Dr Lilian Simones

Professional biography

At the heart of Lilian's research is a vision of a world where music teachers (regardless of context) base their teaching on established teaching competencies, relevant research findings and use technology to promote and develop transformative learning through technology-enabled innovation. 

Her studies on teachers' gestural and verbal communication provide insights for reflective practice and optimisation of teachers' and learners' experiences and effectiveness (funded by the Department for Education and Learning, Northern Ireland).  The framework she developed for the study of gesture in vocal and instrumental music education (widely disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and conferences) has been used by other researchers nationally and internationally to expand gesture studies in music education. This framework also provides a platform for gestural considerations in other disciplines and future expansions on how technology can support teachers and learners.

Lilian's recently published book entitled Certificate for Music Educators: Teaching Children and Young People (2021) (Routledge) is the first book to support learners in the Certificate for Music Educators course (accredited by ABRSM and Trinity College London, validated by Ofqual). This book aims to positively impact standards for professionalisation in the music teaching profession and promote a deeper approach to reflective teaching and learning, specifically for musicians and music teachers. 

Lilian was also awarded funding by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) as Principal Investigator for the first research collaboration established between the music departments of QUB and Ulster University. This project focused on attitudes towards music performance modules (of students, teaching staff and part-time tutors). 

For details of Lilian's publications, please see the Publications page.

Lilian is keen to hear from potential PhD students in any area of music education and music psychology.

Lilian has a wide range of teaching experiences in university contexts within her subject areas (music psychology in education) and broader interdisciplinary teaching at QUB. She has taught piano and ensemble at the undergraduate level and modules ‘Listening and Repertory’ and ‘Psychoacoustics’.  She has led the development and delivery of postgraduate training for PhD students across disciplines at Queen's University Belfast, creating, designing and delivering several new programmes and workshops for researchers. These new programmes included The Future Ready Programme; Tell your Research Story Series, Introduction to Teaching for Postgraduate Researchers; and others. In this role. She has also mentored researchers applying for HEA membership. She was awarded a Queen’s University Teaching award in 2020 in recognition of her innovative approach to PhD professional development provision.

As Director and founder of Enact Music, she obtained accreditation from Trinity College London and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music to deliver the Certificate for Music Educators (CME) Level 4 and is the CME Course Director at Enact Music (www.enactmusic.com). She has designed learning resources for students as part of this course, including a dedicated online learning platform to support and complement students’ learning and published a guidebook to support learners in the course, entitled Certificate for Music Educators Guidebook: Teaching Children and Young People (2021) (Routledge). She also mentors some of the students in the course.

Through her research and her work as course Director, Mentor, Teacher and author for the Certificate for Music Educators course, Level 4, Lilian has continuously advocated and contributed to the professionalisation of music teachers in a variety of music teaching contexts within the UK and internationally.

Working in partnership with PhD students at QUB, Lilian led the creation of the journal International Modern Perspectives on Academia and Community Today (IMPACT) and served as co-editor-in-chief from October 2019 until November 2021. This initiative provided meaningful and authentic learning experiences to prepare doctoral students for life after the PhD by involving PGR students with practical learning experiences in the academic publication process and developing interdisciplinary working skills useful for other professional environments. The journal focuses on community engagement and outreach, with editorial and advisory boards comprising renowned experts from various disciplines relevant to public engagement research.

Lilian is a regular presenter at conferences and a reviewer for various music psychology and music education academic journals.