OBJECTIVE: Because this course does not rely on a single textbook, it will be useful for the class to identify some generalized or even specific web resources that may be useful for the study of 19th century music. Each of you will find and then describe a web site that you think is a useful reference or research tool for 19th Century Music.

METHOD: You will do the following:

1. Using any web search engine of your own choice, you should explore web sites related to 19th Century music. In particular, you should look for web pages that deal with such topics as (1) individual composers, performers or other figures relevant to 19th-century music, (2) specific compositions, (3) specific genres, (4) specific locations (possibly geographic regions, cities, or even performing venues), or (5) "other" topics that you think relevant to the topic of 19th-century music. NB. Commonly known databases like the NGDII, RILM, the Music Index, JSTOR, and Project Muse are not acceptable sites, nor are any sites that I have posted on my own web pages for this or other courses.
2. Examine any of the web sites that you feel would be a useful "professional" resource, i.e., something that a serious music professional, scholar, performer, etc., might be able to use in the course of serious work (writing, performing, editing, etc.) on the music the 19th century.
3. Evaluate the site for such factors as (1) level of intended user, (2) reliability of its information, (3) ease of use, (4) general organization, appearance, and "feel" of the site, and (5) and other relevant factors.
4. Do compare potential web sites with one another, evaluating their relative merits against each other, and also use such tools as the New Grove Dictionary to test the reliability of the information that you find.
5. Submit a brief (one paragraph, not to exceed 150 words) written summary to me in an email, including the URL of the web site's home page (Do not simply create a link; give the full URL), and I will post the item on the course web site.
6. Repeat for a second web site, i.e., you will submit two web site descriptions.

SOME REMINDERS (& LIMITATIONS) FOR PREPARING THE SUMMARY:

• You may not identify any obvious commerical or academic web sites commonly used in music scholarship, e.g., no NGD articles, items from JSTOR, RILM, Doctoral Dissertations in Music, etc. (If I've already put it up on a web site for this or any other course, it is off limits.)
• Be sure that you look at the entire web site (or a reasonable portion) to make certain of what it contains. Do not simply glance at the home page and assume that the rest of the site is OK. (Navigability and ease of use should be part of your evaluation.)
• In your evaluation of the web site, try to identify the author/owners or the web site and their purpose in posting such a web page. Is the site commercial (perfectly aceptable, if you can explain whY) or not, is it the product of a major scholar or scholarly group, or is the author someone like an educated amateur or even a student? How does any of this affect the information available on or through the web site?

GRADING CRITERIA: This project will count for 5% of your course grade, i.e., 2.5% for each of the two web pages you find and submit. Within the project itself, the grade will be determined by the following:

• 50% on the value of the web site itself.
• 50% on the written summary (divided between organization of the materials and the mechanical aspects of writing).

DUE DATE: 5:00 pm on 18 February 2011 for your first submission, and 5:00 pm on 4 March 2011 for your second submission.