Membership of External/Professional Bodies

There are a number of national and international bodies that welcome and represent the views of postgraduate music students, membership of which can bring many advantages. Some of these are listed below.

Society for the Promotion of New Music (SPNM)

The SPNM is an organisation of growing national and international significance that works to serve the interests of all composers, particular young ones trying to get onto the first rungs of the professional ladder. They might well help you get your music performed or provide money for copying parts, etc. A number of Bristol students and graduates have had works shortlisted by the SPNM for professional performance. For all students of contemporary music, SPNM offers a wide ranging information service, including new notes (a monthly listing of contemporary music concerts ), cheap scores, CDs and tickets, and a range of workshop and educational activities. Student membership is cheap. For further information, contact: SPNM, 4th floor, 18-20 Southwark St., London SE1 lTJ. Tel: 020-7407 1640 Email: spnm@spnm.org.uk Website: www.spnm.org.uk

Society for Music Analysis (SMA)

A national organisation, and a member of the European Music Analysis Societies' Liaison Group, which aims to provide a focus for analytical activity and to raise the profile of the discipline within and beyond the music profession. Membership is open to all interested parties. The society publishes a twice-yearly Newsletter, offers a substantial discount on subscription to the journal Music Analysis, as well as a range of other publications, and organises conferences and study days on analytical topics. The SMA is also responsible for administrating studentships (two Bristol MA students have been recipients of these bursaries in recent years) and other awards from the Music Analysis Development Fund. Further details and membership forms can be obtained from: Prof. John Rink (President), Dept of Music, Royal Holloway, University of London Email: J.Rink@rhul.ac.uk

Website: www.sma.ac.uk

Royal Musical Association (RMA)

The oldest and most venerable musicological organisation in the world! Among other things, the RMA is responsible for organising the Annual Music Research Students' Conference. It really is the event for student musicologists, so attendance is highly recommended (ask if you need help with finances to attend). Also consider giving a paper.

Critical Musicology

This is a young organisation that looks at issues in ways usually neglected by 'traditional' musicology - it aims to air issues that are both critical and critical of musicology. Thus it embraces studies in narrative, gender, sexuality, popular culture, critical theory, psychology, post modernism, and so on. A periodic newsletter is published. Further details can be obtained from: Dr Dai Griffiths, Dept of Visual Arts, Music & Publishing, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Headington, Oxford OX3 OBP.

Societies and Associations on the Internet

Most important international organisations now have pages on the World Wide Web and run electronic journals and discussion groups.

Organisations you might like to try include:

1. IRCAM, Paris: http://www.ircam.fr/index-e.html
2. The BBC has an enormous and useful website for musicians. You might like to try the 'Radio 3' and 'Proms' pages: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/ and http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/
3. Most publishers now have web sites. Try, for example, Cambridge University Press: http://www.cambridge.org/, Ashgate: www.ashgate.com or Boosey & Hawkes: http://www.boosey.com/
4. The British Music Information Centre with a range of information on all manner of British composers and an extremely useful online searchable catalogue: http://www.bmic.co.uk