People
Co-Directors
Dr. Andrew Goldman
(IU Profile | Personal Website | Google Scholar)
Dr. Peter Miksza
(IU Profile | Personal Website | Google Scholar)
Independent Study Students

Thomas Mathias is a violinist from Aberystwyth, Wales, currently studying at the Jacobs School of Music with Mauricio Fuks. Named a winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society's 'Julius Isserlis' Scholarship for studies overseas, Thomas is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, and has appeared live as a soloist on BBC Radio Cymru and S4C television. Thomas' main area of research interest lies in musical practice efficiency and peak performance, and is currently undertaking a study with Dr. Andrew Goldman looking at the contextual interference effect in musicians' practice. This is being carried out by examining how the structuring and sequencing of violinists' practice affects acquisition and retention of skill. Thomas enjoys being a member of the Music and Mind Lab and is grateful for the opportunities this affords to learn more about a range of music-related topics, and to hone research study ideas. (Personal Website)

My name is Lillian Dietrich. I am currently a junior undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Cognitive Science and a B.M. in percussion. I plan on continuing my education in grad school and then working at a research university. When I’m not studying, I am practicing and preparing for various lessons, ensembles, or drum corps. In the future, I would love to do longitudinal studies on different types of music education for children and how it affects their academic development. Lillian is currently working on a project on timing perception in percussionists vs. wind players with Dr. Andrew Goldman and Dr. Peter Miksza.

Anna Gruzas is a senior from Walled Lake, Michigan, double majoring in Music Performance and Psychology. She studies Horn Performance with Jeff Nelsen here in the Jacobs School of Music, and enjoys performances in the orchestral ensembles at IU, as well as with the Conductor’s Orchestra through the school. Outside of performing, she plans on pursuing a career in the field of performance psychology and conducting research connecting the fields of music and psychology. Outside of school, Anna spends her time with friends exploring the city of Bloomington, second-hand shopping, and collecting plants and vinyl records.
Undergraduate Members
- Lillian Dietrich
- Anna Gruzas
- Mikayla McCommas
- TianQi Peng
Graduate Members
- Megan Ankuda
- Michelle Astorsdotter
- Laura Bottei
- Zachary Clark
- Christina Herman
- Sharon Juan
- Leigh Levinson
- Thomas Mathias
- Evan Roberts
- Alexander Shannon
- Tracey Shi
- Samantha Waddell