On the Future of Music Research
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Date
2021-12-16
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Publisher
Ohio State University. Libraries
Abstract
Several observations are made regarding the state of music research. An extended list of research questions is presented and descriptive, hermeneutic, explanatory, and poetic approaches to arts scholarship distinguished. It is proposed that a valuable area for future research is policy-related scholarship, especially research oriented toward advancing the public interest in cultural matters. While the goals of public/applied musicology are endorsed, attention is drawn to the risks of relying on practices that are not evidence based. The critical role played by explanatory research as an agent of change is highlighted. At the same time, doubts are expressed regarding the potential for music to precipitate major political transformation. It is suggested that corpus studies offer a promising future research avenue. Multi-measure research methods are endorsed and an integrated bio-psycho-socio-cultural approach to musical understanding is advocated. Public questions and answers follow.
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Keywords
music research, motivating questions, applied musicology, music and politics, music science, cultural policy
Citation
Future Directions of Music Cognition (2021), pp. 5-24