and Blom, D. (2015), 'Preparing stylistically challenging contemporary classical repertoire for performance : interpreting Kumari', International Journal of Music Education, vol 33, no 1 , pp 66 - 79.
  • Blom, D. and Poole, K. (2015), 'Presage : what knowledge and experience higher education songwriting students bring to the classroom', IASPM@Journal, vol 5, no 1 , pp 157 - 180.
  • Blom, D., Rowley, J., Bennett, D., Hitchcock, M. and Dunbar-Hall, P. (2014), 'Knowledge sharing : exploring institutional policy and educator practice through eportfolios in music and writing', Electronic Journal of e-Learning, vol 12, no 2 , pp 138 - 148.
  • Rowley, J., Bennett, D., Blom, D. and Dunbar-Hall, P. (2014), 'Exploring the pedagogy and impact of technology on ePortfolio creation for arts students in Australian tertiary study', UAE Journal of Educational Technology and eLearning, vol 5 , pp 36 - 45.
  • Blom, D. (2012), 'Inside the collaborative inter-arts improvisatory process : tertiary music students' perspectives', Psychology of Music, vol 40, no 6 , pp 720 - 737.
  • Blom, D. and Encarnacao, J. (2012), 'Student-chosen criteria for peer assessment of tertiary rock groups in rehearsal and performance : what's important?', British Journal of Music Education, vol 29, no 1 , pp 25 - 43.
  • Blom, D., Bennett, D. and Wright, D. (2011), 'How artists working in academia view artistic practice as research : implications for tertiary music education', International Journal of Music Education, vol 29, no 4 , pp 359 - 373.
  • Wright, D., Bennett, D. and Blom, D. (2010), 'The interface between arts practice and research : attitudes and perceptions of Australian artist-academics', Higher Education Research and Development, vol 29, no 4 , pp 461 - 473.
  • Bennett, D., Wright, D. and Blom, D. (2010), 'The artistic practice-research-training (ART) nexus : translating the information flow', Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, vol 7, no 2 .
  • Bennett, D., Wright, D. and Blom, D. (2009), 'Artist academics: performing the Australian research agenda', International Journal of Education & the Arts, vol 10, no 7 , pp 1 - 15.
  • Blom, D. (2006), 'Beyond the cover version: encouraging student performers to produce original interpretations of popular songs', International Journal of Music Education, vol 24, no 2 , pp 159 - 167.
  • Blom, D. and Poole, K. (2004), 'Peer assessment of tertiary music performance: opportunities for understanding performance assessment and performing through experience and self-reflection', British Journal of Music Education, vol 21 , pp 111 - 125.
  • Blom, D. (2003), 'Engaging students with a contemporary music - minimalism - through composing activities: Teachers' Approcahces, Strategies, and Roles', International Journal of Music Education, vol 40 , pp 81 - 99.
  • Biernoff, L. and Blom, D. (2002), 'Non-Western Ensembles: Crossing Boundaries and Creating Interstices in Cross-Cultural Educational Contexts', Research Studies in Music Education, vol 19 , pp 22 - 31.

Conference Papers

  • Blom, D. (2022), 'Creation and re-creation in university music performance teaching', ISME Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician. International Seminar, Online.
  • Blom, D. (2020), 'Peer learning through evaluation of stylistically diverse performing groups : knowledge and inclusion', International Seminar of the ISME Commission on the Education of the Professional Musician, online.
  • Viney, L. and Blom, D. (2020), 'The academic as artist : inclusive artistic practice as pedagogical model', International Seminar of the ISME Commission on the Education of the Professional Musician, online.
  • Blom, D. and Brown, J. (2019), 'Commencing a Bachelor of Music degree : career aspirations and the student musician identity', International Seminar of the ISME Commission on the Education of the Professional Musician, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
  • Blom, D. (2019), 'Identity and career/further education thinking of three Indigenous Australian technical college music students', International Seminar of the ISME Commission on the Education of the Professional Musician, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
  • Blom, D. (2016), 'Supervision as leadership in the combined practice-theoretical higher degree thesis', ISME Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician. International Seminar, St. Andrews, Scotland.
  • Bennett, D. and Blom, D. (2014), 'The program note as creative knowledge and skills : shaping a collaborative interpretation of newly composed music', ISME Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician. International Seminar, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
  • Blom, D. and Hitchcock, M. (2014), 'ePortfolios : a technologically-assisted learning platform for the professional musician', ISME Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician. International Seminar, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
  • Rowley, J., Bennett, D. and Blom, D. (2014), 'ePortfolios in the teaching of music and other creative and performing arts in four Australian universities', International Society for Music Education. World Conference, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
  • Bennett, D. and Blom, D. (2014), 'Pinching (or taking back) ideas from popular music : placing the concept album in contemporary classical music', IASPM-ANZ (Organisation). Conference, Brisbane, Qld..
  • Blom, D., Rowley, J., Bennett, D., Hitchcock, M. and Dunbar-Hall, P. (2013), 'Two-way impact : institutional e-learning policy/educator practices in creative arts through ePortfolio creation', European Conference on e-Learning, Sophia Antipolis, France.
  • Bennett, D. and Blom, D. (2013), 'Collaborative understandings in the preparation of a new work for viola and piano', International Symposium on Performance Science, Vienna, Austria.
  • Blom, D., Stevenson, I. and Encarnacao, J. (2012), 'The assessment rubric as institutional culture : evaluating creative music processes and outcomes at undergraduate level', ISME Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician. International Seminar, Athens, Greece.
  • Blom, D. and Encarnacao, J. (2012), 'Assessing undergraduate jazz and rock group music-making : adding to the classic(al) recipe', International Society for Music Education. World Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece.
  • Blom, D. and Encarnacao, J. (2012), 'What does jazz group assessment offer the undergraduate music environment?', International Conference on Popular Music Studies, Grahamestown, S.A..
  • Blom, D., Van Niekerk, C. and Muranda, R. (2012), 'Your silence can seriously damage someone's health : getting Zimbabwe protest songs heard', International Conference on Popular Music Studies, Grahamestown, S.A..
  • Hannan, M. and Blom, D. (2012), 'The role of popular songwriting in three Australian tertiary music curricula : different strokes for different folks?', ISME Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician. International Seminar, Athens, Greece.
  • Blom, D. and Encarnacao, J. (2010), 'Peer assessment of tertiary group music-making: vocational training?', International Society for Music Education, Education of the Professional Musician, Shanghai, China.
  • Blom, D. and Viney, L. (2010), 'Preparing a stylistically unfamiliar piano work for performance: Practice-led writing on Ross Edwards's Kumari' http://issuu.com/official_isme/docs/2010_ceprom_proceedings?viewMode=magazine&mode=embed', International Society for Music Education - Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician, Shanghai, China.
  • Blom, D. and Encarnacao, J. (2010), ''Valuing group interaction: student chosen assessment criteria in tertiary popular music education'', What's it worth? 'Value and Popular Music - International Association for the Study of Popular Music, Auckland.
  • Blom, D., Bennett, D. and Wright, D. (2010), 'Arts practice as a site of knowledge/research: An Australian perspective of the artist in academia.', 29th World Conference of the International Society for Music Education, Beijing, China.
  • Blom, D. and Van Niekerk, C. (2010), 'Singing for social change: O Zimbabwe!', 29th World Conference of the International Society for Music Education, Beijing, China.
  • Blom, D. and Viney, L. (2010), 'Practice-led research in practice: two pianists' preparation processes of Ross Edwards's Kumari for public performance & recording', Il Est Bel et Bon: Music Education Research - ANZARME and MERC, Akaroa, New Zealand.
  • Blom, D. and Viney, L. (2009), 'Practice-led research in practice: two pianists' preparation processes of Ross Edward's Kumari for public performance & recording', Australian and New Zealand Association for Research in Music Education, Akaroa, NZ.
  • Bennett, D., Wright, D. and Blom, D. (2009), 'Modulating into a new research environment: an Australian case study of artist academics', New Zealand National Music Education Conference, Christchurch, NZ.
  • Blom, D., Wright, D. and Bennett, D. (2008), 'The artist as academic : arts practice as a site of knowledge', ISME 2008 - International Society for Music Education World Conference -17th International Seminar, Italy.
  • Blom, D., Bennett, D. and Wright, D. (2008), 'The artist as academic : arts practice as research/as a site of knowledge', Australian and New Zealand Association for Research in Music Education, Melbourne.
  • Blom, D. (2004), 'Music students in collaboration with theatre and dance - sound worlds to create and share', International Society for Music Education, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Exhibitions

  • 2019, 'New Art Song of the Pacific Rim'
  • 2013, 'Three New Music for Viola and Piano'
  • 2012, 'Noelene Lucas: After the Rain (a video installation by Noeline Lucas. Music by Diana Blom)'

Other Publications

  • 2023, 'Songs of Grief & Sorrow: for Soprano and Piano', Published Work
  • 2022, 'Arcadelt's Bass for Recorder Quartet (Tr, 2T, B)', Published Work
  • 2022, 'Binary Star (Alpha Centauri): For Flute, Clarinet, Toy Piano, Violin and Cello', Published Work
  • 2022, 'Cool Grooves: for Solo Viola', Published Work
  • 2022, '17 Short Pieces of Instrumental Music recorded on CD Short Tracks', Recorded Work
  • 2021, 'Australian Animals for First Year Pianists: Elementary Towards First Grade', Published Work
  • 2021, 'Two Pieces for Flute and Piano', Published Work
  • 2021, 'Japanese Knitting: For Toy Piano and Three Knitting Needles', Published Work
  • 2020, 'Australia East and West: New Music for Viola and Piano by Australian composers', Recorded Work
  • 2020, 'Waltzing with Elling: For Viola and Piano', Published Work
  • 2020, 'Through Shadows : for Toy Piano', Published Work
  • 2020, 'Triptych (War Letters) : for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano and Bass Voices, Viola, Marimba/Percussion and Piano', Published Work
  • 2019, 'Drawing Inflorescence: for Solo Piano', Published Work
  • 2019, 'Portrait of America: for Tenor and Piano', Published Work
  • 2019, 'Playing with Fire: for Live Acoustic Piano and CD Soundbed', Published Work
  • 2019, 'Cat's Play: for Toy Piano, Castanet, Horn, Bell', Published Work
  • 2019, 'Playing with Fire', Recorded Work
  • 2018, 'New Art Song of the Pacific Rim', Recorded Work
  • 2018, 'Portrait of America', Recorded Work
  • 2018, 'Sonata Neoclassica', Published Work
  • 2017, 'After the Rain', Recorded Work
  • 2017, 'Braided River for 3 Midi Pianos', Recorded Work
  • 2017, 'Impromobile for Piano, Four Hands', Recorded Work
  • 2017, 'Earth Tones for toy piano', Recorded Work
  • 2017, 'Lady Huang's Album', Recorded Work
  • 2017, 'Landscape/Soundscape I for two grand pianos', Recorded Work
  • 2016, 'Frank Robinson: ANZAC Everyman', Published Work
  • 2016, 'Cloud Studies: Three Studies for Piano', Published Work
  • 2016, 'Smoke and Mirrors: For Tenor Saxophone and Marimba', Published Work
  • 2016, 'Remembrances Four', Recorded Work
  • 2016, 'Drawing Firewheels: For Piano and Toy Piano', Published Work
  • 2016, 'After the Rain: For Four Pianos', Published Work
  • 2016, 'Triptych (War Letters)', Recorded Work
  • 2016, 'Freefall: For Two Pianos', Published Work
  • 2016, 'Two Chinese Folk Songs', Published Work
  • 2016, 'The Ballad of the Canterbury Pilgrims: for Soprano, Tenor, Baritone and Piano', Published Work
  • 2015, 'Dance Set', Recorded Work
  • 2015, 'Three Walter de la Mare Songs', Recorded Work
  • 2015, 'The Muffin Fiend: A Children's Opera', Published Work
  • 2015, 'The Dark, the Light', Recorded Work
  • 2015, 'Remembering Babylon', Recorded Work
  • 2015, 'At the End of the World We Learn to Dance', Recorded Work
  • 2015, 'The Night Ship', Published Work
  • 2015, 'Calling the Cows : Seven Variations for Tenor Trombone on 'Guardame las vacas'', Published Work
  • 2015, 'Remembrances Four', Published Work
  • 2015, 'Variations for Solo Cello', Published Work
  • 2015, 'The Library', Recorded Work
  • 2014, 'The Blue Ice Cave', Recorded Work
  • 2014, 'The Blue Ice Cave', Published Work
  • 2014, 'Biffo in the Toy Box: Improvisation Frame for Toy Piano and Manual-wind Muic Box', Published Work
  • 2014, '...earth tones...', Published Work
  • 2013, 'Remembering Babylon : for tenor and piano', Published Work
  • 2013, 'The library : tenor and piano', Published Work
  • 2013, 'At the end of the world we learn to dance : for tenor and piano', Published Work
  • 2013, 'Cobweb farm', Published Work
  • 2013, 'Fearless dreams : for clarinet, cello and piano', Published Work
  • 2013, 'Dance set : song cycle', Published Work
  • 2013, 'Into the sun : for viola and piano', Published Work
  • 2012, 'The Travelling Chinese Orchestra on the CD Shadows and Silhouettes', Recorded Work
  • 2012, 'White rabbit climbs Mount Kosciusko', Published Work
  • 2011, 'Tango (February) solo piano', Published Work
  • 2011, 'Ball Games (Squash, Table tennis, Basketball)', Published Work
  • 2011, 'Five Green Songs', Published Work
  • 2011, 'The Cat's Meow on CD Childhood in Music - piano music played by Antonietta Loffredo', Recorded Work
  • 2011, 'Tango (September) performed by Jeanell Carrigan - CD called 'Skins'', Recorded Work
  • 2010, 'Genji (the shining prince) and the koto player - violin & piano', Published Work
  • 2010, 'The Cat's Meow - CD soundbed and acoustic piano - Diana Blom and Adrian Barr', Published Work
  • 2010, 'Walking with Bertie - recorder trio - in 'A Handful of Trios'', Published Work
  • 2010, 'The Travelling Chinese Orchestra', Published Work
  • 2010, 'Tango (September) - solo piano', Published Work
  • 2010, 'Lady Huang's Album - four pieces for double manual harpsichord', Published Work
  • 2010, 'The dark, the light - setting of short story by Helen Garner - long song for voice and piano', Published Work
  • 2010, 'The Ca Tru Singer - for bassoon and piano (pianist playing perucussion as well)', Published Work
  • 2010, 'Three Water Ballads of Tim Malfroy - poems by Tim Malfroy - voice and piano', Published Work
  • 2010, 'Clavichord - poem by Walter de la Mare - high voice and piano', Published Work
  • 2010, 'Walking deep under the sea - piano solo in 'Take Flight - Music from New Zealand for Intermediate Pianists', Published Work
  • 2009, 'Gong Agong', Published Work
  • 2009, 'Creative Explosion', Recorded Work
  • 2009, 'Modern Tango', Published Work
  • 2009, 'The Sun Rising', Published Work
  • 2009, 'Tango Waltz', Published Work
  • 2009, 'Two Heavenly Dances', Published Work
  • 2008, 'The Green Man Dances - piano duet', Published Work
  • 2008, 'Violin Sonata - Newgrass Bluegrass', Published Work
  • 2008, 'Composition for acoustic piano track "Gong Agong" for CD Unfenced. D. Blom as co-composer and pianist', Recorded Work
  • 2008, 'Three Poems of Walter de la Mare for voice and piano.', Published Work
  • 2008, 'The Whale's Song for cello and piano', Published Work
  • 2008, 'Recording of 'The Whale's Song' with DB as pianist. for CD titled Music of the Spirit', Recorded Work
  • 2007, 'The Green Man Dances - piano duet', Published Work
  • 2007, 'Three Poems of Walter de la Mare - for voice and piano', Published Work
  • 2007, 'Lute & Flute - for treble recorder & violoncello', Published Work
  • 2007, 'Cloud Studies for solo piano', Published Work
  • 2007, 'Tango Waltz for solo piano', Published Work
  • 2006, 'music recording by Blom of two pianos works', Recorded Work
  • 2006, 'Kumari', Recorded Work
  • 2006, 'Journeying - for recorder quartet', Published Work
  • 2005, 'Tango (September) (for solo piano)', Published Work
  • 2005, 'Violin Sonata - Newgrass Bluegrass (for violin and piano)', Published Work
  • 2004, 'Songs for Salome', Published Work
  • 2003, 'Nove Moderno', Published Work
  • 2002, 'Bebopaloobopawopbamboom', Published Work

Diana's current research interests focus on music education, tertiary performance (assessing group performance, collaboration, interpretation); student preferences for, responses to, and descriptions of, music; placement of melodic dissonance in the musical; how arts practitioners working in academia view their practice as research; and music and war.

As a composer and performer (harpsichord and piano), she engages in practice-led research and in 2011 received an APRA/AMCOS music award, with Dawn Bennett, for a project of newly composed viola and piano music, Australia East & West. In 2011 she was a member of a team awarded an ALTC Innovation and Development Grant into 'e-Portfolios for creative arts students'. Recent publications in several journals, including Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, Higher Education Research & Development, International Journal of Education and the Arts, International Journal of Music Education, have resulted from several of these research interests.

She is co-author, with Matthew Hindson and Damian Barbeler, of Music Composition Toolbox (Science Press), a composition text for secondary and lower tertiary students.

Diana is a composer, represented by the Australian Music Centre and SOUNZ, published by Wirripang Pty. Ltd. and Orpheus Music, and a performer on harpsichord and piano. Recent publications include The Cat's Meow for acoustic piano and CD soundbed, a collaboration with Adrian Barr, also released on CD (score and CD published by Wirripang Pty. Ltd., 2011). Her work for solo piano, The Travelling Chinese Orchestra, was selected for performance at the 2010 International Society for Contemporary Music, World New Music Days. She was awarded an ANZAC Centenary Local grant in 2015 for the project, War Letters - a concert of musical settings of letters from WWI.  . She has an interest in Australasian writers and has set to music words of David Malouf, Fiona Kidman, Kerri Hulme, Jennifer Rumsey, Helen Garner, Jocelyn Ortt-Saeed, Tim Malfroy, Robyn Ravlich, Lloyd Jones, Peter Goldsworthy and Judith Wright.

This information has been contributed by Associate Professor Blom.

Previous Projects

Title: ePortfolios for creative arts, music and arts students in Australian Universities [via USYD]
Funder:
  • Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (ACRG)
Western Researchers: Diana Blom
Years: 2013-09-23 - 2014-02-13
ID: P00021724
Title: War Letters - a concert of musical settings of letters from WW1
Funder:
  • Department of Veterans Affairs (non ACRG)
Western Researchers: Diana Blom
Years: 2015-06-09 - 2015-12-31
ID: P00021995
Title: Evaluating the educational outcomes of music therapy intervention in a specialist mental health education rehabilitation program
Funder:
  • University of Western Sydney
  • Sydney West Area Health Service
Western Researchers: Diana Blom
Years: 2007-08-30 - 2009-06-30
ID: P0015444

Supervision

Associate Professor Blom is available to be a principal supervisor for doctoral projects

Current Supervision

Thesis Title: 'Thinning and Thickening' Music: Empowering Flexibility and Responsiveness in Clinical Improvisation
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Shared Concerns: Investigating Ways Instrumental Teachers Learn to Teach
Field of Research: Education, N.e.c.
Thesis Title: Musical Australiana in Classical Guitar Music: Collaboration Between Composer, Performer and Sound Engineer
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Investigating Community Music in Malta and Its Relationship to Music Education
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Composing for Death: a theoretical and practical study of modern interpretations of the Requiem.
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Symphonic thinking in Piano Due Performance
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Practicing Deliberate Practice
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Jazzed Up Blues (and) Roots: A musical exploration of space, genre and hybridity
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: Korean Female Folk Songs: the experience of three generations of Korean women and contemporary dissemination.
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Muscial Moves: Roots to Rock - Heritage and Hybrids Betraying the Blues: An Australian Perspective
Field of Research:

Previous Supervision

Thesis Title: "Hold on, Hold on to Your Old Ways": Nostalgia in Indie Folk
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: 'Closing the Gap' - Enhancing the Instrumentalist's Experience in Large Ensemble Performance through Better Preparation of the Director's Conducting Skills
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: A Pedagogical Examination of Australian Art Song of the 20th and 21st centuries
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Accordion Exposition: Investigating the Playing and Learning of Advanced Level Concert Accordion Repertoire
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: An Investigation into Factors Impacting on Large Instrumental Music Programs in New South Wales Public Secondary Schools, and Directors' Perceptions of Program Success
Field of Research: Curriculum And Education Studies
Thesis Title: Playing with Understanding: Constructivist Instrumental Learning Strategies
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: The Bassoon in Australia: Repertoire and Contemporary Relevance
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: Understanding Saxophone Solos in Recorded Popular Music 1972-1995
Field of Research: Other Creative Arts
Thesis Title: Australian art song: Pedagogical strategies framed for singers and singing teachers
Field of Research: Teacher Education, N.e.c.; Music
Thesis Title: Figurenotes: Facilitating Musical Engagement for Individuals with Special Needs
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Questioning the Questions - Understanding Why Teachers Use Certain Questions in the Primary and Secondary Classrooms
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Shared Concerns: Investigating Ways Instrumental Teachers Learn to Teach
Field of Research: Education, N.e.c.
Thesis Title: "You went there for the people and went there for the bands". The Sandringham Hotel - 1980 to 1998
Field of Research: Communication And Media Studies
Thesis Title: Figurenotes and Children with Autism: Using Reflective Practice in a Music Intervention
Field of Research: Other Creative Arts
Thesis Title: Questioning the Questions - Understanding How, What and Why Teachers Use Certain Questions in Primary and Secondary Classrooms in Expositional and Practical Lessons
Field of Research: Teacher Education
Thesis Title: States of Suspension: Exploring Suspended Experience of Sound and Light in Popular Music and Imagery
Field of Research: Performing Arts; Visual Arts And Crafts, N.e.c.; Music
Thesis Title: Teaching Singing in Sydney government schools
Field of Research: Communication And Media Studies
Thesis Title: Boys who sing: an exploration of themes and issues associated with male membership of choirs
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Re-Composing Anime: Drawing on the Aesthetic Qualities of Anime in a Folio of Musical Compositions
Field of Research: Performing Arts, N.e.c.; Music
Thesis Title: Sing to me: an aural-based approach to choral directing for non-score reading choirs
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Textural Analysis of 21st Century String Music Through the Lens of Spectromorphology.
Field of Research: Performing Arts, N.e.c.; Creative Arts
Thesis Title: The Transcendent Experience in Experimental Popular Music Performance
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: Whakapono ki a te Karaiati: Exploring the Christian-Maori Identity through Contemporary Christian Songwriting
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Genre Collisions, Culture Collisions: Identifying and Understanding Different Types of Cross Cultural Influence in Music
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Sing to me: Learning to Direct Community Choirs
Field of Research: Other Creative Arts
Thesis Title: Whakapono Ki a te Karaiti: Exploring Christian-Maori Identity through Contemporary Christian Songwriting
Field of Research: Indigenous Studies; Religious Studies; Music
Thesis Title: An Investigation into Factors Impacting on Large Instrumental Music Programs in New South Wales Public Secondary Schools, and Directors' Perceptions of Program Success
Field of Research: Curriculum And Education Studies
Thesis Title: Love in the First Degree: 'Handbag' Dance Music and Gay Male Culture
Field of Research: Communication And Media Studies, N.e.c.
Thesis Title: The Intuitive and the Intellectual: Aspects of Personal Compositional Voice and its Complex and Intuitive Processes in Relation to Astronomical Observations and Elementary and Advanced Performers.
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: Accordion Exposition: Investigating the Playing and Learning of Advanced Level Concert Accordion Repertoire
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: Teaching singing in Sydney government schools
Field of Research: Communication And Media Studies
Thesis Title: Playing with Understanding: Constructivist Instrumental Learning Strategies
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: Creating musical theatre in an Australian context
Field of Research: Performing Arts
Thesis Title: "You went there for the people and went there for the bands". The Sandringham Hotel - 1980 to 1998
Field of Research: Communication And Media Studies
Thesis Title: Stories Tell Culture, Connecting Identity with Place: Australian Cultural Policy and Collective Creativity
Field of Research: Society And Culture
Thesis Title: Imaginative Music for Chinese-Speaking Children: Educative Purposes, Tangential Thoughts and Compositional Imagination for Children
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: The Bassoon in Australia: Repertoire and Contemporary Relevance
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: The Transcendent Experience in Experimental Popular Music Performance
Field of Research: Music
Thesis Title: Re-Composing Anime: Drawing on the Aesthetic Qualities of Anime in a Folio of Musical Compositions
Field of Research: Performing Arts, N.e.c.; Music
Thesis Title: Understanding Saxophone Solos in Recorded Popular Music 1972-1995
Field of Research: Other Creative Arts
Thesis Title: Perceptions of success influencing male participation in choir
Field of Research: Teacher Education, N.e.c.; Performing Arts; Music
Thesis Title: Sing to me: Learning to Direct Community Choirs
Field of Research: Other Creative Arts
Thesis Title: Whakapono Ki a te Karaiti: Exploring Christian-Maori Identity through Contemporary Christian Songwriting
Field of Research: Indigenous Studies; Religious Studies; Other Society And Culture; Music
Thesis Title: Australian art song: Pedagogical strategies framed for singers and singing teachers
Field of Research: Teacher Education, N.e.c.; Music
Thesis Title: Shared Concerns: Investigating Ways Instrumental Teachers Learn to Teach
Field of Research: Education, N.e.c.
Thesis Title: Textural Analysis of 21st Century String Music Through the Lens of Spectromorphology
Field of Research: Performing Arts, N.e.c.; Creative Arts; Music
Thesis Title: Figurenotes: Facilitating Musical Engagement for Individuals with Special Needs
Field of Research: Other Creative Arts
Thesis Title: Questioning the Questions - Understanding How, What and Why Teachers Use Certain Questions in Primary and Secondary Classrooms in Expositional and Practical Lessons
Field of Research: Teacher Education

Western Sydney University

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Penrith NSW 2751

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