Hi all,

Even if the new members aren’t in academic music theory, it might be nice to keep the platform as a way of just having our research have a bit wider of a reach. That way our research might be read by a few more people.

Of course, there’s a risk of a heavy moderation burden if the group ever stops being quiet. My suggestion would be to…[Read more]

Hi All,

I am also not on FB any longer, so our decision doesn’t impact me at all, but I think HC is a much more appropriate venue for professional discussions and sharing information about relevant events.

Best,

Sara

Hi, all,

As someone who still receives FB requests for the group, I can attest to this issue. And to second Amy’s gratitude, thanks Tara and Laura, for reaching out to us. My proposed solution is as follows: yes, dissolve the FB group (with proper notification to members of it); but when events are to be publicized (CFPs, sessions, etc.), have…[Read more]

Hi Tara,

Those who know me well know that I am militantly anti-Facebook. I know that many academics and musicians have determined that they need a facebook profile (there are of course personal reasons as well), but I feel that the fascist and racist policies Z has pursued the past two years are at odds with our institutional values (only one of…[Read more]

Great news, Josh!

I respect your point of view, Ben, but I want to restate my point that confronting these problems is best done by participating and using one’s privilege and power, rather than ceding it.

Hi Ben,

I’m not quitting the Society for the same reason I’m not quitting society as a whole. This issue of systemic racism is reflected in both societies—it may seem more acute at the SMT level because of the tendency of academics to dress their entrenchments in polished prose and attractive/clever rhetoric, and it may sting more because many o…[Read more]

For me—and this point of view stems from asking mentors who are BIPOC in our field—is that we can help the field by participating in it more than we can through absence. I respect the act of leaving as an act of protest, but at the same time it means that many others particularly contingent, junior, and BIPOC scholars, are left to do the wor…[Read more]

Hi Ben,

Around 700 people have signed this letter. In signing, they don’t indicate whether they’re members of SMT or not, but I recognize loads and loads of names as SMT members. Could you explain why concurring with the statement leads you to quit organization?

I for one am waiting to see what the SMT does next, especially at a time when…[Read more]

Thanks, Dustin. This looks good.

And sure, I’d love any V.J. Iyer transcriptions!

Hi Keith,

I’ve attached a couple of lines from my transcription of Hank Mobley’s solo on “Tribute to Someone” (on Herbie’s first solo record, My Point of View). The phrases appear back to back in his solo…both demonstrate potential to switch collections between melodic minor (over the ii chord) and the octatonic over the V chord. (Although the…[Read more]

Thanks for keeping this conversation going.  I strongly agree with Garrett that it’s up to us white folx to help dismantle white supremacy, which to my mind makes the topic of whiteness all the more crucial in the very-white SMT, particularly sub-disciplines that focus on black music.

If we do decide to invite BIPOC from outside our discipline…[Read more]