Below we provide several suggestions for targeted actions that our leaders might take toward this end.

Best Practices For Committees

One vital barrier to marginalized people succeeding in our field is the field’s unwillingness to accept—let alone, learn from—their music-theoretical work. The standard model of theory and analysis is one steeped in an identity that is white, Western European, male, able-bodied, and hetero-normative. As the field comes to accept that these identities have critically shaped its axiology, it must be proactive in moving those values out of the forefront, and not only allowing, but featuring and engaging with the values of other kinds of people. Thus, committees that evaluate scholarly work (e.g., program and publication award committees) must be actively challenged to broaden their definitions of meaningful music theory, and accept and uplift new approaches to theory scholarship, particularly when committee members may not be experts on the methods or music in question. The SMT can put forth and enforce guidelines and evaluation criteria for such committees to avoid implicit bias and actively encourage diversification of scholarship. Other scholarly societies (including AMS) have established “best practices” that can serve as models.

Conference Culture

One way of facilitating a shift of values is to change the culture of the annual and affiliated regional meetings. SMT leadership can put forth new guidelines for attendees and presenters at these meetings. For instance, speakers on traditional methods and topics should not assume that all music theorists share a highly specialized knowledge of Western tonality or post-tonal methods. Every speaker should aim to make their work accessible to audiences with a broad range of experience and expertise. Society leadership might consider putting together some resources or a guide toward this end.

Another way of de-centering white methodologies and placing them on the same level as other methodologies would be to encourage scholars of current mainstream methods to create interest groups. For instance, a tonal music analysis interest group would facilitate the continuation of highly specialized discourse among interested scholars while making room at the center of the Society for more diverse approaches to music theory and analysis.

Furthermore, the Society can create spaces that are more hospitable to junior and minoritized scholars by reflecting on standard Q&A format and practices. We have found, in organizing our events, that when speakers have the freedom to modify the Q&A format specifically to furnish a more open and mutually respectful discussion, we can minimize the occurrences of unhelpful and hurtful interjections that traditionally target minority and junior scholars.

Moderated Study Groups

The SMT can strengthen its community and its knowledge base by facilitating study groups on topics related to equity and diversity. This idea is inspired by the model that the 2019 plenary speakers followed to inform their talks.

SMT might put together groups of four members who wish to participate in a two-hour, online discussion. Each group would be assigned a moderator, who would also report on the meeting; SMT Board members, SMT Committee members, and the signatories to this letter might serve as group moderators. Each group would select readings from a suggested list, which might include the recorded plenary talks and the literature cited in those talks (from critical race theory, feminist theory, queer theory, and disability studies), and these readings would serve as a starting point for discussion. Each group would be provided with questions to organize the discussion, with a focus on practical actions that might be taken in SMT, in our schools, and in our work. Groups would have the option of scheduling further meetings.

Equity Study

The Society should commission an equity study: a thorough, interview-based study of the experiences of women, people of color, LGBTQ people, indigenous people, differently-abled people, and immigrants working in the discipline. Such a study should reach out to people who have dropped out of the field. ​A study recently undertaken at Columbia University​ might serve as a model. Furthermore, the Society should commit to taking action upon receiving the results of the study.

Amplify And Enforce Harassment Guidelines

There is no question that marginalized scholars are more likely to be victims of harassment within our institutions and societies than scholars with majority identities (white, cis male, able-bodied, etc.). Therefore, if SMT wants to create a community in which marginalized scholars can flourish, it needs to be proactive in amplifying its guidelines on harassment. Every SMT committee and every SMT member must be aware of and responsive to these guidelines. Amplification via email as well as verbal reminders at meetings and events can both be useful. For instance, every session at the annual meeting could begin with the session chair explaining guidelines for respectful and inclusive discourse. Other scholarly societies (such as AMS) may also have more effective practices for preventing harassment that can serve as models.