UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1200

Submission information
Submission Number: 1200
Submission ID: 20596
Submission UUID: cdc94cea-798e-4adc-a868-f668df1fed9f

Created: Sun, 08/17/2025 - 03:36 PM
Completed: Sun, 08/17/2025 - 03:45 PM
Changed: Fri, 09/05/2025 - 01:26 PM

Remote IP address: 98.192.132.152
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No

Research Mentor Information

Natalie Sherer
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Dr.
nsherer@fsu.edu
Faculty
Music
Voice & Opera Area
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Additional Research Mentor(s)

Elizabeth Avery
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Dr.
eavery@fsu.edu
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Overall Project Details

Living Song Project
art song, database, music, data entry, website
Yes
2
Preference for College of Music major with specializations in voice, piano, composition, or musicology. Additionally, a computer science major or student who has both programming skills and a knowledge of music.
On FSU Main Campus
No, the project is remote
Partially Remote
5-10 hours
Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
The Living Song Project (LSP) is an interdisciplinary digital humanities initiative aimed at creating a comprehensive, searchable database of contemporary US American art song and vocal chamber music by living composers. This project addresses a critical gap in music scholarship and performance by providing easy access to new repertoire that is often difficult to discover due to limited publication and distribution.
LSP combines rigorous scholarly research with innovative digital tools to build an expansive, user-friendly online resource that supports performers, educators, composers, and researchers. The database currently includes detailed metadata for thousands of songs, composers, and text authors, enabling nuanced searches by voice type, instrumentation, text themes, geography, and more. Our ultimate goal is to encourage greater performance and study of vocal music by US American living composers.
A student research assistant(s) will be integral to our next phase of the project. Responsibilities will include gathering, verifying, and entering detailed metadata from a variety of sources such as scores, recital programs, composition contest listings, and publisher catalogs. The assistant will also support quality control and help test new website functionalities as we optimize the platform for public launch. This position offers a unique opportunity to engage deeply with contemporary music scholarship, digital humanities methodologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration with our research team and beyond.
data collection, data entry, collaborating with research team to identify new resources
Required: accurate data entry; attention to detail
Recommended: familiarity with art song repertoire; familiarity with musical notation
My approach to mentorship is rooted in respect, discernment, and care. I see each student as a developing artist and individual, and I aim to support both their musical growth and their broader personal and professional development.

Much of my mentoring has taken place in one-on-one coachings and performance contexts. These settings allow for a more personal connection and open the door to individualized feedback and meaningful conversations. I offer guidance that is specific, honest, and encouraging, helping students understand not just what to improve, but why it matters. I want to empower students to explore the subject matter deeply themselves while giving clear expectations and support along the way. I love helping students grow in confidence, creativity, independence, and creative insight.

I strive to create an environment where students feel comfortable to ask questions and experiment, and I encourage students to connect with the deeper joy and purpose behind their work. When possible, I also talk openly about balance—ideas for approaching performance with a healthy mindset and thoughts toward building a sustainable life in music in general. This helps ground the work in the bigger picture of their lives as inherently valuable people.

Whether through coaching, performance, or research collaboration, I want students to leave our time together not only more capable, but more equipped with tools, self-awareness, inspiration to keep growing well beyond our work together.
https://fsu-my.sharepoint.com/personal/ea23p_fsu_edu/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fea23p%5Ffsu%5Fedu%2FDocuments%2FLiving%20Song%20Project%20Demo%2Epdf&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fea23p%5Ffsu%5Fedu%2FDocuments&ga=1
Note: This would be 90% remote work, but we'd want to meet in person periodically (especially at the beginning).
Yes
Link to Zoom video:
https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/p5daOkumjS1O4YXRLs8XYYMpmiHNGlfUnK8FL-g_fMbDl4n1o_xZE4N9-2w8SsxZ.Kf4nl1ZLubTuW13S?startTime=1757089950000

  • Day: Wednesday, September 3
    Start Time: 12:00
    End Time: 12:30
    Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/nsherer
  • Day: Friday, September 5
    Start Time: 12:30
    End Time: 1:00
    Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/nsherer
  • Day: Wednesday, September 3
    Start Time: 12:30
    End Time: 1:00
    Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/nsherer

UROP Program Elements

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
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2025
https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=bB2YzpNeP-jDuBzUwqkWBamUra5PVfAEjmqdzeL6KBg