Simon Center, M145H
Education
- Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy, Indiana University, 2007
- M.M., Master of Music, Indiana University, 2004
- B.M., Bachelor of Music, The College of New Jersey, 1998
Biography
Peter Miksza is professor of music in music education and chair of the Music Education Department at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is also an affiliate member of the IU Cognitive Science Program as well as cofounder and, currently, codirector of the IU Jacobs Music and Mind Lab.
Miksza’s primary research interest lies in the investigation of social- and cognitive-psychological dimensions of musical skill acquisition (e.g., practicing, expertise, musical expression, musical memory). He also conducts research on music teacher preparation and does work with national data sets to address policy issues relevant to music education.
He’s presented papers at regional, national, and international research conferences and has articles published or in press in several prominent peer-reviewed publications, such as the Journal of Research in Music Education, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Psychology of Music, Music Perception, Musicae Scientiae, Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain, Frontiers in Psychology, Contributions to Music Education, Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy, Music Education Research International, The Journal of Band Research, Music Educators Journal, and Journal of Music Teacher Education.
Miksza has also published several book chapters in edited volumes as well as the following books: Design and Analysis for Quantitative Research in Music Education, with coauthor Ken Elpus; Music Education Research: An Introduction, with coauthors Julia T. Shaw, Lauren Kapalka Richerme, Phillip M. Hash, and Donald A. Hodges; and Teaching Kids to Practice, with coauthor Stephanie Prichard.
Miksza’s teaching duties include undergraduate and graduate courses with emphases on music teacher preparation, foundations of music pedagogy, psychological and social-psychological dimensions of music teaching and learning, and quantitative research methods. He also works with graduate students to develop and carry out original research projects as theses and dissertations. He serves as faculty advisor for the IU collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education.
Miksza is currently editor of the Journal of Research in Music Education and works as a reviewer for other journals, conferences, and symposia. Prior to his appointment at IU, he was band director at Pequannock Valley Middle School, assistant marching band director at Pequannock Township High School in New Jersey, and assistant professor of music education at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from The College of New Jersey and Master of Music Education and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from IU.