Overview

The SysMus 2016 Conference Report reflects on the 9th International Conference of Students of Systematic Musicology, held in Jyväskylä, Finland, which was the first SysMus conference to take place in a Nordic country. Organised by students for students, the three-day conference brought together around 50 participants from an international community to share research, exchange ideas and build connections across the diverse field of systematic musicology.

The programme featured 27 talks, 21 posters and five workshops, covering a wide range of interdisciplinary approaches, with a particularly strong focus on music and health. Three keynote presentations explored music in medicine, music learning and rehabilitation across the lifespan, and new perspectives on musical tempo. Alongside the academic programme, poster elevator pitches, workshops, social events and a closing jam session created opportunities for both formal discussion and informal exchange.

The full conference report offers a lively account of the presentations, workshops and social programme, while reflecting on the distinctive role of SysMus in providing students and early-career researchers with opportunities to present their work, develop professional skills and connect with an international research community.