When Randolph-Macon College student Katie New ’20 found out about the Schapiro Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, it was music to her ears. SURF gives students the opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of a professor.

New, a music major, education minor and future teacher, designed a project that she hopes will ultimately help elementary general music teachers find teaching materials for their students. Her research, Meeting the Standards: A Critical Assessment of the Elementary General Music Teaching Resources Used in the State of Virginia, was conducted under the mentorship of Music Professor Brian Coffill.

Discovering Top Resources
Last spring, New contacted representatives from Virginia school systems about the curricula and other materials their music teachers use. Her SURF research entailed evaluating which of the teachers’ resources best address the Virginia Music Standards of Learning (SOLs) and the 2014 National Music Standards; which are the most cost-effective; and which are the most easily accessible.

New’s days were spent reading and assessing teaching materials—including websites, software packages, books and magazines. After evaluating each resource against the state and national music standards, she determined their costs and where teachers can access them; and she wrote a summary of their overall effectiveness.

“My research required me to become familiar with the Virginia and national standards for K-6 general music, as well as some of the teaching resources commonly used to address them,” she says. She hopes her findings will help elementary general music teachers make more informed decisions when choosing their resources.

Mentorship
New and Coffill met weekly to discuss her project.

“What makes Professor Coffill a great mentor is that he was always there to help me if I needed it, but he also pushed me to figure things out on my own,” says New. “He encouraged me to trust my intelligence and judgment, which boosted my confidence as a researcher.”

“Katie’s exposure to her research materials will give her an incredible head-start on her career as a music educator, and she now has a tremendous asset on her resume,” says Coffill, the
RMC music education coordinator and director of instrumental ensembles. “She chose her topic wisely and worked diligently to gain valuable insights that she will share with the greater music community. We worked together to shape her research goals and processes, but the most rewarding part was watching her take ownership as she honed the skills necessary to complete this monumental project. As she gained expertise, she taught me new things!”

Campus Life + Future Plans
New is a member and officer of Mu Phi Epsilon (a music honors and service fraternity); serves as a music tutor in the Higgins Academic Center; is a member of InTONEnation, a student-run performance group; is a student ambassador for the Education Department; and is a member of the Education Alumni Board. In addition, she lends her voice to the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. Although her main focus is voice, she is also studying piano and conducting.

The recipient of The Barbara Sylvia Doggett Scholarship, the Presidential Scholarship, and the Trustees Award, New plans to teach for several years before pursuing a master’s degree.

“The skills I gained from participating in SURF, such as learning what makes a quality teaching resource and how to conduct research, will help me in my career and in my graduate studies,” she says.  “In addition, the SURF program allowed me to help music teachers, which I am incredibly grateful to have done. I hope my work inspires others to continue this type of research.”

The SURF Program
The SURF program was established in 1995 through a generous endowment made by Ben Schapiro ’64 and his wife, Peggy Schapiro. The Schapiros continue to support this program, which promotes scholarly undergraduate research by students in all disciplines. Ben Schapiro has served on a number of RMC committees, including the Board of Trustees and the Society of Alumni.

In order to participate in the program, students write proposals and apply for grant money to fund their research. SURF students receive a stipend and room and board, and results of their research are presented at the annual SURF Symposium and on Research Day. Many SURF participants have presented their research throughout the United States and internationally, and some have published their work. The SURF program is co-directed by Art History Professor Evie Terrono and Chemistry Professor Serge Schreiner.