Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2024

Abstract

This article explores ways pedagogical approaches in music librarianship and music theory can enhance each other. It emphasizes two broad benefits for students when library instruction is incorporated into music theory courses. First, what music librarians have to offer can be incredibly relevant to music theory instruction. Second, since music majors take music theory early in their degrees, library instruction in these courses allows them to get to know their librarians right away when they enter college. If music librarians provide further instruction and outreach in various ways throughout students' college years, students will be able to see that what they are learning in these sessions is a set of transferrable skills that are not solely useful for one assignment in a single class. This is especially true when teaching information literacy.

By drawing on literature from both fields, as well as our own experiences working together, we show how the pedagogical priorities of music theory and music librarianship align. We explain how we have found success in teaching concepts from information literacy as we work toward our shared goals. The article further suggests a number of practical ideas for bridging the gap between music librarians and music theory instructors, including offering flexible options for instruction, team-teaching, and understanding the strengths each person brings to information literacy instruction.

Comments

This article was published in the Music Library Association’s journal, Notes 81 number, 1, 2024-08-21 and pages 54-65. The version of record is available at https://doi.org/10.1353/not.2024.a934839. This material may not be copied or reposted without written permission of MLA.

Publication Title

Notes

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1353/not.2024.a934839

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