Professional Ins and Outs: Practicing/Performing Public Music Theory
Organizer(s): Melissa Hoag (Oakland University,)
Chair(s): Drew Nobile (University of Oregon), Elizabeth Sayrs (Ohio University)
The Professional Development Committee is presenting two 90-minute sessions on Public Music Theory, with an emphasis on career issues and practicalities.
One 90-minute panel, “Public Music Theory Outside the Academy,” will address the practical nuts-and-bolts aspects of public music theory: How much time does one spend on public music theory compared to more traditional refereed research activities? How does one explain public music theory activities to tenure and promotion committees, since it is not peer reviewed? How does one establish relationships with editors and secure funding for these projects? What about intellectual property concerns (especially for podcasts and video)? What are best practices for keeping materials reasonably short but still informative, especially for the video and podcast mediums? For podcasting, how does one discuss music in a somewhat technical way without referencing a score? How does one demystify music theory for a more general audience while still keeping it interesting for theorists? In addressing these questions, our goal is for attendees to leave with some practical strategies for presenting music theory to a general, non-expert audience as well as a better understanding of preparing materials for video and podcast. Drew Nobile, who has secured outside funding for his research and who has been interviewed by public media outlets such as the Today show, will moderate this panel.
The other 90-minute panel, “Public Music Theory Within the Academy,” will address how we represent and explain music theory to our colleagues in music who are not theorists, as well as those who are not in music. Anytime we speak on behalf of our field in faculty meetings, teach interdisciplinary courses, apply for grants to support our research, or advocate for our areas during curriculum or staffing discussions, we are acting as public music theorists. We hope that attendees will leave with greater confidence in their ability to advocate for their research and themselves as well as strategies for doing so, which in turn could lead to increased interdisciplinary collaborations and career advancement. Elizabeth Sayrs, who has worked as a music theory professor as well as an administrator at many different levels, will moderate this session.
Name of sponsoring group
Professional Development Committee
Presentations of the Symposium
Public music theory outside the academy
Matt Baileyshea1, Daniel B. Stevens2, Jennifer Beavers3, Megan Lyons4, David Thurmaier5, Megan Kaes Long6
1University of Rochester, 2University of Delaware, 3University of Texas at San Antonio, 4Furman University, 5University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, 6Oberlin College-Conservatory of Music
"Public Music Theory Outside the Academy” will address the practical nuts-and-bolts aspects of public music theory: How much time does one spend on public music theory compared to more traditional refereed research activities? How does one explain public music theory activities to tenure and promotion committees, since it is not peer reviewed? How does one establish relationships with editors and secure funding for these projects? What about intellectual property concerns (especially for podcasts and video)? What are best practices for keeping materials reasonably short but still informative, especially for the video and podcast mediums? For podcasting, how does one discuss music in a somewhat technical way without referencing a score? How does one demystify music theory for a more general audience while still keeping it interesting for theorists? In addressing these questions, our goal is for attendees to leave with some practical strategies for presenting music theory to a general, non-expert audience as well as a better understanding of preparing materials for video and podcast.
Public Music Theory Within the Academy
Abigail Shupe1, Deborah Rifkin2, Christine Boone3, Nancy Rogers4
1Colorado State University, 2Ithaca College, 3University of North Carolina Asheville, 4Florida State University
"Public Music Theory Within the Academy” will address how we represent and explain music theory to our colleagues in music who are not theorists, as well as those who are not in music. Anytime we speak on behalf of our field in faculty meetings, teach interdisciplinary courses, apply for grants to support our research, or advocate for our areas during curriculum or staffing discussions, we are acting as public music theorists. We hope that attendees will leave with greater confidence in their ability to advocate for their research and themselves as well as strategies for doing so, which in turn could lead to increased interdisciplinary collaborations and career advancement.
