Special Topics in Music

(4 Credits)

What is public musicology? How do we do it? And why does it matter? This course invites students to think creatively about how to make music/music studies accessible to diverse audiences within and beyond the academy. We will combine theoretical reflection on the contexts of public musicology with a practical exploration of how to communicate with the public across written, oral, and digital platforms. Topics will range from defining the nature of the “publics” in both local and global contexts to surveying curatorial practices and exploring music and sound as cultural heritage. We will read and write think pieces, examine program and liner notes, listen to podcasts and public lectures, craft radio scripts, explore activist scholarship, and learn about outreach and cross-sectoral initiatives. Through this we will develop an understanding not only of the myriad forms of public musicology and the ways in which it can enrich our work, but also of its significance within academia and society more generally. Ultimately our approach will embrace public musicology as a lived practice that connects us to one another and the world around us.