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Charlene Ryan

Charlene Ryan

Associate Professor
EducationBMus, BMusEd, MMus, PhD
OfficeKHS 363L, Kerr Hall South
Phone416-979-5000, ext. 557635
Areas of ExpertiseEarly childhood and elementary music education; Music performance anxiety; Community building; Performance preparation.

Charlene Ryan is an associate professor of the School of Early Childhood Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is an early childhood/elementary music educator and has worked extensively in this field - in higher education, grade school, and in community programs for young children. Before joining the university in 2016, she served as associate professor of Music Education at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and previously, chair of Music Education at McGill University. She has won numerous awards, including the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Berklee Urban Service Award, and a major research grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Dr. Ryan is a leading expert on music performance anxiety. Her work has been presented globally and published in journals such as Journal of Research in Music Education, Musicae Scientiae, Psychology of Music, Music and Science, Journal of Music Teacher Education, International Journal of Music Education, Medical Problems of Performing Artists, International Journal of Stress Management, and Canadian Music Educator.

Dr. Ryan has a keen interest in community building and is the author of Building Strong Music Programs: A Handbook for Preservice and Novice Music Teachers (Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2009), which is used in teacher education programs across the continent and was recognized as an Outstanding Academic Title by the Association of College and Research Libraries. She has served as chair of the Learning and Development Special Research Interest Group of the National Association for Music Education, chair of the Music Research and Teacher Education Council of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, and is past-president of the Quebec Music Educators Association. Dr. Ryan serves on the editorial boards for Journal of Research in Music Education and Journal of Piano Research, with previous positions on the boards of International Journal of Music Education and Frontiers in Psychology|Performance Science. She is the past Editor for Canadian Music Educator.

She is the author of many books for young musicians, including the picture books, Hannabelle's Butterflies and The Milk Crate Club and chapter books, Katherine Lost and Katherine’s Question. Her pedagogical picture books, The Sound Books, are designed for interactive exploration of the elements of music and are a staple in music classrooms. The collection includes Up and Down Sounds, Big and Small Sounds, Sections of Sound, Layers of Sound, Moving Sound, and Grouping Sound, along with the six-book compilation, Playing with Sound, designed for educators and collegiate students.

  • Schembri, A., Ryan, C., Wang, A., & Lee, C. (2026). Clinical simulation and its impact on physiological anxiety in nursing students. Clinical Simulation in Nursing 114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.101928 (external link) 
  • Ryan, G., Ryan, C., & Karamanos, T. (2025). Musical Belonging: A Scoping Review on Interpersonal Relationships within Music Ensembles. Belonging, 1(1-2), 153-173. https://doi.org/10.1177/30290805251372609 (external link)      
  • Ryan, C., Tsang, J., & Dumlavwalla, D. (2025). Inside the piano studio: What teachers say about performance training, perfectionism, and performance anxiety. Psychology of Music, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356251334568 (external link) 
  • Ryan, C., Ryan, G., & McKay, E. (2025). Performing music and performing teaching: A pilot study on the experiences and anxieties of music student teachers. Journal of Music Teacher Education 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10570837251318019 (external link) 
  • Ryan, C., Andrews, N., & Tsang, J. (2024). Music performance anxiety and perfectionism: A comparison of in-person and virtual contexts. Musicae Scientiae 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10298649241297229 (external link) 
  • Sims, W. & Ryan, C. (2023). Relationships Between Music Performance Anxiety and Imposter Phenomenon Responses of Graduate Music Performance Students. Psychology of Music. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356231209264 (external link) .
  • Ryan, C., Ryan, G., Boucher, H. (2023). Dear Caregivers of Music-Learners. Canadian Music Educator 65(1), 16-19.
  • Ryan, C. (2023). Play: Questions & Answers. Piano Magazine, 15(1), 80.
  • Ryan, C. Boucher, H., & Ryan, G. (2023). Practice, Performance, and Anxiety: A Pilot Study on Student Perception of Parental Involvement and Musical Training. Music and Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/20592043221145000 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Ryan, C. (2022). Play: Questions & Answers. Piano Magazine, 14(4), 72.
  • Moreno, M., Ryan, C.A., & Woodruff, E. (2022). Background music of varying tempi produces differing facial emotional expressions and performance in music majors and non-majors as they complete a reading comprehension test. International Journal of Music Education. Advance online publication http://doi.org/10.1177/02557614221125941 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2022). The Canadian Music Educator, 63 (3). Canadian Music Educators’ Association.
  • Ryan, C. (2022). Editor’s Message. Canadian Music Educator, 63 (3), 2. 
  • Ryan, C. (2022). Performance anxiety in young contemporary musicians. Journal of Popular Music Education, 5(3), 313-335. https://doi.org/10.1386/jpme_00064_1 (external link) 
  • Ryan, C., Boucher, H., & Ryan, G. (2022). Children's feelings about piano performances across a year of study. International Journal of Music Education. Advance online publication https://doi.org/10.1177/02557614211066342 (external link) 
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2021). The Canadian Music Educator, 63(2).
  • Ryan, C. (2021). Editor's message. The Canadian Music Educator, 63(2), 2.
  • Ryan, C. & Andrews, N. (2021). High school band musicians: Performance anxiety and post-secondary plans. Journal of Band Research, 57(1), 54-71.
  • Jeong, S.S.E & Ryan, C.A. (2021). A Critical Review of Child Perfectionism as it Relates to Music Pedagogy. Psychology of Music. Advance online publication https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356211042080 (external link) 
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2021). The Canadian Music Educator, 62(4).
  • Ryan, C. (2021). Editor's message. The Canadian Music Educator, 62(4), 2.
  • Ryan, C., Boucher, H., & Ryan, G. (2021). Performance preparation, anxiety, and the teacher: Experiences of adolescent pianists. Revue Musicale OICRM, 8(1).
  • Feltham, L., & Ryan, C. (2020). Exploring pedagogical practices for engaging boys in ballet, Journal of Dance Education, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/15290824.2020.1841206 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2020). The Canadian Music Educator, 62(3).
  • Ryan, C. (2020). Editor’s message. The Canadian Music Educator, 62(3), 2.
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2020). The Canadian Music Educator, 62(2).
  • Ryan, C. (2020). Editor’s message. The Canadian Music Educator, 62(2), 2.
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2020). The Canadian Music Educator, 62(1).
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2020). The Canadian Music Educator, 61(4).
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2020). The Canadian Music Educator, 61(3).
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2020). The Canadian Music Educator, 61(2).
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2019). The Canadian Music Educator, 61(1).
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2019). The Canadian Music Educator, 60(4).
  • Ryan, C. (Ed.). (2019). The Canadian Music Educator, 60(3).
  • Ryan, C. (2020). Editor’s message. The Canadian Music Educator, 62(1), 2.
  • Ryan, C. (2020). Editor’s message. The Canadian Music Educator, 61(4), 2.
  • Ryan, C. (2020). Editor’s message. Canadian Music Educator, 61(3), 2.
  • Ryan, C. (2020). Editor’s message. The Canadian Music Educator, 61(2), 2.
  • Ryan, C. (2019). Editor’s message. The Canadian Music Educator, 61(1), 2.
  • Ryan, C. (2019). Editor’s message. The Canadian Music Educator, 60(4), 2.
  • Ryan, C. (2019). Editor’s message. The Canadian Music Educator, 60(3), 2-3.
  • Ryan, C. (Column Editor.). (2016). Research matters. Massachusetts Music Educators Journal, 64(2), 50.
  • Ryan, C. (Column Editor.). (2015). Research matters. Massachusetts Music Educators Journal, 64(1), 48.
  • Ryan, C. (2015). Straight talk for music teachers about performance anxiety. Ala Breve: The Official Publication of the Alabama Music Educators Association, (October/November), 57-58. http://online.pubhtml5.com/pban/mfho/#p=2 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Ryan, C. (2012). Performance anxiety: What students tell us; what teachers can do.  Massachusetts Music News, (February).
  • Boucher, H., & Ryan, C. (2011). Performance Stress and the very young musician. Journal of Research in Music Education, 58(2), 329-345. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0022429410386965 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Ryan, C., & Andrews, N. (2009). An investigation into the choral singer’s experience of music performance anxiety. Journal of Research in Music Education, 57(2), 108-126. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0022429409336132 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Ryan, C. (2009). Performance anxiety in developing musicians. Massachusetts Music News, (April), 52.
  • Ryan, C., Wapnick, J., Lacaille, N., & Darrow, A.-A. (2006). The effects of various physical characteristics of high-level performers on adjudicators’ performance ratings. Psychology of Music, 34(4), 559-572. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0305735606068106 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Ryan, C. (2005). The experience of musical performance anxiety in elementary school children. International Journal of Stress Management, 12(4), 331-342. http://doi.org/10.1037/1072-5245.12.4.331 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Wapnick, J., Ryan, C., Campbell, L., Deek, P., & Lemire, R. (2005). Effects of excerpt tempo and duration on musicians’ ratings of high-level piano performances. Journal of Research in Music Education, 53(2), 162-176. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F002242940505300206 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Ryan, C., & Costa-Giomi, E. (2004). Attractiveness bias in the evaluation of young pianists’ performances. Journal of Research in Music Education, 52(2), 141-154. https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3345436 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Wapnick, J. Ryan, C., Lacaille, N., & Darrow, A. (2004). Effects of selected variables on musicians’ ratings of high-level piano performances. International Journal of Music Education, 22(1), 7-19. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0255761404042371 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Ryan, C. A. (2004). Gender differences in children’s experience of musical performance anxiety. Psychology of Music, 32(1), 89-103. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0305735604039284 (external link, opens in new window) 
  • Wapnick, J. Ryan, C., Lacaille, N., & Darrow, A. (2003). Effects of selected variables on musicians’ ratings of high-level piano performances. Proceedings for the International Symposium on Research in Music Behavior.
  • Ryan, C. A. (2003). Arts week: How it raised the profile of the arts in my school. Teaching Music.
  • Ryan, C. A. (1999). Musical performance anxiety: Are elementary band students affected? Opus, (May), 8-9.
  • Ryan, C. A. (1998). Exploring musical performance anxiety in children. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, (September), 83-88.

Books and book chapters:

  • Ryan, C.A. (2023). Playing with Sound: A Sound Books Anthology. Creative Sound Press.
  • Ryan, C. (2009). Building strong music programs: A handbook for pre-service and novice music teachers. Rowman and Littlefield Education. *Selected by Choice magazine as the “2010 Outstanding Academic Title”
  • Ryan, C. (2007). An investigation into the experience of musical performance anxiety in elementary school children. In H. Rodrigues & C. Johnson (Eds.), Investigacao em psicologia da musica: Estudos criticos. Edicoes Colibri: Centro de Estudos de Sociologia e Estetica Musical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

Books: Children and Youth:

  • Ryan, C.A. (2026). Katherine’s Question. Creative Sound Press.
  • Ryan, C. A. (2022). Moving Sound. Creative Sound Press.
  • Ryan, C. A. (2022). Grouping Sound. Creative Sound Press.
  • Ryan, C. A. (2022). Layers of Sound. Creative Sound Press.
  • Ryan, C. A. (2021). The Milk Crate Club. Creative Sound Press.
  • Ryan, C. A. (2021). Sections of Sound. Creative Sound Press.
  • Ryan, C. A. (2021). Big and Small Sounds. Creative Sound Press.
  • Ryan, C. A. (2021). Up and Down Sounds. Creative Sound Press
  • Ryan, C. A. (2021) Katherine Lost. Creative Sound Press.
  • Ryan, C. A. (2020) Hannabelle’s Butterflies. Creative Sound Press.