Last month, Ethnomusicology Assistant Professor Janine Tiffe, Ph.D., took over the Glauser School’s Twitter account to participate in a unique conference hosted on the platform by the Welsh Swansea University. With the cancellation of in-person conferences and events worldwide due to COVID-19, the organizers moved to Twitter to try a new approach in sharing research. The conference, titled “Shaped by Steel,” explored “the human dimension of work and life in—and after—steel.”
Tiffe presented “Hammer and Steel: A Musical Biography,” which explored the origins and history of the Trinidadian steel drum (steelpan) and its adoption into U.S. music education. Below, Tiffe reflects on the experience. Her presentation remains available on our Twitter account and you can learn more about the conference, or visit the School of Music website.