Music Research Paper Topics

by Simon White Essay Topics To Write About

It would not be an overstatement to say that the evolution of human beings is the evolution of music. From the moment we started developing emotions, like the birth of a male child, a victory over a foe, or finding a piece of land after weeks of a sea voyage, our ancestors would often break into a dance and started making noises.

Later, the pursuit of excellence and refinement in music became a full-time job with major figures in history devoting their lifetimes to redefining the premises and breaking the traditions to pave the way for those who would come after them.

Today, music researchers and students can learn a great deal by not only reading about the history of music but also writing about music. But students often find it hard to choose a solid topic to research and write on because there are countless dimensions and angles to music history, its evolution, and its prospects.

This article will help students in getting some answers.

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Research Paper Topics About the History of Music

The history of music is everything – exhilarating, beautiful, and even tragic. For a student of music history or even music concerning religion and technology, it is important to dwell on the foundations of modern music by going through its antiquities and classic periods.

During the renaissance and afterward, musicians made great progress in not only defining the instruments, musical notes, and tunes of their times but developed a solid framework for easy categorization of aspects that would come later on.

For students of History of Music in either high school or college, it is important and even ideal to choose music-related research paper topics dealing with its beginnings and future aspects, spanning across various music genres.

To help students in narrowing down the vast collection and aspects of music, here are some of the most important topics.

  • 🔸 The Evolution of Popular Musical Instruments
  • 🔸 Musical Styles and the Origins of Tribal Percussion
  • 🔸 Radio Stations Throughout History
  • 🔸 The Impact of Popular Music on People’s Favorite Genres
  • 🔸 European Music’s Evolution
  • 🔸 Black Music’s Beginnings
  • 🔸 African Music’s Influence on American Pop Culture
  • 🔸 The Evolution of Reggae Music
  • 🔸 The African American Society and the Blues
  • 🔸 The Influence of Women on Jazz Melody
  • 🔸 Argentinian Music’s Globalization
  • 🔸 Post World War II, European Songs History
  • 🔸 Music from Imperial China and Japan
  • 🔸 The Sound Effects of Wars
  • 🔸 The History of Theater Music

Research Paper Topics On Music Education

Even though music is often hailed as something that is metaphysical and is much related to inspiration and intuition, good music education is very much necessary for budding musicians and artists.

For music students in schools and colleges, here is a list of some topics that can illuminate the significance of music education:

  • 🔹 Music Education and Its Importance
  • 🔹 What Are the Most Effective Tunes-Teaching Methodologies?
  • 🔹 Differences in Music Education Over the Centuries
  • 🔹 My Music Education Lesson Experience
  • 🔹 The Importance of Taking Music Classes
  • 🔹 Is It Possible to Achieve Success Without a Music Education?
  • 🔹 The Most Important Issues in Music Lessons in College and Beyond
  • 🔹 Is it possible for music to aid in the learning process?
  • 🔹 Is Music Beneficial to Younger Generations?
  • 🔹 Can Formal Music Education Keep Up With Industry Trends?

Rock Music Research Paper Topics

There is no way to define any music genre, let alone one of the most controversial and messy ones – rock music. But students who want to learn about music deeply need to learn all the ropes. The best way to do that is by researching and writing rock music research paper topics.

Here is a rundown of the best topics on rock music:

  • 🔸 Is Rock Music Useful For Studying?
  • 🔸 What Role Does Rock Music Play In Society?
  • 🔸 The Role Of Rock Music In The Decline Of Societal Norms
  • 🔸 The Main Distinctions Between Hip Hop, Rock, And Pop Music
  • 🔸 Pre-Rock Music Era Music History
  • 🔸 Youth And Elders’ Reactions To Rock Music
  • 🔸 Rock Music And Domestic Violence
  • 🔸 Is Rock Music To Blame For The Rise In Drug Abuse?
  • 🔸 European Musical Elements In Modern Rock

Country Music Research Paper Topics

Country music had a great impact on its current face. That’s why scholars and even music teachers need to know about the history and impact of country music.

Here are some country music topics on which students can research and write in either high school or college:

  • 🔹 The Origins of Country Style
  • 🔹 Country Music’s Most Important Elements
  • 🔹 Country Music’s Evolution at Home and Abroad
  • 🔹 Hollywood’s Country and Western Music
  • 🔹 Country Music’s Running Themes and a Common Message
  • 🔹 Country Music’s Essential Instruments
  • 🔹 What Attracted People to Country Music?
  • 🔹 Why Has Country Music Been Losing Its Popularity in Recent Years?
  • 🔹 The Americana Symbol: Country
  • 🔹 Human Emotion and Country Music

Paper Topics about Music and Technology

Music and technology go hand in hand as the latter helped in its immense development. For students who are interested in learning the nuances and impacts of music and technology, then writing music research paper topics are the best way to go.

Here are some topics on music and technology:

  • 🔸 Using A Living Computer To Improvise Jazz
  • 🔸 Creating Musical Soundtracks With Ai
  • 🔸 Getting To Know Modern Music’s Instruments
  • 🔸 Music And Technology Challenges
  • 🔸 Using Cutting-Edge Technology To Create Classical Pieces
  • 🔸 What Will The Next 20 Years Bring For Computer Music?
  • 🔸 Modern Musical Interfaces: Touching Neurons
  • 🔸 Computer-Generated Percussions Vs. Mechanical Percussions

Film Music Research Paper Topics

Film and cinema have been revolutionized in the last couple of decades. It has now become a tool of information and entertainment for masses across the globe.

If students want to explore film music topics in college and high school, the following are some of the best ones:

  • 🔹 Bringing Sketches to Life with Animation
  • 🔹 In Cinematography, Comics, and Superheroes
  • 🔹 Animals in Films: Animal Training Ethics and Animal Safety Concerns
  • 🔹 A New Film Franchise: TV Shows
  • 🔹 Films Seen Through the Director’s Eyes
  • 🔹 Walt Disney’s Characters and Their Psychosocial Consequences
  • 🔹 Different Narrative Structures: Screenplays vs. Books
  • 🔹 Hollywood Blockbusters: Masculinity and Violence
  • 🔹 Hollywood Stereotypes and Their Consequences
  • 🔹 The Effect of Film Critics and Reviews on the Box Office Collections of Musicals

Topics For Research Papers On Music Therapy

Music has a deep influence on the human mind and psychology. From the olden days when it was used as a tool to mourn a loss or celebrate a victory, it is now used to treat and even minimize the symptoms.

That’s the reason many psychiatrists are using music as a sound stimulus to diagnose and treat issues related to mental health and illness.

Here is a rundown of some of the research paper topics about music that will help students in writing exceptional essays on music therapy:

  • 🔸 Can Music Have an Impact on Our Mental Health? If so, to what degree?
  • 🔸 Playing the piano can help people with communication problems improve their skills.
  • 🔸 Can Tone Affect Toddlers, Children, and Teens’ Mental Development?
  • 🔸 Is it true that music education regulates our brain’s abnormal activities?
  • 🔸 Sound Therapies: How Effective Are They?
  • 🔸 Does Music Therapy Aid Memory Retrieval?
  • 🔸 The Psychological Effects of Rock Music on Young People
  • 🔸 Jazz Music Therapy Through the Lens of Freud
  • 🔸 How Does Music Affect Brain Development in Children and Adults?

Topics For Classical Music Research Paper

It is hard to learn the history and impacts of music without going through the classical period. By taking a deep hard look at the sociology and social dynamics of the day, young and aspiring musicians can learn about different aspects of the music theory, techniques, and styles of classical music and how they impacted the journey of musicians from that time.

Here are some suggestions on topics for a classical music research paper:

  • 🔹 When compared to other composers of the time, J. S. Bach was innovative;
  • 🔹 Early music history and musical instrument development;
  • 🔹 Baroque music, its main techniques, and its cultural significance;
  • 🔹 Composers of classical music and the film industry;
  • 🔹The Catholic Church’s influence on medieval European music;
  • 🔹 Classic Greek songwriting uses string instruments.
  • 🔹 18th-century German classical composers and their influence on subsequent musical development;
  • 🔹 Comparing the main techniques, styles, and influences of Mozart and Beethoven;
  • 🔹 Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is examined in depth.
  • 🔹 In an orchestra, the role of wind instruments;
  • 🔹 The impact of technology on classical music;
  • 🔹 Determining how classical music affects a person’s perception;
  • 🔹 The influence of the Romantic period in the 18th and 19th centuries;
  • 🔹 The Mozart phenomenon, his style, and innovation.
  • 🔹 The beginnings of classical music composition.

Research Paper Topics on African American Music History

Before the movement, African-American music was all about Jazz music. The artists and musicians were predominantly Jazz practitioners and they were experimenters more than mere followers.

After the great cultural movement, the message and tone of African-American music changed. Then, it was more about social commentary and dissent against law enforcement and racism.

With the advent of rap and hip-hop on the scene, it became more aggressive and forward than Jazz music. At first, the “white man” was the enemy but then the African-American music broke the boundaries of race and became the “anthem” of everybody.

So, if anyone is interested in researching and studying the history, struggle, present, and future of African-American Music culture even with the reference to hip hop, here are some great topic suggestions for music research papers:

  • 🔸 From Motown to the present
  • 🔸 Explore the front and backstage lives of key figures in African-American music.
  • 🔸 Examine the social issues brought up in the lyrics or imagery.
  • 🔸 A special case study comparing songs like Ray Charles’ “I Gotta Woman” and Kanye West’s “Gold Digger.”
  • 🔸 Examine the rap music culture.
  • 🔸 Explaining why rappers talk about using their hip-hop skills to try to get a piece of Uncle Sam’s pie, revealing both their economic aspirations and nonmaterial means of achieving them.
  • 🔸 Examining the importance of cultural capital through the eyes of contemporary academics

Good Research Paper Topics About Music

When a student in high school or college needs to write a research paper or an essay on a music topic, they can get half of their work done if they choose the topic effectively.

It takes some experience and some intuition to land on a great one that can highlight the modern music culture, including hip hop culture, Jazz music, pop songs, and the overall music industry.

Some could be considered “controversial music research paper topics” but for college students, it is healthy to delve into controversial topics.

To make things a little easier for students, here are some great research paper writing topics about music.

  • 🔹 A Closer Look At How Music Has Changed Over Time.
  • 🔹 The Most Influential Musicians Of The Twentieth Century Are Examined.
  • 🔹 Examining The Interplay Between Music And Dance.
  • 🔹 A Closer Look At The Most Lucrative Musical Careers.
  • 🔹 What Is The Connection Between Music And Health?
  • 🔹 What Effect Does Music Have On Fashion?
  • 🔹 Which Musical Genre Has Had The Greatest Influence On Music?
  • 🔹 An Examination Of Music Marketing For Various Genres.
  • 🔹 Does Music Assist Students In Concentrating On Assignments?
  • 🔹 What Effect Does Music Have On Fashion?
  • 🔹 Considering The Impact Of Music On Culture In A Chosen Country.
  • 🔹 Examining How Music Is Used To Promote Political Propaganda.
  • 🔹 How Has Music Production Changed In Recent Years?
  • 🔹 Creating Links Between Popular And Contemporary Music.
  • 🔹 Comparing The Music Of The United States And Latin America?
  • 🔹 What Are The Connections Between Music And Poetry?
  • 🔹 Is Classical Music Still Important In Music Production Nowadays?
  • 🔹 Examining The Current State Of Music Production Processes.
  • 🔹 Examining The Role Of Music Theory In The Creation Of Music.
  • 🔹 Why Do Some Musicians Enlist The Help Of Others To Write Their Songs?
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