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Cover

Writing in Music

A Brief Guide

Lynne Rogers, Karen M. Bottge, and Sara Haefeli

Publication Date - 07 January 2021

ISBN: 9780190872724

288 pages
Paperback
5 x 7 3/4 inches

In Stock

The ideal pocket-sized manual for undergraduate and master's students in music who want to improve their writing

Description

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--as well as 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.

Features

  • Offers strategies for the types of writing that students most often encounter in college courses on music
  • Guides students 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, as well as for master's students in music desiring more training in academic writing
  • Covers 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

About the Author(s)

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.

Reviews

"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

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

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