Dr. Danielle Sirek, PhD

Assistant Professor - Curriculum Studies and Studies in Applied Linguistics

PhD (Royal Northern College of Music, UK), MMus (University of Toronto, Canada), BMus (Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada)

Dr. Danielle Sirek, PhD

Assistant Professor - Curriculum Studies and Studies in Applied Linguistics

PhD (Royal Northern College of Music, UK), MMus (University of Toronto, Canada), BMus (Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada)

Danielle Sirek is Arts Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Arts Education in the Faculty of Education. Her program of research is primarily focused on arts teacher education; sociology of music education; and intersections between music education and ethnomusicology. Her research is published in journals such as the International Journal for Music Education, the International Journal of Education & the Arts, and Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education; and has been presented at conferences in a variety of disciplines including the International Society for Music Education (ISME), the International Symposium on the Sociology of Music Education (ISSME), the International Visual Sociology Association (IVSA), the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE) and the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Prior to her appointment at Western, Dr. Sirek was Adjunct Associate Professor at University of Windsor, where she taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the Faculty of Education and School of Creative Arts.

In addition to her scholarly work, Dr. Sirek sings professionally with the JUNO-nominated Canadian Chamber Choir and with local ensembles. She is also Associate Artistic Director for the Windsor Choral Festival and conductor with the Amabile Choirs of London.

Recent Publications

Sirek, D. & Sefton, T. (2023, online first). Becoming the music teacher: Stories of generalist teaching and teacher education in music, before and during the pandemic. International Journal of Music Education. http://doi.org/10.1177/02557614231163266

Sirek, D. (2023). Editorial: Social Media for Good or Evil in Music Learning & Teaching. Action, Criticism, & Theory for Music Education, 22(4), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.22176/act22.4.1

Sirek, D. & Sefton, T. (2023). “And the music room door was just shut”: Practicum, professional development, and possibility for preservice and in-service generalist teachers teaching music. Canadian Music Educators’ Association Journal, 64(4), 28-34. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ntEkPDvxYPBJR2CvBnOgMT95lZgSaKQV/view

Mantie, R., Bayley, J., Veblen, K.K., Allstaff, K., & Sirek, D. (2023). Considering musical communities online and offline: A dedication to the life and work of Janice Waldron (April 13, 1957 - November 7, 2022). International Journal of Community Music, 16(1), 113-123. https://doi.org/10.1386/ijcm_00078_1

Sirek, D., Waldron, J., Cowan, S., Simpson, R. (2023). MayDay Colloquium: Social Media for Good or Evil in Music Learning & Teaching. Canadian Winds, 21(2), 12-15.

Sefton, T.G. & Sirek, D. (2023). Identity, memory, and performance in the time of pandemic: A duoethnography. Visions of Research in Music Education, 41(1), 1-14. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/vrme/vol41/iss1/6/

Teaching and Supervision

Courses Taught at Western:

  • EDUC 9677: Arts Education & Arts-Based Methodologies

  • EDUC 5237: Curriculum & Pedagogy in Vocal Music for the Senior Grades

  • EDUC 5137: Curriculum & Pedagogy in Vocal & Instrumental Music for the Intermediate Grades

  • EDUC 5175Q: Curriculum & Pedagogy in Elementary Music

  • EDUC 5179Q: Curriculum & Pedagogy in Elementary Drama & Dance

Dr. Sirek is currently accepting graduate students.