Getting started
Welcome to a guide to research customized for the University of Minnesota Choral Conducting Studio! This guide includes suggestions of strategies and resources to help you get started with research on analysis, for writing program notes, for exploring reception history, and more.
This guide is organized by the types of research tasks that you might be interested in (e.g., finding streaming recordings or locating resources for analysis). Use the tabs (located on the left side of the screen in a desktop browser, or at the very top or bottom of the page on a mobile device) to explore these different research tasks.
Questions? Need help?
This guide is made up of lists of suggestions and general resources. Need help finding something more specific? Contact Music Librarian Jessica Abbazio (jabbazio@umn.edu)!
Slides for Fall 2023 MUS 8237 Intro to Library Research workshop (Google Slides)
Why are library research skills important?
Because finding relevant and trustworthy sources will help you to understand your topic – and it will make it easier to talk/write about it.
Finding relevant and trustworthy sources on whatever you're researching – as opposed to Wikipedia or the first few results for a Google search – will make it easier to get started with exploring and writing about your topic. Wikipedia is an easy place to start, but it may not give you all the information you need. Diving into scholarly and peer-reviewed sources like the ones you’ll find through the Libraries is a great way to locate detailed information you can trust.
Gathering sources that are on-target for your topic will help you gain a thorough understanding of what you’d like to write about. This will make it easier to get started!
Related Guides
- All UMN Music Library Music Research GuidesExplore our growing list of digital guides, designed to help with general research and individual tasks!
- Music-Related Databases GuideYour key to all of the music-related databases to which the University of Minnesota subscribes!
- Instrument and Voice GuidesGet started with searching for repertoire for and scholarship about your instrument or voice type. These guides will point you toward relevant call number ranges, databases, and other helpful resources for finding and accessing performing materials.
- Finding Music MaterialsNeed some help searching for and finding music materials like streaming audio and video, physical recordings, and digital and physical scores? This guide will get your started with instructions, tips, and tricks.