Musicology Research Program

Kiley is a 9th grade student from St. Mark’s School, Boston. Her intended major is Musicology.

Kiley has a strong passion in music and musicology. She has participated in various extracurricular activities related to music – Stanford Summer Program – Why Music Matters, Mass Choir, A Capella and Student Government at YK Pao School Shanghai. She is ranked top 5% in her class and achieved A* for Music Theory and German Language.

Scope of the program

Overall structure

The mentor and Kiley met for eight one-hour sessions. They had weekly homework assignments, and their meetings consisted of discussions of those readings as well as pertinent audio and video recordings. In addition, Kiley presented her long-term project of comparing Ancient Greek and Ancient Chinese music theorists.

Learning objectives

To learn broadly about the field of musicology, and to learn specific information and research techniques for Evelyn’s interest in ancient music theory.

Evelyn’s goals in this course was to acquaint with practical information concerning a career in musicology, i.e., where and where to study for both undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition, she wanted to know more about some of the key figures in musicology and its development as a discipline.

What challenges did she face?

Kiley would like to work on an ancient musicology research paper and needed strong mentorship to pursue her goals.

How did our program help her?

Kiley was able to learn specific information and research techniques for her interest in ancient music theory.
Kiley was able to work with a professor from a selective University and to get to know more practical information concerning a career in musicology, e.g., where and where to study for both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Matched professor:

She is the Chair of the Musicology Department and Vice Dean of the Division of Research and Scholarly Studies at USC’s Thornton School of Music. She has published music-themed scholarly books, novels and essays and written book reviews.

“I would most certainly recommend Kiley to highly ranked universities, and have spoken to her about which (Harvard, Stanford, Princeton) might be the best fit for her interest in musicology.

She is an ideal student: intensely curious, ambitious, and ecumenical in her interests. She finds everything about musicology fascinating. I figured that she was a highly motivated high school student, but her interest in musicology exceeds that of any college student I’ve taught.“
Mentor from USC’s Thornton School of Music