Introduction: The USC Music Library is a part of the Special Collections department within the division of Libraries and Information Systems. Housed within 9,000-square-feet in the School of Music building, the Music Library collection is comprised of music-related materials in all formats, i.e., audio-visual, print, and microform.

Purpose: The major emphasis of the Music Library is to provide support for the academic programs of the University and of the School of Music in particular. All members of the University community have access to the collection for different levels of use ranging from reference questions and recreational listening to preparation of research projects, papers, or recitals. Consistent with its mission as a part of a state-supported institution, the Music Library provides services to the general public as well.

The School of Music offers two undergraduate degrees in music: the Bachelor of Music with majors in composition, conducting, jazz studies, music history, music education, opera theater, performance, piano pedagogy, theory, and the Bachelor of Arts. The School offers the degree of Master of Music with areas of study in composition, conducting, jazz studies, music history, music theory, opera theater, performance, or piano pedagogy, and the degree of Master of Music Education. The Doctor of Musical Arts is offerenced in composition, conducting, performance, and piano pedagogy. The Ph.D. is offered in music education.

Faculty research and performance interests lie in the areas of American music, computer applications in music, African-American music, music and childhood, psychology of music, and twentieth-century music and jazz.

Collection Guidelines

Format: Materials added to the collection include printed material such as monographs, serials, and musical scores, including full, piano-vocal, and study or miniature scores. Chamber works containing no more than nine total parts will be collected. Additional formats acquired include sound recordings, audio-visual material, and microform.

Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish. Materials in other languages will be considered and acquired selectively. For items consisting of musical notations, the language is of secondary importance. Audio-visual materials will be acquired without regard to language.

Chronological Limits: None

Geographical Limits: Emphasis on art music in the Western tradition. No geographical areas are excluded.

Date of Publication: Current and selective retrospective purchases