Introduction
Welcome to the Music & Performing Arts Library (MPAL) guide for MUS 313: The History of Music I. This guide is meant to get you started - it includes tips to help you navigate Library resources and covers some of the basic methods and tools of research, but is not intended to be an exhaustive research guide for medieval and renaissance music.
Use the tabs to the left to navigate the guide and see what resources are available to you at MPAL. Notice that some of the pages have sub-pages that will expand when you click on them.
- If you are just starting a research project, we recommend checking out the first two tabs - Starting Your Research and Finding Background Information
- Finding Books, Scores & Recordings and the pages beneath it has information to help you search the library catalog effectively and find the materials you need in the physical library
- Be sure to check out Catalog Tips for MUS 313 for specific search recommendations for your class
- Check out Finding Journal Articles for help searching for scholarly articles in library databases
Course Reading and Listening
If your instructor has placed any materials on course reserve for your class - meaning they are on hold for anyone in your class to consult while in the Library - you can browse them using the Course Reserves at MPAL link below!
- Course Reserves at MPAL (audio, video, and print)This link takes you to the library catalog's search screen for course reserves held at libraries across campus. To check if there are materials on reserve for your class, type your instructor's name and/or the course number into the search box. You can ask for these materials at the service desk.
Getting Help
If you have any questions about research or using the Library, you can get help in-person at the service desk or remotely via chat or email. You can also use the buttons bellow to schedule an appointment or research consultation with one of MPAL's librarians to meet one-on-one and discuss your research.
Research and Writing Support on Campus
Besides scheduling research consultations with MPAL's librarians, there are many other guides and services available at UIUC to help you succeed in your classes. We've compiled several recommended resources to support you in your research and writing.
- Writers WorkshopThe Writers Workshop supports all writers in the campus community across all forms of academic and professional writing, at any stage of the writing process. They offer writing groups, writing-related presentations, and writing consultations where they provide feedback on essays, research papers, personal statements, cover letters, theses and dissertations, manuscripts for publication, presentations, digital compositions, and anything between and beyond.
- Citing Sources in the Performing ArtsMPAL's guide to citing sources for music research.
- Citation ManagersAn overview of Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote citation management programs.
- Music Library GuidesMPAL has library guides to help you get started researching a variety of topics. Browse this list of all of our music-specific guides to find recommended library resources on topics ranging from world music, to jazz, to rap and hip-hop.
- Savvy Researcher WorkshopsA library workshop series covering topics including: general research skills (including citation management, literature reviews, and much more), data discovery and management, digital humanities, geographic information systems (GIS), scholarly communication (including copyright, author’s rights, creating online profiles), sharing your research (including poster presentation and design), and lots more.
- Introduction to Generative AI Library GuideThis guide describes some of the challenges and promotes ways to effectively incorporate generative AI as part of a well-rounded research plan.