Although all research makes use of specific research methods, much music scholarship is being published without any reference to, or reflection on, the premises of the methods employed. In other words, published articles and books are often lacking a discussion of the scope and limitations of the research methods. Furthermore, music theory, musicology, ethnomusicology, music psychology, etc., are not independent disciplines, nor is research in those areas an activity to be defined once and for all. These areas have strong methodological relationships to each other as well as to areas outside the field of music. This book discusses some of the methodological premises, on which music research in the areas of music theory, (ethno-) musicology, and music psychology is based, and focuses on selected interdisciplinary approaches. It also discusses teaching approaches to music theory.

The Editor: Nico Schüler is Assistant Professor of Music Theory / Musicology and Coordinator of Music Theory at Texas State University in San Marcos, USA. His main research interests are methodology of music research, music theory pedagogy, interdisciplinary aspects of modern music, and computer applications in music. His recent book publications include Computer-Applications in Music Research (Lang, 2002) and an edition of Otto E. Laske’s Musikalische Grammatik und Musikalisches Problemlösen (Lang, 2004).