Karin Hendricks

Karin Hendricks joined the Boston University faculty in 2015, with previous faculty appointments at the University of Illinois and Ball State University.  She was the 2023 recipient of the Metcalf Cup and Prize, Boston University’s highest faculty honor. She has taught courses in instrumental music education, research, sociology and psychology of music, music and social justice, and contemporary and alternative approaches to music learning. She has also served as department chair, co-director of undergraduate studies for the School of Music, and as co-chair for the inclusive pedagogy sub-initiative of Boston University’s 2030 strategic plan.

Dr. Hendricks has served in state, national, and international music education leadership positions, including as President-Elect (2022-2024) and Secretary (2016-2018) of the American String Teachers Association and on the Editorial Committees of the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, String Research Journal, and Journal of Research in Music Education. Her research interests include social psychology and diversity, equity, and inclusion in music learning contexts, with a particular focus on student engagement. She has published peer-reviewed papers in Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education; American Suzuki Journal; American String Teacher; Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education; Early Childhood Research and Practice; Frontiers in Education; Gender and Education; International Journal of Music Education; International Journal of Music in Early Childhood; Journal of Music Teacher Education; Journal of Research in Music Education; Music Educators Journal; Research Studies in Music Education; Philosophy of Music Education Review; Psychology of Music; String Research Journal; and Update: Applications of Research in Music Education.  She has also published numerous practice-based articles in state music education journals.  

Dr. Hendricks has published seven books, including Compassionate Music Teaching (Rowman & Littlefield), Performance Anxiety Strategies (Rowman & Littlefield), four edited volumes on music and wellbeing, and the Oxford Handbook of Care in Music Education. She has contributed book chapters for texts published by the Canadian Music Educators’ Association, GIA, Meredith Music, Oxford University Press, Peter Lang, Routledge, Rowman and Littlefield, and Springer.  She was the 2018 recipient of the American String Teachers Association “Emerging String Researcher” Award.

Before moving to university teaching, Karin enjoyed a successful public school orchestra career for 13 years. She was named “Secondary Teacher of the Year” for the Utah Chapter of the American String Teachers Association; “Teacher of the Year” at Logan High School in Utah; and was a recipient of the United States Presidential Scholar Teacher Recognition Award.  Dr. Hendricks is active throughout the United States and abroad as an instrumental music clinician and adjudicator, and presents internationally on research related to music learning, motivation, and performance.

PUBLICATIONS

• The Oxford Handbook of Care in Music Education
• Compassionate Music Teaching (Rowman & Littlefield)
• Performance Anxiety Strategies (Rowman & Littlefield)
• Queering Freedom: Music, Identity, and Spirituality (Peter Lang)
• Narratives and Reflections in Music Education: Listening to Voices Seldom Heard (Springer)
• Authentic Connection: Music, Spirituality, and Wellbeing (Peter Lang)
• Living Song: Singing, Spirituality, and Wellbeing (Peter Lang)

AWARDS

• Boston University Metcalf Cup and Prize for Teaching
• American String Teachers Association “Emerging String Researcher” Award
• United States Presidential Scholar Teacher Recognition Award