In September 2024, scholars gathered at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna for Rhythm Under the Microscope, a conference examining microtiming and groove in popular music. Keynote speakers Anne Danielsen and Justin London explored the effects of a variety of parameters on the perception of microrhythm as well as the relationship between rhythm and microtiming. Other paper presentations and workshops further examined aspects of timing, groove, and aesthetics.
Rhythm Under the Microscope II is a sequel to the 2024 conference, providing an opportunity for renewed study of microtiming, including scholarly advances since the first conference, but also opening up to discussions of tempo variability. The conference seeks to bring together musicians and scholars from various disciplines to connect their different perspectives and further the current state of microrhythm, tempo variability, and groove research. Fernando Benadon and Ragnhild Brøvig have been confirmed as keynote speakers for the 2026 conference.
We invite proposals for paper presentations and workshops. Paper presentations should be 25 minutes long, with an additional 10 minutes allotted for questions and answers. We also encourage scholars to submit ideas for 90-minute workshops in which a group of participants would have the opportunity to learn about current research or pedagogical methods and implement them in a hands-on fashion. Artistic research is also highly welcome. Applicants can submit a maximum of one presentation proposal and one workshop proposal.
Topics of proposed papers and workshops might include but are not limited to:
• New methods for measuring microrhythmic phenomena and tempo variability
• Microrhythm and bodily movement
• Perception of microrhythm and tempo variability and the neurological bases for these
• The effect of timbre, pitch, duration, etc. on the perception of groove
• Manipulation of microrhythm or tempo variability in digital music creation
• Relationships between the timing of multiple instruments in a band, played live or manipulated in the studio
• Expressive timing in rap vocals
• Teaching microrhythm or tempo variability in music education
• Microrhythm or tempo variability in specific pop or rock genres, folk musics, or jazz
• Identifying microrhythmic or tempo “fingerprints” of famous recording artists
Please submit your abstract by June 1, 2026 to rhythm-ipop@mdw.ac.at. Abstracts should be between 400 and 700 words (references not included in the word count).
Authors will be notified of acceptance by mid-June. For further information, please contact rhythm-ipop@mdw.ac.at. Details about registration will be forthcoming.