Curator of Music Collections
Key Resources
These are the best tools to get started with music research.
- NUsearch will help you find books, scores and CDs in the library
- Oxford Music Online is an encyclopedia covering all music topics.
- Garland Encyclopedia of World Music covers music from non-Western cultures
- Music Periodicals Database will help you find articles.
- NUsearch This link opens in a new windowNUsearch is the main search tool for Northwestern University Library, combining the library catalog with a wealth of other databases and online collections.
- Oxford Music Online This link opens in a new windowOxford Music Online includes The Oxford Companion to Music and The Oxford Dictionary of Music, as well as Grove Music Online, the cornerstone of Oxford's online music reference collection.
- Music Online: Garland Encyclopedia of World Music This link opens in a new windowComprehensive online resource devoted to music research of all the worlds peoples
- Music Periodicals Database (formerly International Index to Music Periodicals) This link opens in a new windowMusic Periodicals Database is an outstanding resource used to find articles in music journals. It enables you to access articles on a comprehensive variety of musical subjects, styles, and genres. Covers 1874-present.
Library of Congress Guides
You'll need this information to locate scores and books in the Music Library.
- LC Guide to Music Call Numbers
Detailed guide showing a breakdown of call numbers:
M = scores and other printed music
ML = books about music
MT = music instruction and study
- LC Guide to Music Materials Use this classification guide by the Library of Congress (LC) to locate physical and digital resources at NUL.