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Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS) · Research article · Open access

Teaching Popular Music in Higher Education: A Competency-Based Framework for Vocal Training, Ensemble Practice, And Performance Assessment

Pham Thi Hai

4 November 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 11, pp. 2001-2006

DOI: 10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-07

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What is this article about?

Teaching popular music in higher education requires a deliberate relationship between technical instruction, genre-sensitive musical understanding, student agency, collaborative rehearsal, and transparent assessment. This article develops a competency-based conceptual framework for university-level popular-music education, with particular attention to vocal training, ensemble practice, and stage performance.

Article at a glance

Journal
Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS)
Published
4 November 2026
Volume / issue / pages
Vol. 2, Issue 11, pp. 2001-2006
ISSN
3051-3561 (online) · 3051-3553 (print)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 — free to read and reuse with attribution
Peer review
Double-blind, at least two independent reviewers
Publisher
EP Journals Group

Abstract

Teaching popular music in higher education requires a deliberate relationship between technical instruction, genre-sensitive musical understanding, student agency, collaborative rehearsal, and transparent assessment. This article develops a competency-based conceptual framework for university-level popular-music education, with particular attention to vocal training, ensemble practice, and stage performance. An interpretive review integrates scholarship on informal popular-music learning, popular-music voice teaching, project-based music learning, performance assessment, occupational voice care, and music performance anxiety. No teaching intervention, student survey, or learning-outcome dataset was generated. The synthesis identifies four connected competency domains and four curricular tensions: teacher demonstration versus learner agency; notation versus listening-based learning; technical control versus stylistic authenticity; and final performance versus iterative development. The proposed LOOP framework-Listening and analysis, Open exploration, Ongoing ensemble practice, and Performance with reflection-connects intended learning outcomes with teaching activities and assessment evidence. It also foregrounds accessibility, feedback literacy, and sustainable vocal practice as conditions of learning. LOOP remains a conceptual proposal rather than an empirically validated teaching model; future research should examine its feasibility, fairness, and learning effects in actual university programmes.

Keywords

  • popular music education
  • university students
  • vocal pedagogy
  • ensemble learning
  • performance assessment
  • LOOP framework

Cite this article

APA
Pham Thi Hai (2026). Teaching Popular Music in Higher Education: A Competency-Based Framework for Vocal Training, Ensemble Practice, And Performance Assessment. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(11), 2001-2006. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-07
BibTeX
@article{Pham2026,
  title   = {Teaching Popular Music in Higher Education: A Competency-Based Framework for Vocal Training, Ensemble Practice, And Performance Assessment},
  author  = {Pham Thi Hai},
  journal = {Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies},
  year    = {2026},
  volume  = {2},
  number  = {11},
  pages   = {2001-2006},
  doi     = {10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-07},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-07}
}

Published in Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS)

ISSN 3051-3561 (online) · 3051-3553 (print)

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Questions about this article

Who wrote this article?

Pham Thi Hai.

Where and when was it published?

In Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, Volume 2, Issue 11, pages 2001-2006, published by EP Journals Group on 4 November 2026.

Is this article free to read?

Yes. It is open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) licence, so anyone can read, share and reuse it with attribution.

What is the DOI of this article?

10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-07 (https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-07).

How do I cite this article?

APA: Pham Thi Hai (2026). Teaching Popular Music in Higher Education: A Competency-Based Framework for Vocal Training, Ensemble Practice, And Performance Assessment. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(11), 2001-2006. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E11/2026-07

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