Lilian has worked extensively over the years as a piano teacher, piano accompanist, and as a solo pianist particularly interested in the works of Chopin and Mozart.

She has recently been awarded a MA in Music Psychology in Education (with distinction), at the University of Sheffield. 

Lilian embarked on a PhD project exploring the role of body movement and gestures used in the context of teaching and learning to play the piano, after being awarded a D.E.L. scholarship in 2011. She is particularly interested in looking at the ‘physicality’ involved in learning to play a musical instrument and the essential role of the teacher in the development of this embodied skill. This is a multidisciplinary project at the Sonic Arts Research Centre in collaboration with the School of Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast, supervised by Professors Michael Alcorn and Cathy Craig, with the assistance of Dr Franziska Schroeder and Dr Matthew Rodger.

Her research interests range from music education to the social ‘coding’ of music in relation to the contribution of music to everyday emotional wellbeing.

Work in Progress:

Simones, L., Schroeder, F. & Rodger, M. (2012) An exploratory analysis of the role of gesture in instrumental music teaching and learning (in preparation).

Publications:

Simones, L. (2011) The Dynamics of Expectations in Music Performance Modules in Higher Education: changing attitudes among students, part-time tutors and full-time staff. Briefing paper, HEA Learning and Teaching enhancement fund Northern Ireland (2010/2011), available at: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/nations/northernireland/NI_E_Fund_Briefing_Reports

Simones, L. (2011) The Dynamics of Expectations in Music Performance Modules in Higher Education. In Charles A. Shoniregun & Galyna A. Akmayeva (Eds), peer-reviewed conference proceedings of the Ireland International Conference on Education (IICE-2011). Dublin, Ireland: 213-216. (Funded by the HEA).

Simones, L. (2011) Engaging Students in Music Performance Modules in Higher Education. In Christine Hardy (Ed) Researching, Advancing and Inspiring Student Engagement. Paper presented at RAISE conference, Engaging Students in Challenging Times, Nottingham: Trent University, 15th and 16th September: 52. (Funded by the HEA).