Robbie MacKay

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Paul Langlois, left, and Rob Baker from the Tragically Hip help unveil a plaque at Springer Market Square in Kingston, Ont., in February 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Should a Tragically Hip song have been played at a Pierre Poilievre event?

Robbie MacKay, Queen's University, Ontario and Lisa Macklem, Western University

There is a distinction between deliberate use of a song to support a particular political campaign, and incidental music in the background at a social function hosted by a political party.
Blob Opera, developed by Google and AI artist David Li, lets students manipulate a soprano, alto, tenor and bass quartet of blobs. (YoutTube/Google Arts & Culture)

Teaching music online in the pandemic has yielded creative surprises, like mixing ‘Blob Opera’ and beatboxing

Robbie MacKay, Queen's University, Ontario

From incorporating video-based performances to learning new composition apps, teaching students virtually has forced music educators to learn and share new ways to reach students.
Artist Alanis Morissette receives her lifetime achievement award from the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the 2015 Juno Awards. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Junos 50th anniversary: How we remember these award‑winning hit singles

Robbie MacKay, Queen's University, Ontario; Armand Garnet Ruffo, Queen's University, Ontario; Kip Pegley, Queen's University, Ontario; Rebecca Draisey-Collishaw, Queen's University, Ontario; Robert Morrison, Queen's University, Ontario; Tamar Faber, York University, Canada, and Vershawn Ashanti Young, University of Waterloo

Known variously in Juno history as ‘Best Single,’ or ‘Best-Selling Single,’ and now ‘Single of the Year’ this award always garners attention. Reflections on select singles since 1979.
Un grand requin blanc mâle, un des animaux les plus puissants, photographié à Seal Island, en Afrique du Sud. L image iconique du requin est profondément ancrée dans l'esprit humain par le film «Jaws» de Steve Spielberg. Shutterstock

45 ans plus tard, voici pourquoi le thème musical des « Dents de la mer » inspire toujours la terreur

Robbie MacKay, Queen's University, Ontario

Le film « Jaws » s’ouvre sur un morceau de musique vraiment emblématique. Deux notes nous tiennent en haleine. Comment la musique manipule-t-elle nos émotions ?
Composer John Williams employed the relationship between music and emotions to great effect in film scores. In this file photo, Williams poses on the red carpet at the 2016 AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to John Williams at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Invision/AP/Chris Pizzello)

45 years on, the ‘Jaws’ theme manipulates our emotions to inspire terror

Robbie MacKay, Queen's University, Ontario

The movie ‘Jaws’ opens with a truly iconic piece of music. Two notes have us on the edge of our seats in anticipation — how does music manipulate our emotions?
Two Steve Martin banjo video tweets have been viewed more than 10 million times since March 21, 2020. Here, stills from the ‘Banjo Calm’ video. (@SteveMartinToGo/Twitter)

Steve Martin’s banjo and other music played from coronavirus isolation show how the arts connect us

Roberta Lamb, Queen's University, Ontario and Robbie MacKay, Queen's University, Ontario

Through social media experiences, both professional and amateur musicians-in-isolation offer community expressions of human spirit, and audiences appreciate their gifts.

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