Newcastle University

Dr Simon McKerrell is interested in how music performs meaning in everyday life, particularly how this is constructed as discourse. His research interests include: sectarianism; traditional musics; music and the body; somaesthetics; digitalization and e-learning in musical communities. He is an expert performer of Highland-, Border- and Uilleann-pipes and has toured, taught and performed throughout the world. He is a international prize winner in solo piping competitions and a member of the bands Rough Tides (www.myspace.com/roughtides and the European Collective orchestra La Banda Europa (http://www.jimsutherland.uk.com/La-Banda-Europa). 

Previous Positions

Research Assistant, Glasgow University (2008-2009)
Lecturer in Ethnomusicology (fixed-term, University of Sheffield (2008-2009)
Head of Piping Studies for the BA (Scottish Music-Piping) degree, The National Piping Centre, Glasgow (2005-2008).
Lecturer in Music (part-time), Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, (2003-2008).

Qualifications

2012 Certificate of Advanced Studies in Academic Practice (HEA accredited)  

2000 BA (Scottish Music) Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

2005 PhD 'Scottish Competition Bagpipe Performance: Sound, Mode and Aesthetics' St. Andrews University

Research Interests

Traditional music; music and the body; somaesthetics; sectarianism; theory in ethnomusicology; mode; affect and hearing; the New Europe; contemporary and commercial folk and traditional musics.

Other Expertise

Simon McKerrell is an expert performer of Highland-, Border- and Uilleann-pipes which drives his research interests. He has toured, taught and performed in countries such as: the USA, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Iceland, France, Spain, Switzerland and throughout Britain. he was a founding member of the band Back of the Moon and is currently a member of Rough Tides, The Sprit of Scotland Pipe Band (http://www.spiritofscotlandpipeband.com/) and La Banda Europa (www.labandaeuropa.com).

Current Work

I am currently working on the use of ethnomusicological fieldwork in the investigation of pragmatic aesthetics in music. In particular I am researching semantic and bodily affect in audiences of traditional music.  I am also pursuing research into a cultural history of Scottish sectarianism.

Postgraduate Supervision

He currently supervises Matt Price who is researching the pedagogical approaches to traditional music through a Collaborative Doctoral Award with The Sage Gateshead.

Undergraduate Teaching

Simon McKerrell is the Degree Programme Director (2012-13) for the BMus Folk and Traditional Music degree and currently teaches the following undergraduate modules:

Studying Vernacular Musics
Folk Music Studies: Resources and Research Materials

He is also a first instrument tutor for Highland pipes and Uilleann pipes. 

Postgraduate Teaching

He is joint module leader for:

Advanced Studies in Traditional Music

• McKerrell S. Hearing sectarianism: understanding Scottish sectarianism as song. Critical Discourse Studies 2012, 9(4), 363-374.
• McKerrell S. An ethnography of hearing: somaesthetic hearing in traditional music. In: Flath, B., Pirchner, A., Pölzl, E., Sackl, S, ed. The Body Is The Message. Graz, Austria: Grazer Universitätsverlag Leykam, 2012. In Press.
• McKerrell S. Sound Performing: Sound Aesthetics among Competitive Pipers. International Review of the Aesthetics and Sociology of Music 2011, 42(1).
• McKerrell S. Bagpipes: A National Collection of a national Instrument, Hugh Cheape, Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland, 2008 [Review]. Ethnomusicology 2011, 55(3), 508-511.
• McKerrell S, O'Neill P, Reid J. The Friday Night Sessions - Traditional Music From Glasgow. Glasgow, UK: Footstompin Records, 2011. CD.
• McKerrell S. Modern Scottish Bands (1970-1990): Cash as Authenticity. Scottish Music Review 2011, 2(1).
• McKerrell S. 'The Concept of Mode in Scottish Bagpipe Music'. In: Dickson, J, ed. The Highland Bagpipe: Music, History, Tradition. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2009, pp.279-300.
• McKerrell S. Scottish Fiddle Music. In: Vallely, F, ed. Companion to Irish Traditional Music. Cork: Cork University Press, 2011, pp.603-605.
• McKerrell S. 2 tracks for compliation album 'On the Day'. California, USA: John MacDonald, 2011. CD.
• McKerrell S. 'Balkan and Roma Musics'. Classroom Music Magazine 2009, (33).
• McKerrell S. The Best of Piping Live, recital series 2006/07. Glasgow: The National Piping Centre, 2008. CD.
• McKerrell S, MacDonald F. The McKerrell-MacDonald Collection of Bagpipe Music. . Glasgow: Privately Published, 2007.
• Malcolm J. Tam O'Shanter. Perth: Beltane Records, 2005. CD.
• Douglas B. Angels from the Ashes. Aberdeen: Ridge Records, 2004. CD.
• McKerrell S, MacDonald F, Gibb C. Highland Games. Portree: Macmeanma Records, 2004. Audio CD/MP3.
• Daquin L-C. Les Douze Noëls. Linn Records: Glasgow, 2004. CD.
• Frame G, Napier F, Napier H, McKerrell S. Fortune's Road. Edinburgh: Footstompin Records, 2003. CD.
• Malcolm J. Home. Perth: Belatane Records, 2002. CD.
• Frame G, Napier F, Napier H, McKerrell S. Gillian Frame and Back of the Moon. . Edinburgh: Footstompin Records, 2001.