Dr. Ji Hyun Woo

Dr. Ji Hyun Woo is a Senior Lecturer of Music Theory and Organ at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Her primary research focuses on music analysis through the Dalcroze approach, with an emphasis on integrating Dalcroze-inspired methods into music theory classrooms.

A certified Dalcroze teacher, Dr. Woo completed her training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Pedagogy at the Marta Sanchez Dalcroze Training Center at Carnegie Mellon University and the Institute for Jaques-Dalcroze Education in Bethlehem, PA.

Dr. Woo has presented extensively on innovative teaching strategies that incorporate the Dalcroze approach into music theory and aural skills education. Notable presentations include the Society for Music Theory Conference, the Music Pedagogy Conference, the 4th International Conference of Dalcroze Studies (ICDS4) in Poland, and, most recently, the Dalcroze Society of America (DSA) event at Oberlin Conservatory. Her article, “Dalcroze-Inspired Practices in the Music Theory Classroom,” was published in The Korea Dalcroze Journal (2017, Vol. 27).

Her dissertation, Modes of Phrygian Functionality: Flat 2-Centered Progressions in Chromatic Music, explores fin-de-siècle chromaticism, particularly the development and use of the scale-step flat 2 in late 19th- and early 20th-century music. It was published in Ewha Music Journal (2010).

As an organist, Dr. Woo performs regularly across Western New York and serves as Music Minister and Organist at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in North Tonawanda, NY. Her recording, Aurora, with clarinetist Dr. Andrew Seigel, released on the Emeritus label, features premiere recordings of works by Sy Brandon and contemporary composers including Augusta Read Thomas and Daniel Pinkham.

A native of Seoul, Korea, Dr. Woo earned her Ph.D. in Music Theory from the University at Buffalo, where she also completed three Master’s degrees in Music Theory, Composition, and Organ. She previously earned a Bachelor’s degree in Composition from Sook Myung Women’s University in Seoul.

Office Hours

• Monday: 1:00-2:00
• Wednesday: 1:00-2:00
• Friday: 1:00-2:00

Teaching Interests

Music Theory, Aural Skills, 
Form and Analysis, Analytical Technique, Post-tonal music,
Performance and Theory, Dalcroze Approach, and
Organ pedagogy

Research Interests

 

Awards and Honors

• Open Education Resources (OER) redesign incentive, SUNY/PDC (2020).
• NYS/UUP Individual Development Awards, NYS/UUP (2020).
• Professional Development Award for Classroom Innovations, Professional Development Center (2019).
• 2019 OER Course Redesign for Online Course, Professional Development Center (2019).

License/Certification

• AGO Colleague Certification
• AGO Service Playing Certification
• Dalcroze Certification
• Building Your Online Course: BYOC
• Professional Development Award
• Jr. High Music Teacher Certification

Current Research

• Dalcroze-inspired analysis in Music Theory Classroom
• Incorporating Kinesthetic Movement into Organ Lessons: A Dalcroze Approach for Enhancing Musicality and Coordination
• How to develop sight-singing, transposition, improvisation, and composition skills using a quasi 12-tone matrix in the Music Theory Classroom

Professional Membership

• Dalcroze Society of Korea
• Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy Online
• Dalcroze Society of America
• American Guild of Organists
• The College Music Society
• Society for Music Theory

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Programs

• 2019 “Professional Development Award for Classroom Innovations”, N/A (2021).
• research on Eurhythmics, Solfège, Improvisation, Pedagogy at the Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland., N/A (2020).

Performances/Exhibits

• "PEDAGOGY INTO PRACTICE: Teaching Music Theory in the 21st Century," Center for Music Theory Pedagogy (2017).
• "Dalcroze - Inspired Analysis in Music Theory Classroom," Dalcroze Journal of Korea, Dalcroze Society of Korea (2017).
• "How to develop sight-singing, transposition, improvisation, and composition skills using a quasi 12-tone matrix in the Music Theory Classroom," PEDAGOGY INTO PRACTICE: Teaching Music Theory in the 21st Century (2017).
• "Organ and Piano Duo," SUNY Fredonia Organ Studio (2017).

Presentations

• "Incorporating Improvisation in the Theory Classroom," Integrating Kinesthetic Movement into the Theory Classes (2024).