Description: Judith Vander is a composer who writes instrumental and vocal music for children and adults. She also is an Ethnomusicologist and author of award-winning books on Shoshone Indian music, Ghost Dance religion, and womens studies. She is also a poet.
poetry (4192) composition (1471) native american (568) children's music (154) ethnomusicology (39) shoshone (9) ghost dance (3) judith vander (1) songprints (1)
I have a variety of professional interests.I am a composer who has written music for performers of all ages. I am an ethnomusicologist who has written award-winning books on Native American music and religion. I also write poetry. This website will introduce readers to all my areas of interest, but my major goal is to make accessible (free of charge) my musical compositions to the varied community of musicians and music teachers who might be interested in performing them.
Let me briefly fill you in on my background. From my first piano lessons when I was four years old, music has always been at the center of my life. I received two degrees from the School of Music at the University of Michigan. In quick succession I earned a Bachelor Degree in Music Composition, married, and started my family of three children. While my children were in elementary school, I composed songs for the school choir. These songs were performed and it was the beginning of my interest in composing mu
In 1978, I received a Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology. This was the start of a twenty- year period of Native American research and writing. My first book presented the music and lives of Wind River Shoshone women, and the second was a broad study of Great Basin music, poetry, and religion.