Theorizing African American Music (TAAM) highlights African-American perspectives on music and music theory, perspectives that have historically been marginalized in the United States. In our current environment, the situation is ripe for such perspectives to be heard. Because American music theory is deeply rooted in whiteness, African Americans have had virtually no agency in shaping how music theory, as a subdiscipline, is taught or how musical genres that are deeply rooted in African Americanism are presented. This conference provides a platform for scholars interested in the theory and analysis of African-American music.

CONCERT TICKETS – 8 pm

TAAM foregrounds Black voices as we welcome music theorists, musicologists, ethnomusicologists, music critics, performers, and others invested in African-American music. The intent of the conference is twofold. First, we address this erasure of African-American scholars and their perspectives from the discipline of music theory. Equally important, we include musicological, ethnomusicological, and other analytical perspectives on American musics that can reasonably be said to have roots in African Americanism.