Graduate Music Program Orientation

B1. Background Research Resources

Use background research to familiarize yourself with your topic, define terminology, and more. The following are three examples of online background research resources available at Jenks Library. These resources are online encyclopedias that can be used to search for terms, ideas, concepts, and more. 

Search tip: most encyclopedia entries include a bibliography or a "further readings" section at the end of the article. Scan this list to see other potential resources you might want to search, then search for them either in the NOBLE Catalog (if it is a book) or a library database (if it is a scholarly article) so see if Jenks Library has access to this resource.

B2. How do I get started researching?

Watch this video on two tips you can use to get started with research: researching broadly and researching with what you know. Follow-up on some of the strategies discussed in this video by watching the "How do I find articles in specific journals?" video.

Please note: this video was originally produced for students in the Graduate Education Leadership program, but the concepts still apply for Music students. Think about your trade magazines or other popular source music magazines you enjoy reading. Maybe you have a subscription to Hymn or Music Week. Start training yourself to read between the lines of those articles and ask - is there research behind these articles and can I go and find it? 

Having trouble playing the video? Watch it here on the Jenks Library YouTube page.