Writing in Music: A Brief Guide

Writing in Music demystifies music writing conventions and methods by offering strategies for the types of writing that students most often encounter in college courses on music. The book offers guidance through the writing process and, for research assignments, through the research process. Geared for an audience of music majors and other students taking undergraduate music-major courses--and also for master's students in music desiring more training in academic writing--Writing in Music covers the two approaches common to academic coursework in virtually all music-major programs: the study of music with a focus on its cultural and historical contexts, and the exploration of works using the tools of music analysis. Whether students want to apply a specific approach or take a broader, interdisciplinary stance, this guide prepares them to think and write about music.

Table of Contents:
Preface About the Authors Acknowledgements MUSICIANS AS THINKERS AND WRITERS Chapter 1. Introduction Genres of Writing in Music Musicians as Researchers The Research Process in Music Chapter 2. Writing in the Academic Genres Interpreting Your Assignment Choosing a Suitable Audience Starting to Writ Editing and Revising Seeking Feedback Reflecting on the Process HISTORY RESEARCH PAPERS Chapter 3. Research Questions in Music History Music Historical Questions Getting Started: Creating a Research Question Chapter 4. Strategies for Working with Academic Sources Locating Sources Evaluating Print Sources: Credibility, Relevance, and Accuracy Organizing Sources Reading Academic Sources Summarizing Scholarly Writing Chapter 5. Writing Historical Research Papers Analysis and Interpretation Responding to Results: Synthesis, Objection, or Discovery Using Freewriting to Help You Discover Your Findings Deciding on Which Evidence to Use Drafting the Paper: Putting Your Findings in Writing Revising Your Historical Research Paper ANALYTICAL RESEARCH PAPERS Chapter 6. The Research Process in Music Analysis Selecting a Topic Choosing a Score and/or Recording Investigating the Topic and its Context Formulating a Research Question in Music Analysis Collecting Data Through Analysis Analyzing Your Results Interpreting Your Results Chapter 7. Writing the Analytical Research Paper Creating a Working Thesis and Working Outline Drafting Your Analytical Research Paper Writing Effective Titles Revising the Analytical Paper Writing Longer Analytical Research Papers WRITING FOR THE PUBLIC Chapter 8. Program Notes, Reviews, and Interviews Program Notes Concert and Media Reviews Interviews CONVENTIONS OF WRITING IN MUSIC Chapter 9. Incorporating Illustrations: Musical Examples, Tables, and Figures When to Use an Illustration Ways to Introduce Illustrations Where to Place Illustrations Musical Examples Tables Figures Practical Matters for Incorporating Illustrations in Formal Papers Checklist for Musical Examples, Tables, and Figures Chapter 10. Style Rhetorical Conventions in Music Practical Matters of Music Terminology Concise Writing is Persuasive Writing General Prose Conventions Chapter 11. Acknowledging Sources Respecting Your Sources Conventions for Formatting Source Citations from The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. Model Music Source Citations: Print, Sound, and Online Materials Endnotes Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Lynne Rogers is the Edward Aldwell Professor of the Techniques of Music at the Mannes School of Music at The New School. Karen M. Bottge is Associate Professor of Music Theory at the University of Kentucky. Sara Haefeli is Associate Professor of Music History at Ithaca College.

Review :
"Writing in Music is an extremely practical and comprehensive overview of students' writing needs. The book is packed with practical advice, examples, and pull-out illustrations, showing every stage of the process from personal interest in a piece to crafting the best title for an article. I especially appreciate the emphasis on how much writing is a process--from freestyle opening work, to careful drafting of an argument, to the vital process of deep revision."--Timothy J. Dickey, Ohio State University "Writing in Music has much better coverage than other similar books that I have seen. It's fantastic. I would describe it as a one-stop source for music writing."--Sanna Pederson, University of Oklahoma "Offering much more than just writing advice, Writing in Music decodes the entire research process from start to finish, specifically for music students. Music majors should get this book at the beginning of their careers, and keep it in arm's reach all four years of their program."--Mark Samples, Central Washington University "The authors have done an excellent job of providing many useful examples that illustrate their points. It is essential for any music course that includes a component on writing."--Mark McKnight, University of North Texas