Writing About Music: An Introductory Guide

For classes in Music Writing and Research, as well as a supplement to Music Appreciation and History courses.

 

How do you put into the words the experience of hearing Beethoven’s Ninth or the Hallelujah Chorus?  Describe a John Coltrane solo or the Jimi Hendrix’s blazing guitar work?  For many students, the task of writing about musical experiences is a daunting one.  Writing About Music, 4/e offers practical advice and guidance to help students master the special skills needed to write about this most-elusive of arts.  The text serves as a guide for each phase in the process of researching and writing a paper on a musical topic, and preparing for other projects such as seminar presentations, concert reports, program notes and essay examinations.  Innovative, comprehensive, and internet-savvy, this step-by-step text will remain on music students’ shelves as a handy reference and resource for years to come.

Focusing on general writing issues as well as special challenges of writing about music, this useful, practical text provides clear, step-by-step explanations of the process of writing a paper based on a musical topic. In addition to coverage of research, organization, drafting and editing, it also includes a thorough section on basic writing skills. The Second Edition has been both expanded and updated to reflect the latest research, resources, references and sylistic conventions.