If your topic crosses multiple subject areas or if you just want to get a broader context for your topic beyond the world of music, consider exploring a non-music-specific database. Here are a few suggestions for getting started:
Still not sure when to look beyond your discipline? Here's an example to help you think through when your research might benefit from interdisciplinary resources. Let's say you're interested in protest music. What resources should you consult?
Whatever your topic, try casting a wide net and exploring how different academic disciplines might help enrich your research.
If your research interest crosses multiple humanities or social science disciplines like history, women's and gender studies, or education, check out the recommendations below.
ERIC is a Web-based digital library of free education-related sources of interest to educators, researchers, and the general public, and consists primarily of electronic bibliographic records describing journal and non-journal literature. The collection is to be expanded to include full-texts of articles and other electronic resources such as audio and video materials.
The Alternative Press Index is a subject index to over 300 alternative, radical and left periodicals, newspapers and magazines. The Index is international and interdisciplinary, spanning the social sciences and humanities, with its central focus on the practice and theory of socialism, national liberation, labor, indigenous peoples, gays/lesbians, feminism, ecology, democracy, and anarchism.
If your research interest has to do with acoustics, physics of music, computers in music, or a similar subject, check out Scopus.
Sometimes you will need to reference materials older than those contained in the standard music journal databases. Below you'll find a few best bets if you are searching for historical information about composers and their music.