If writing about music is like dancing about architecture, you'd do best to hone your chops and avoid clich�s (like the one that begins this sentence) by learning from the prime movers. How to Write About Music offers a selection of the best writers on what is perhaps our most universally beloved art form. Selections from the critically-acclaimed 33 1/3 series appear alongside new interviews and insights from authors like Lester Bangs, Chuck Klosterman, Owen Pallet, Ann Powers and Alex Ross. How to Write About Music includes primary sources of inspiration from a variety of go-to genres such as the album review, the personal essay, the blog post and the interview along with tips, writing prompts and advice from the writers themselves. Music critics of the past and the present offer inspiration through their work on artists like Black Sabbath, Daft Punk, J Dilla, Joy Division, Kanye West, Neutral Milk Hotel, Radiohead, Pussy Riot and countless others. How to Write About Music is an invaluable text for all those who have ever dreamed of getting their music writing published and a pleasure for everyone who loves to read about music.

Table of contents: Preface 1. Music Terminology 2. Narrative Text 3. Citations 4. Musical Examples 5. Tables and Illustrations 6. The Printed Program 7. Electronics 8. Best Practices for Student Writers Appendix: Problem Words and Sample Style Sheet Bibliography.

Music in Words is a compact guide to researching and writing about music, addressing all the issues that anyone who writes about music--from students to professional musicians and critics--may confront when putting together anything from brief program notes to a lengthy thesis. The book is a writing guide and a reference manual in one: the first part, a "how to" section, offers a clear explanation of the purpose of music research and how it is to be done, including basic introductions to the most necessary tools for musical inquiry (with special emphasis on strategic use of the internet), and how they can be accessed and used. The second part is a compendium of information on style and sources for quick reference, including a straightforward presentation of the purpose and use of citation and reference systems as they are applied to and in music. As a whole, the volume gives readers a clear picture of how to write about music at different levels and for different purposes in a handy, thoroughly cross-referenced format. This American edition has been thoroughly revised and expanded, and features an extensive section on writing for the Internet and new sections on writing for jazz, popular music, world musics, and ethnography. Additionally, a companion website presents a broad range of writing samples and links to key resources.

Introduction. Modern Music Education -- Creativity in Music Education -- Technology in Music Education -- The Informal Learning Approach -- Digital Audio Workstations -- Notation Software -- Other Online Tools for Fostering Creativity -- Makey Makey and Coding for Creativity -- Electronic, Digital, and Virtual Instruments -- Tech for Facilitating Creativity with Small Ensembles -- Other Considerations.

Looks at each of the National Standards for Music Education and breaks them down into concepts that are teachable in any music classroom.

Suitable for exam boards: Edexcel, AQA, OCR, WJEC The Writing about Music Workbook will develop students' skills in writing about music for AS, A2 and undergraduate level. Exercises appear at every stage to challenge and provide examination practice for students. These range from naming musical features and spotting grammatical errors to devising essay plans and analysing sample answers. Beginning with fundamental writing requirements, this workbook moves the student on to describing the features of a musical work, as well as how to make comparisons and contrasts between specified pieces. There is advice on how to approach research, what to retain and reject, and how to structure an essay. Detailed, analytical and dissertation-style essays are addressed, as well as writing programme notes. The Writing About Music Workbook promotes the development of skills which will be of use in many areas of academic life: collecting information, selecting relevant material, presenting arguments for and against particular propositions, and expressing ideas effectively and correctly in English. "Wightman has achieved just the right tone, with very clear explanations... I would feel confident giving it to pupils to read in their own time, as it’s very easy for them to work from it, making it a useful resource to reinforce the comments I write on their essays... I think it's probably one of the most genuinely useful books of its type." - Russell Millard, Head of Academic Music, Charterhouse