Mary Elizabeth Saurman
Degrees
- M.A., Intercultural Communications and Ethnomusicology, Summa Cum Laude, Wheaton Graduate School (IL), 1992
- B.S., Music Therapy, Summa Cum Laude, Slippery Rock State University (PA), 1982
Current positions
- International Ethnomusicology and Arts Consultant (2010– )
- Asia Area Ethnomusicology and Arts Coordinator (2000– )
- Asia Area Ethnomusicology and Arts Consultant (1998– )
- Mainland Southeast Asia Ethnomusicology and Arts Consultant (1994– )
- Guest Lecturer and Thesis Advisor: Mahidol University, Thailand (1996– )
- Guest Lecturer: Payap University, Thailand (2005– )
Other related experience
- Instructor: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (TX) (Spring Semester, 1999)
- Curriculum Developer: SIL Ethnomusicology special task force (TX) (March to July 1994)
- Creative Arts Therapist (Music and Dance/Movement), Intern Supervisor and Training
- Supervisor: Philhaven Psychiatric Hospital (PA) (1985–1990)
- Music Therapist: Geriatric and Alzheimer Care Facilities (PA) (1983–1985)
- Creative Arts Therapist (Education and Life Skill Development) private practice with handicapped and mentally challenged (PA and IL) (1984–1993)
Memberships
- Society for Ethnomusicology
- International Council for Traditional Music
- International Council of Ethnodoxologists
Language proficiency
- English (L1)
- Thai Level 3
Research interests
- Applied Ethnomusicology and Arts
- Arts in Multilingual Education and Language Development
- Arts in Community Development
- Arts in Scripture Use
- Poetic Form, Discourse Song Form, and Tone Analysis
- Revitalization
- Asia
Selected publications
Saurman, Mary. 1993. Music: A bridge to literacy. Notes on Literacy 19(3):34-42.
———. 1995. The effect of music on blood pressure and heart rate. EM News 4(3):1–2.
———. 1996. Thai speech tones and melodic pitches: How they work together or collide. EM News. 5(4):1–6.
———. 1999. The agreement of Thai speech tones and melodic pitches. Notes on Anthropology 3(3):15–24.
Saurman, Mary and Todd Saurman. 2004a. Applied ethnomusicology: The benefits of approaching music as a heart language. Journal of Language and Culture 23(2):15–31. Institute of Language and Culture for Rural Development: Mahidol University at Salaya, Thailand.
———. 2004b. Music in Culture. International Digging Stick 7(1):1–3.
Selected papers presented
Saurman, Mary and Todd Saurman. 2003. Music, the language of the heart, the unifying beat of group identity and a bridge to literacy. Paper presented at the International Conference on Language Development, Language Revitalization and Multilingual Education in Asia, 6–8 November in Bangkok, Thailand.
———. 2006. Art forms and ethnomusicologists in Asia as bridges between local, national, and global communities. Paper presented at 51st annual Society for Ethnomusicology conference, 16–19 November in Honolulu, HI.
———. 2008. Incorporating relevant cultural art forms and oral traditions into community-based education programs. Paper presented at the International Conference on Language Development, Language Revitalization and Multilingual Education in Asia, 1–3 July, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Saurman, Mary and Glenn Stallsmith. 2010. Traditional Music and Arts in the Classroom: a whole-brain learning approach to language and culture acquisition. Paper presented at the 1st Philippine Conference-Workshop on Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education, 18–20 February, in Capital City, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.
Saurman, Mary. 2010. Culturally Relevant Songs: Teaching Tools in Education Programs. Paper presented at the joint conference of the Sixth Symposium of the Internal Council for Traditional Music Study Group on Music and Minorities and the Second Symposium of the International Council for Traditional Music Study Group on Applied Ethnomusicology, 19–30 July, in Hanoi, Vietnam.