Music 11

Library Catalog - Find Books, Media and Pamphlets

PCC's online catalog is a database of books, media, pamphlets and course reserves located in the library's collection. To find resources in the library by subject, you will need a call number which is based on the Dewey Decimal Classification System and leads you to the specific item on the shelf. To find the call number, use the library catalog.

Basic Search

Use the Basic Search to look for an item using its exact subject heading, title or author's name (last, first).

To find information about a person, use Basic Search by subject.
To find information on a topic, use Basic Search by subject.

To search by subject, select 'Subject Search', then type in the subject heading.

Examples of subject headings:

  • Ear training
  • Music - Dictionaries
  • Music - History and criticism
  • Music - Instruction and study
  • Music appreciation
  • Sight-singing

Check related subjects too:

  • Composition, Music
  • Musical dictation
  • Musical analysis
  • Music - 20th century
  • Music - Social aspects
  • Musical notation
  • Music - Performance

To search by title, select 'Title Search', then type in the first few words of the title. Skip the first word of the title if it is an article, e.g. 'a', 'an' or 'the'.

To search by author, select 'Author Search', then type in the author's last name, then first name, e.g. 'Mitacek, Michael'.

Advanced Search

If Basic Search is unsuccessful use Advanced Search to combine topics.

Examples of combined searches:

Search for: music [all of these], Search in: [Subject]
AND
Search for: asia china japan [any of these], Search in: [Keyword Anywhere]

Search for: voice vocal sing* [any of these], Search in: [Keyword Anywhere]
AND
Search for: performance [all of these], Search in: [Keyword Anywhere]

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2. Reference Books

Basically, there are two kinds of reference books: general resources, which are broad in scope and deal with all fields; and specialized resources, which deal with specific disciplines such as music. The titles cited below are only a representative sample of many specialized reference books that are available in the library.

Specialized Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

  • New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians   REF 780.3 G 1-5
  • Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians   REF 780.922 B 6
  • Garland Encyclopedia of World Music REF 780.9 G 5
  • Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music   REF 780.3 R 1
  • Oxford Dictionary of Music REF 780.3 O 2-2

Career and College Resources

  • Career Opportunities in the Music Industry REF 371.42578 F 1
  • Peterson's College Guide for Performing Arts Majors REF 378.73 P 16-2

Concert Reviewing

  • The New York Philharmonic Guide to the Symphony REF 784.2015 N 1
  • A Modern Guide to Symphonic Music REF 785.2015 F 1

 

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3. Databases and Indexes - Find Articles

  • Use Proquest Direct, a database of periodical articles, to find concert reviews and articles about music and musicians. As with the catalog, search under a variety of terms. Use Proquest also for access to the LA Times, USA Today and New York Times.
  • Oxford Music Online Reference resource for all aspects of music.
  • Classical Music Library is the world's largest multi-label database of Classical music recordings for libraries. It consists of over 50,000 tracks for listening and searching and is supplemented by extensive reference materials.
  • Use Biography Resource Center to find information on composers and performers. You may also do a custom search and select biographies by occupation, e.g. Composer.
  • Encyclopedia Britannica Online will also provide biographical information, as well as explanations of musical terms and historical topics.
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4. Resources on the World Wide Web

Finding reliable information on the web can be difficult.
Use the Librarians' Internet Index www.lii.org or see recommended websites below.

Andante http://www.andante.com/index.cfm
Classical Net http://www.classical.net/
Ethnomusicology, Folk Music and World Music (University of Washington) http://www.lib.washington.edu/music/world.html
Musical America http://musicalamerica.com/
Recommended Online Resources from the PCC Music Department http://www.pasadena.edu/divisions/performing-comm/music/resources/online.cfm

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last updated: 11/06/2008 by P. Johnson revision #3