Music Historian

A music historian is someone who analyzes the history of music. This may include researching compositions, recordings, performance practices, compositional practices over time, instrument designs and changes, the lives of musicians or composers, and the cultural and historical influences on music. Music historians often have the ability to choose their own paths and which area of history to research. They may also take on some of the roles of a music archivist by preserving and appraising musical materials. Most often, music historians are affiliated with an institution such as a university. Historians affiliated with a university are likely hired as a professor or as a member of library services and will perform additional responsibilities related to those roles.

Music historians are expected to have undergraduate and Master’s degrees in music history. Many historians, especially those working as faculty at a university, will also obtain a doctoral degree.