MUS 501: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Music

This video shows you how to find scores and audio recordings in Scout. It briefly addresses limiters, key terms, and other search criteria specific to music. 

Formatting Names:

• Use full names for composers with common surnames 
• Use standard English-language spellings (e.g., "Rachmaninoff" instead of "Rachmaninov")
• Avoid abbreviating names (e.g., J. S. Bach)

Searching for Vocal Music:

• To specify vocal range in your search, indicate high, medium, or low voice 

• You can add vocal range to some subject headings, like "Songs (High voice)" or you can simply search "high voice" as a keyword

Keys:

• Avoid using keys in your search terms (such as "C" or "G minor")

Finding recordings by format:

• For CDs, add a keyword search for "compact" or "CD"
• For LPs, add a keyword search for "LP"
• For streaming media, add a keyword search for "electronic"

For works with unique titles:

• Enter the title as a keyword search
• Search the title in quotation marks (i.e. "Nozze di Figaro") 
• If the title is in a foreign language, try searching for the title both in it's original language and in English (i.e. "nozze di Figaro" and "Marriage of Figaro")

For works with generic titles (i.e. Concerto, Symphony, Sonata):

• Search using the subject term, which is generally the plural form of the work (i.e. symphonies, operas, concertos, suites, etc.)
• If applicable, use the opus number or another standard number assigned to the work to narrow your search results (i.e. for Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550, try adding "40" or "550" as a keyword)
• If you don't know the subject term, just do a keyword search for the title instead
• Sample search string for Scout Advanced Search: 
  • Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus AND symphonies AND 40