Dr. Gary McPherson
Research Associate - University of Melbourne, Australia
Email: g.mcpherson@unimelb.edu.au
Website: http://www.vcam.unimelb.edu.au/gary_mcpherson.html
Gary McPherson is Professor and Ormond Chair of Music at the University of Melbourne where he also Head of the School of Music. He is a multi-faceted music professional whose career includes performances as a trumpeter and conductor with various ensembles throughout Australia. He has collaborated with Susan O’Neill on an eight country study of young people’s motivation for music. His research involves several longitudinal studies of music learning in Australia and the United States. He has over 25 years as an academic in Universities teaching music education, research techniques, music psychology, performance science, and musicianship. He is a former President of the Australian and International Societies for Music Education and is respected as an international advocate for the power of music in people’s lives and in children’s education. In November 2008, Dr. McPherson was a visiting scholar to RYME where he presented a paper titled, Child learner to adult musician: A longitudinal study. His current projects include co-editing the Oxford Handbook of Music Education; the most comprehensive resource ever compiled in music education that will include over 90 chapters and a website that updates and redefines music education practice internationally.