The Online Program of events for the 2023 AMS & SMT Joint Annual Meeting appears below. This program is subject to change. The final program will be published in early November.
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Presenter(s): William Cheng (Dartmouth), Joseph Pfender (Editor-in-Chief, Programs, at Aspen Music Festival and School), Kira Thurman (University of Michigan), Will Robin (University of Maryland)
Organized by the AMS Committee on the Annual Meeting and Public Events (CAMPE)
Public-facing musicology encompasses many different forms of engagement with wider audiences. However, the path to success in this field is not always clear, and the ways in which successful public musicologists have achieved their goals can be difficult to discern. This roundtable session, titled “Demystifying Public Musicology,” brings together scholars, music journalists, podcasters, and people in the music industry to discuss the opportunities and challenges of public-facing work.
The roundtable begins by examining the role of musicologists in the public sphere. Panelists will explore the ways in which musicologists can contribute to public discourse about music, whether through popular media, public speaking events, or other forms of outreach. They will also discuss the importance of making academic research more accessible and engaging for non-expert audiences, and the challenges involved in bridging the gap between scholarly research and public-facing work. Panelists will share their experiences working in different contexts, such as writing for popular music magazines, hosting podcasts on music history, doing music industry outreach, or curating museum exhibitions. They will discuss the skills and knowledge that are needed for this type of work, as well as the benefits and limitations of different platforms for engaging with public audiences.The discussants will share their experiences entering the world of public-facing work and posit strategies for those just getting started.
The roundtable concludes by considering the future of public musicology and the role that it might play in the broader field of musicology. Panelists will reflect on the potential impact of this type of work, both for public audiences and for the academic community, and consider ways in which musicological training can best contribute to public-facing practices. By demystifying the practice of public-facing musicology, this roundtable offers valuable insights into the relationship between public musicology and the academy, providing a forum for scholars, journalists, podcasters, and industry professionals to exchange ideas and share their experiences.
