Choral Music in Prison
Abrahams, F., Rowland, M. M., & Kohler, K. C. (2012). Music education behind bars: Giving voice to the inmates and the students who
teach them. Music Educators Journal, 98(4), 67–73. DOI: 10.1177/0027432112443711
Cohen, M. L. (2007). Christopher Small's Concept of Musicking: Toward a Theory of Choral Singing Pedagogy in Prison Contexts.
(Doctoral dissertation, University of Iowa)
Cohen, M. L. (2008a). "Mother, Theresa, how can I help you?" The story of Elvera Voth, Robert Shaw, and the Bethel College Benefit
Sing-Along for Arts in Prison, Inc. International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, 3(21), 4–22..
Cohen, Mary L. (2008b). Conductors’ perspectives of kansas prison choirs. International Journal of Community Music ,1(3), 319–333.
Cohen, M. L. (2009). Choral singing and prison inmates: Influences of performing in a prison choir. Journal of Correctional Education,
60(1), 52–65.
Gromko, J. E. & Cohen, M.L. (2011). Choir in prison: The relationship of psychological needs to perceptions of meaning in music. In
Ward-Steinman, P. M. (Ed.). Advances in social-psychology and music education research. (pp. 107-114). Burlington, VT:
Ashgate.
Cohen, M. L. (2012a). Harmony within the walls: Perceptions of worthiness and competence in a community prison choir. International
Journal of Music Education, 30(1), 46–56.
Cohen, M. L. (2012b). Writing between Rehearsals A Tool for Assessment and Building Camaraderie. Music Educators Journal, 98(3), 43-
48. DOI: 10.1177/0027432111434743
Cohen, M.L. & Silverman, M. (2013). Personal growth through music: Oakdale Prison's Community Choir and community music for
homeless populations in New York City. In Veblen, K. K., Messenger, S.J., Silverman, M. & Elliott, D. (Eds.), Community music
today. (pp. 199-216). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.
Harbert, B. J. (2013). Only time: Musical means to the personal, the private, and the polis at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for
Women. American Music, 31(2), 203-240.
Nelson, D. L. (1997). High-risk adolescent males, self-efficacy, and choral performance: An investigation of affective intervention.
(Doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University).
Richmiller, M. G. (1992). Study of the residual effects of music education experiences of a prison choir, twenty-nine years after
participation. (Doctoral dissertation, Southeast Missouri State University).
Silber, L. (2005). Bars behind bars: The impact of a women’s prison choir on social harmony. Music Education Research, 7(2), 251–271.
doi:10.1080/14613800500169811
The University of Iowa News Services. (2009). Oakdale Prison Community Choir Creates Unique Learning Opportunities. Retrieved from http://news-
releases.uiowa.edu /2009/february/022009prison_choir.html
Other Music Prison
Anderson, K., & Overy, K. (2010). Engaging Scottish young offenders in education through music and art. International Journal of
Community Music, 3(1), 47–64. doi:10.1386/ijcm.3.1.47/1
Barrett, M.S., & Baker, J. (2012). Developing learning identities in and through music: A case study of the outcomes of a music
programme in an Australian juvenile detention centre.” International Journal of Music Education, 30(3),244–259.
doi:10.1177/0255761411433721.
Elsila, M. (1995). Music behind bars: Liberatory musicology in two Michigan prisons. Unpublished master;s thesis, University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Elsila, M., Lloyd, & Marcos. (1998). Music behind bars: Learning to teach radically in prison. The Radical Teacher, (52), 4–8.
Fierro, J. (2010). Free inside: The music class at Santa Ana Jail. International Journal of Community Music, 3(1), 143-150.
Fox News. (2003). Murder Victim’s Family Sues V-H1. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/story/2003/03/06/
murder-victim-family-sues-vh1/.
Harbert, B. J. (2010). I'll keep on living after I die: Musical manipulation and transcendence at Louisiana State Penitentiary.
International Journal of Community Music, 3(1), 65-76.
Hirsch, L.E. (2012). Music in Prison. In Music in American Crime Prevention and Punishment. (pp. 85-109). Ann Arbor: The University of
Michigan Press.
Lee, R. (2010). Music education in prisons: A historical overview. International Journal of Community Music, 3(1), 7–18.
doi:10.1386/ijcm.3.1.7/1
Lucas, A. (2013). When I run in my bare feet: Music, writing, and theater in a North Carolina Women’s Prison. American Music, 31(2),
134–162.
Arts in Prison
Brewster, L.. (1983). An evaluation of the Arts-in-Corrections Program of the California Department of Corrections. Sanata Cruz, CA: William James
Association.
Williams, R. M., (2003). Teaching the arts behind bars. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
Non-music related incarceration and prisoner voice sources
Harer, M. D. (1995). Recidivism among federal prisoners released in 1987.Journal of Correctional Education, 46(3), 98-128.
Salah-El, T. A. (1992). Attaining education in prison equals prisoner power.” Journal of Prisoners on Prisons, 4(1), Accessed November 22, 2013
from http://www.jpp.org/documents/forms/JPP4_1/EL.pdf.
United States Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2012). One in 34 U.S. adults under correctional supervision in 2011, lowest rate since 2000. Retrieved November 20,
2013 from http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/press/cpus11ppus11pr.cfm.
United States Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2013). U.S. prison population declined for third consecutive year during 2012. Retrieved November, 20, 2013 from
http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/press/p12acpr.cfm.
Vacca, J. S. (2004). Educated prisoners are less likely to return to prison. Journal of Correctional Education, 55(4), 297–305.
Winn, M. T. (2010). ‘Our side of the story’: moving incarcerated youth voices from margins to center. Race Ethnicity and Education, 13(3), 313-325.
You Tube Videos
Allen Freeman. (2012, December, 3). San Quentin Prison Gospel Choir on Bobby Jones [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=1Ew3RI5KzD4.
Andy Wallace. (2012, March 30) Warren County Prison Choir [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvhqCM3bi7E&
feature=youtube_gdata_player
KMBC 9 News Kansas City. (2010, February 17) Choir Program Helps Lansing Inmates [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=npBUV98G_mM.
Wileypo. (2012, November 14). The Lion Sleeps Tonight 11 11 12 [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO6PP8O39.
Abrahams, F., Rowland, M. M., & Kohler, K. C. (2012). Music education behind bars: Giving voice to the inmates and the students who
teach them. Music Educators Journal, 98(4), 67–73. DOI: 10.1177/0027432112443711
Cohen, M. L. (2007). Christopher Small's Concept of Musicking: Toward a Theory of Choral Singing Pedagogy in Prison Contexts.
(Doctoral dissertation, University of Iowa)
Cohen, M. L. (2008a). "Mother, Theresa, how can I help you?" The story of Elvera Voth, Robert Shaw, and the Bethel College Benefit
Sing-Along for Arts in Prison, Inc. International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, 3(21), 4–22..
Cohen, Mary L. (2008b). Conductors’ perspectives of kansas prison choirs. International Journal of Community Music ,1(3), 319–333.
Cohen, M. L. (2009). Choral singing and prison inmates: Influences of performing in a prison choir. Journal of Correctional Education,
60(1), 52–65.
Gromko, J. E. & Cohen, M.L. (2011). Choir in prison: The relationship of psychological needs to perceptions of meaning in music. In
Ward-Steinman, P. M. (Ed.). Advances in social-psychology and music education research. (pp. 107-114). Burlington, VT:
Ashgate.
Cohen, M. L. (2012a). Harmony within the walls: Perceptions of worthiness and competence in a community prison choir. International
Journal of Music Education, 30(1), 46–56.
Cohen, M. L. (2012b). Writing between Rehearsals A Tool for Assessment and Building Camaraderie. Music Educators Journal, 98(3), 43-
48. DOI: 10.1177/0027432111434743
Cohen, M.L. & Silverman, M. (2013). Personal growth through music: Oakdale Prison's Community Choir and community music for
homeless populations in New York City. In Veblen, K. K., Messenger, S.J., Silverman, M. & Elliott, D. (Eds.), Community music
today. (pp. 199-216). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.
Harbert, B. J. (2013). Only time: Musical means to the personal, the private, and the polis at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for
Women. American Music, 31(2), 203-240.
Nelson, D. L. (1997). High-risk adolescent males, self-efficacy, and choral performance: An investigation of affective intervention.
(Doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University).
Richmiller, M. G. (1992). Study of the residual effects of music education experiences of a prison choir, twenty-nine years after
participation. (Doctoral dissertation, Southeast Missouri State University).
Silber, L. (2005). Bars behind bars: The impact of a women’s prison choir on social harmony. Music Education Research, 7(2), 251–271.
doi:10.1080/14613800500169811
The University of Iowa News Services. (2009). Oakdale Prison Community Choir Creates Unique Learning Opportunities. Retrieved from http://news-
releases.uiowa.edu /2009/february/022009prison_choir.html
Other Music Prison
Anderson, K., & Overy, K. (2010). Engaging Scottish young offenders in education through music and art. International Journal of
Community Music, 3(1), 47–64. doi:10.1386/ijcm.3.1.47/1
Barrett, M.S., & Baker, J. (2012). Developing learning identities in and through music: A case study of the outcomes of a music
programme in an Australian juvenile detention centre.” International Journal of Music Education, 30(3),244–259.
doi:10.1177/0255761411433721.
Elsila, M. (1995). Music behind bars: Liberatory musicology in two Michigan prisons. Unpublished master;s thesis, University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Elsila, M., Lloyd, & Marcos. (1998). Music behind bars: Learning to teach radically in prison. The Radical Teacher, (52), 4–8.
Fierro, J. (2010). Free inside: The music class at Santa Ana Jail. International Journal of Community Music, 3(1), 143-150.
Fox News. (2003). Murder Victim’s Family Sues V-H1. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/story/2003/03/06/
murder-victim-family-sues-vh1/.
Harbert, B. J. (2010). I'll keep on living after I die: Musical manipulation and transcendence at Louisiana State Penitentiary.
International Journal of Community Music, 3(1), 65-76.
Hirsch, L.E. (2012). Music in Prison. In Music in American Crime Prevention and Punishment. (pp. 85-109). Ann Arbor: The University of
Michigan Press.
Lee, R. (2010). Music education in prisons: A historical overview. International Journal of Community Music, 3(1), 7–18.
doi:10.1386/ijcm.3.1.7/1
Lucas, A. (2013). When I run in my bare feet: Music, writing, and theater in a North Carolina Women’s Prison. American Music, 31(2),
134–162.
Arts in Prison
Brewster, L.. (1983). An evaluation of the Arts-in-Corrections Program of the California Department of Corrections. Sanata Cruz, CA: William James
Association.
Williams, R. M., (2003). Teaching the arts behind bars. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
Non-music related incarceration and prisoner voice sources
Harer, M. D. (1995). Recidivism among federal prisoners released in 1987.Journal of Correctional Education, 46(3), 98-128.
Salah-El, T. A. (1992). Attaining education in prison equals prisoner power.” Journal of Prisoners on Prisons, 4(1), Accessed November 22, 2013
from http://www.jpp.org/documents/forms/JPP4_1/EL.pdf.
United States Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2012). One in 34 U.S. adults under correctional supervision in 2011, lowest rate since 2000. Retrieved November 20,
2013 from http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/press/cpus11ppus11pr.cfm.
United States Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2013). U.S. prison population declined for third consecutive year during 2012. Retrieved November, 20, 2013 from
http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/press/p12acpr.cfm.
Vacca, J. S. (2004). Educated prisoners are less likely to return to prison. Journal of Correctional Education, 55(4), 297–305.
Winn, M. T. (2010). ‘Our side of the story’: moving incarcerated youth voices from margins to center. Race Ethnicity and Education, 13(3), 313-325.
You Tube Videos
Allen Freeman. (2012, December, 3). San Quentin Prison Gospel Choir on Bobby Jones [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=1Ew3RI5KzD4.
Andy Wallace. (2012, March 30) Warren County Prison Choir [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvhqCM3bi7E&
feature=youtube_gdata_player
KMBC 9 News Kansas City. (2010, February 17) Choir Program Helps Lansing Inmates [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=npBUV98G_mM.
Wileypo. (2012, November 14). The Lion Sleeps Tonight 11 11 12 [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO6PP8O39.