Education
- PhD Music Education, University of Toronto
- MMus Music Education, University of Toronto
- BEd Elementary Education, University of Alberta
- BMus Piano Performance, University of Alberta
Biography
Dr. Bina Ann John teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Piano Skills for Professional Musicians/Teachers, Psychological Foundations of Music Education, Social Psychology of Music, Music and Urban Engagement, Community Music, and Advanced Topics in Childhood. Dr. John received the Faculty of Music Excellence in Teaching Award in May 2014 and was nominated again in 2018.
Dr. John will be the lead investigator in a collaborative project, “From Custody to Community”, with the Community Music Schools of Toronto and Turning Point Youth Services. She continues to collaborate with the research project “The Virtual Music Teacher” with Dr. Elaine Biddiss. Past research projects include lead investigator for “Of Music and Justice Denied, A case study with justice involved youth” with TPYS and the Regent Park School of Music.
Bina John serves as a member of the Board of Directors as well as the Co-Chair of the Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppression Committee for the Community Music Schools of Toronto. Bina also serves on the Advisory Committee for the Doane Music School. Dr. John is the Program Advisor for the MusiCounts Slaight Family Foundation Innovation Fund and has served as a Judge for the Canadian JUNO Awards.
Bina performs with the Exultate Chamber Choir and serves as the Music Director at St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church. Her senior choir was the first choral ensemble of South Indian origin to perform at the DCINY’s Handel Messiah, on December 1st, 2019, at Carnegie Hall, NYC.
Dr. John was the keynote speaker for the Ontario Music Educators Association Conference and at the Youth Music Early Years Conference in Yarmouth, England. She has presented research papers at the International Society for Sociology and Music Conference, the International Society for Music Education in Glasgow, at ECME/ISME in Barcelona, at RiME in Bath Spa, UK. at the International Society for Sociology in Music Education in New Orleans, OMEA Resonate Conference at Niagara Falls, the Association for British Choral Directors at Newcastle, England, the Third International Conference of Music Education at the University of Exeter.
Bina has published articles on music and justice involved youth in the Canadian Music Educator, on creative musical play in the ACT (MayDay) Journal, ISSME Special Edition, a chapter on Affect and Music, in Volume II of the CMEA Biennial Series Book, Questioning the Music Education Paradigm, and in Music Time.