Well, it's our final episode, and we have the exact right guest to help say goodbye to a podcast that focuses on music scholarship, and why it matters: William Cheng, whose work fundamentally reconsiders what musicology can be, by laying out a philosophy of care and repair. This conversation covers a large swath of Dr. Cheng's scholarship, including his foundational writing on music and video games, his public-oriented social justice advocacy, and his scrutiny of ethical questions around musical taste. It's a rumination on the present and future of the field. And it's our finale.Show notes and more over at soundexpertise.org!Questions? Thoughts? Email soundexpertise00@gmail.com or tag Will on Instagram/Twitter @seatedovation

Well, we're almost done: this is the penultimate episode of our fourth and final season. In our final weeks, host Will and producer Eddie take some time to reflect back on what it's meant: the origins of the podcast, the community we've built, and the legacy of Sound Expertise.Show notes and more over at soundexpertise.org!Questions? Thoughts? Email soundexpertise00@gmail.com or tag Will on Instagram/Twitter @seatedovation

Musicology today could not exist without feminist musicology, and feminist musicology could not exist without Suzanne Cusick. Dr. Cusick's revolutionary work has scrutinized gender and sexuality in musical life for decades, and is foundational to musicology as we know it today. In this profound conversation, she reflects on her arc through the field, and what still needs to change.Show notes and more over at soundexpertise.org!Questions? Thoughts? Email soundexpertise00@gmail.com or tag Will on Instagram/Twitter @seatedovation

Alexander Cowan, a musicologist specializing in the intersection of music and eugenicist thought, explores the unsettling connections between music and the eugenics movement. He discusses how figures like Francis Galton believed musical talent was hereditary, perpetuating racist ideologies. Cowan delves into the historical context of music psychology and critiques the notion of innate musical ability linked to social hierarchies. This thought-provoking conversation urges a reexamination of inclusivity within the musical community, highlighting the dark implications of these ideologies.

We did it! Sound Expertise recorded its first-ever live episode at the American Musicological Society conference in Chicago. It was a super-fun event with a raucous crowd. Please enjoy this thoughtful conversation with Jonathan Bailey Holland, dean of Northwestern's Bienen School of Music, about his path as a composer and what it means to oversee a music school at a transformative moment.Show notes and more over at soundexpertise.org!Questions? Thoughts? Email soundexpertise00@gmail.com or tag Will on Instagram/Twitter @seatedovation

Naomi André is one of the most important scholars of opera today, best known for her landmark 2018 book Black Opera: History, Power, Engagement. But the study of opera and race is not where Professor Andre’s career began: her path through musicology has been incredibly fraught, because of who she is, and what she wanted to do as a scholar. This week's conversation is difficult but necessary, for registering how exclusionary the field of musicology once was, and what work still has to be done.Show notes and more over at soundexpertise.org!Questions? Thoughts? Email soundexpertise00@gmail.com or tag Will on Instagram/Twitter @seatedovationALSO, we're going to be at the American Musicological Society conference in Chicago this week!!Friday, Nov 15, 11:45am: Sound Expertise LIVE! The American Composer and the Future of the Conservatory with Jonathan Bailey Holland.What does it mean to compose in America today, while overseeing a major cultural institution in flux? For this special live taping of the podcast Sound Expertise, host Will Robin interviews composer Jonathan Bailey Holland, dean of the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, to answer these crucial questions. (Accessible only to those registered for the conference)Friday, Nov 15, 8pm: A hang for friends and fans of the pod, at 2Twenty2 Tavern right by the conference hotel. Come by anytime between 8 and 9:30 or so and say hi, and also goodbye!

Everybody's studying Taylor Swift these days, from Swifties decoding her vault to YouTubers decoding her harmonies to right-wing conspiracists decoding her plot against America. But what does it mean to study Taylor Swift as a musicologist? Christa Bentley, Kate Galloway, and Paula Harper know: they're co-editing Taylor Swift: The Star, the Songs, the Fans, a book of essays out next year. This week: a conversation about what it means to study the cultural phenomenon that is Taylor Swift, and what Taylor can tell us about musicology today.Show notes and more over at soundexpertise.org!Questions? Thoughts? Email soundexpertise00@gmail.com or tag Will on Instagram/Twitter @seatedovationALSO, we're going to be at the American Musicological Society conference in Chicago soon!Friday, Nov 15, 11:45am: Sound Expertise LIVE! The American Composer and the Future of the Conservatory with Jonathan Bailey Holland.What does it mean to compose in America today, while overseeing a major cultural institution in flux? For this special live taping of the podcast Sound Expertise, host Will Robin interviews composer Jonathan Bailey Holland, dean of the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, to answer these crucial questions. (Accessible only to those registered for the conference)Friday, Nov 15, 8pm: A hang for friends and fans of the pod, at 2Twenty2 Tavern right by the conference hotel. Come by anytime between 8 and 9:30 or so and say hi, and also goodbye!

Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, an Associate Professor of Music at Georgia College, shines a light on the powerful role of music in the 2024 election. She discusses how Kamala Harris's playlists and Donald Trump's surprising dance moves influence voter perceptions. The conversation explores the intersection of pop culture and political identity, highlighting the emotional connections music fosters in campaigns. Gorzelany-Mostak also shares insights from her 'Trax on the Trail' project, emphasizing the significance of soundscapes in shaping American democracy.

Florence Price was exceptional, but she was not singular. In the fascinating new book "South Side Impresarios," musicologist Samantha Ege situates Price amidst multiple generations of Black women who transformed Chicago into a Black classical metropolis. In this conversation, we discuss the city and community that built Price, including the pivotal figures Nora Holt and Maude Roberts George, as well Dr. Ege's own work as a scholar, pianist, and advocate for this powerful lineage.Samantha Ege is an award-winning researcher and musicologist, internationally recognized concert pianist, and popular public speaker.Show notes and more over at soundexpertise.org!Questions? Thoughts? Email soundexpertise00@gmail.com or tag Will on Instagram/Twitter @seatedovation

Yuval Sharon, an innovative opera director and co-founder of The Industry, discusses his groundbreaking vision for the future of opera in this engaging conversation. He explores the challenges of adapting the historic Ring Cycle for modern audiences, emphasizing collaboration and human-centered production. Sharon also challenges the notion of opera as 'useless,' advocating for its emotional depth amidst societal demands for clarity. Additionally, he addresses the need for sustainable practices in creating opera during climate crises.