Research focus

In recent years, the leading area of research conducted at the Faculty of Music has been interpretative issues in vocal, instrumental, and vocal-instrumental works.
The aim of this research was an in-depth analysis and interpretation of performance-related challenges faced by performers representing diverse musical forms and genres. The implementation of the research objectives included artistic activities such as chamber concerts, instrumental and vocal recitals (including choral performances), as well as vocal-instrumental projects.

As part of the research activities, compositional work was also undertaken, resulting in new musical compositions presented on both national and international stages. In addition to artistic activity, the implementation of the research theme also included scholarly output in the form of publications, including chapters in monographs and articles in conference proceedings, published mainly in Poland. These publications focused on broadly understood performance-related issues.

An important element of the research activity was also the organization of seminars, workshops, courses, and masterclasses devoted to the interpretation of musical works in the fields of solo, chamber, vocal, and choral performance. The outcomes of the research—such as album recordings, compositions, radio and television recordings, and scholarly publications—are applied both in the artistic activities of the research team members and in the teaching process.

The second research area, entitled “General and Artistic Music Education,” focused on didactic and educational issues in the context of learning outcomes and the participation of children and youth in artistic projects. It also encompassed music psychology and related issues concerning the perception of art and the creative process. The starting point of the adopted research assumptions was the conviction that art plays a significant role in human life, particularly emphasizing the importance of exposure of the youngest audiences to diverse forms of music. Particular emphasis was placed on the participation of children and youth in artistic events presenting a high level of performance, carried out by members of the research team, including concerts addressed to young audiences.

A key element in the implementation of this research theme was the organization of artistic projects involving collaboration between professional musicians and children’s and youth ensembles, including choirs and orchestras. In these projects, members of the research team served as conductors, educators, and solo performers. Concurrently, scholarly activity was conducted, including publications in the form of monographs and scientific articles published both domestically and abroad. The issues addressed in these publications focused primarily on compositional works dedicated to children—both as audiences and performers—as well as on broadly understood music education of children and youth, with particular emphasis on its psycho‑pedagogical determinants.

The result of the conducted research was an intensification of interest among the younger generation in diverse musical forms and increased engagement of children and youth in ensemble music-making. An important aspect of the research was also the observation and analysis of creative activity within various music education systems, carried out, among others, through study visits to academic centers in Europe and worldwide. Special significance was attributed to ensemble work (within orchestras and choirs), conducted under the guidance of a teacher, as a factor fostering the development of musical competencies and artistic interests.

The obtained research results and outcomes of artistic activity influence the modification and updating of curricula in the study programs offered. Moreover, scholarly and artistic activity contributes to expanding cooperation with the socio-economic environment and enables the establishment and development of contacts with academic centers and cultural institutions, both domestically and internationally.

From the academic year 2021/2022, the scope of research was expanded to include issues related to musical and cultural heritage.

Within the research project Polish Cultural Heritage – Research on Music of the South-Eastern Borderland, the main area of interest focused on the analysis and interpretation of musical works associated with this region, implemented through the artistic activities of the research team members. These activities included the preparation and performance of chamber concerts and instrumental, vocal (including choral), and vocal-instrumental recitals, as well as the production of phonographic recordings (CDs), with particular emphasis on the works of composers from the south-eastern borderland.

At the same time, scholarly activity was conducted, including publications in the form of monographs and chapters in monographs, including recognized publishing series such as Musica Galiciana and Moderato (published by the University of Rzeszów). Team members actively participated in national and international academic conferences and also completed research fellowships.

Within the continued implementation of the research theme “General and Artistic Music Education,” the primary focus remained on didactic and educational issues in the context of learning outcomes and the participation of children and youth in artistic projects. The starting point of the adopted research assumptions was the belief in the significant role of art in human life, particularly the importance of contact between the youngest audiences and diverse forms of music. Special emphasis was placed on the participation of children and youth in high-level artistic events organized by members of the research team, including concerts specifically designed for young audiences.

A crucial component of the research theme was the organization of artistic projects involving collaboration between professional musicians and children’s and youth ensembles, including choirs and orchestras. In these projects, research team members acted as conductors, educators, and solo performers. Parallel scholarly activity included publications in the form of monographs and scientific articles published both in Poland and abroad. The subject matter of these publications focused primarily on compositional works dedicated to children—as both audiences and performers—and on broadly defined music education of children and youth, with particular emphasis on its psycho‑pedagogical determinants.

The research resulted in increased interest among the younger generation in various forms of music and greater engagement of children and youth in ensemble music-making. An important aspect of the research was also the observation and analysis of creative activity across different systems of music education, conducted, among others, through study visits to academic centers in Europe and worldwide. Special importance was attributed to ensemble work (within orchestras and choirs) led by a teacher, as a factor supporting the development of musical competencies and artistic interests.

The achieved research results and artistic outcomes contribute to modifications and updates of curricula in the programs of study offered. Furthermore, scholarly and artistic activities foster the expansion of cooperation with the socio-economic environment and facilitate the establishment and development of contacts with academic centers and cultural institutions, both nationally and internationally.

Research Topics from 2026 – Sustainable Development and New Technologies

In 2026, the research topics were modified and expanded to include issues related to sustainable development, including new technologies.

The main area of research at the Faculty of Music remains performance and interpretative studies as well as compositional creativity. The implementation of the adopted research assumptions within the theme Interpretation of Musical Works and Compositional Creativity in the Context of Social, Cultural, and Technological Sustainable Development is based on artistic practice as a research method (practice-based research), encompassing a wide range of performative activities. These include chamber concerts, instrumental and vocal recitals—including choral performances—as well as vocal-instrumental projects. Such activities enable empirical verification of adopted hypotheses and multifaceted reflection on the performance process in its interpretative, technical, and communicative dimensions. Music is understood not only as an autonomous form of art, but also as a tool for shaping social awareness, transmitting cultural values, and adapting to dynamic technological changes.

The interpretation of musical works is analyzed as a process of co-creating meaning, in which both performer and audience participate in the reinterpretation of cultural heritage. In the context of sustainable development, particular importance is attributed to preserving cultural diversity, counteracting homogenization, and supporting local musical traditions. The research includes, among others, the impact of performance practices on the sustainability of intangible cultural heritage and their role in building social identity.

Compositional creativity, in turn, is viewed as a space for innovation, where artists respond to contemporary challenges such as globalization, environmental crises, and the development of digital technologies. Composers increasingly use digital tools, artificial intelligence, and interactive media, which raises questions regarding the ethics of creativity, accessibility of technology, and its impact on the creative process. In this context, research focuses on how new technologies can support sustainable development, for example through democratizing access to music creation and distribution.

Overall, the proposed research theme adopts an interdisciplinary approach integrating aesthetic, social, and technological analysis. Its aim is to understand how music—both in its interpretative and compositional dimensions—can contribute to building a more inclusive, conscious, and sustainable society.

Second Research Theme

The second research theme, “Music Education and Cultural Heritage in the Perspective of Sustainable Development – Interdisciplinary Research,” is situated at the intersection of art, pedagogy, psychology, sociology, musicology, and technology. In this approach, music education serves not only as a means of developing artistic competencies but also as a tool for transmitting cultural values, strengthening social cohesion, and building awareness of responsibility for intangible heritage.

Research in this area addresses the effectiveness of various educational models in transmitting heritage and their impact on shaping individual and collective identity under conditions of globalization. Sustainable music education assumes equal access to culture and creative tools. Research shows that participation in music education strengthens social competencies, a sense of community, and agency. Interdisciplinary approaches combine pedagogy with sociology and psychology, analyzing how music can counteract social exclusion.

An important dimension is also the integration of new technologies into music education. Digital tools, e-learning platforms, and multimedia archives provide broader access to cultural resources, while simultaneously raising questions about authenticity of transmission, intellectual property rights, and inequalities in access to technology. In the context of sustainable development, it is therefore important to examine how technologies can support inclusivity and long-term heritage protection rather than leading to its simplification or commercialization.

The interdisciplinary character of the proposed theme involves combining qualitative and quantitative methods, such as ethnographic research, curriculum analysis, case studies, and research on cultural and educational policies. The goal is to develop models of music education that not only respond to contemporary challenges but also actively support sustainable development through the protection of cultural diversity, promotion of equal access to culture, and development of social and ecological competencies.