Since its inception in January 1997, "Thinking about Music" has presented around one hundred lectures and one symposium by guests from numerous different colleges, universities, schools of music, foundations, institutes, museums, and publishing concerns. The subjects of the lectures have covered historical musicology, music theory, and ethnomusicology, along with the ancillary fields of organology, dance, music business and law, cognitive psychology, and the philosophy, theology, and sociology of music.

Alphabetical list of "Thinking about Music" speakers
(1996–97 through 2004–05):
 
Wye Jamison Allanbrook (2002–03)
Charles Atkinson (2004–05)
Gage Averill (2006–07)
Judith Becker (2002–03)
Gerard Behague (1997–98)
Paul Berliner (2000–01)
Graeme Boone (2000–01)
Susan Boynton (1999–2000)
Candace Brower (1997–98)
Malcolm Brown (1996–97)
J. Peter Burkholder (2001–02)
Scott Burnham (1997–98)
L. Poundie Burstein (2002–03)
Allen Cadwallader (1998–99)
William Caplin (1999–2000)
Anna Celenza (2005–06)
Michael Cherlin (1998–99)
Thomas Christensen (1996–97)
Robert Clarida (2002–03)
David Cohen (2001–02)
Richard Cohn (1997–98)
Susan Cook (1997–98)
Richard Crawford (2003–04)
Warren Darcy (2000–01)
Walter Everett (2005–06)
Laurel Fay (2004–05)
Steven Feld (2003–04)
Martha Feldman (2006–07)
Samuel A. Floyd, Jr. (1997–98)
Mary Frandsen (2006–07)
Jane Fulcher (2002–03)
Robert O. Gjerdingen (2001–02)
Beth Glixon (2000–01)
Philip Gossett (2004–05)
Taylor Greer (1996–97)
Barbara Haggh (1996–97)
Ethan Haimo (2001–02)
Robert Hatten (2002–03)
Wendy Heller (1998–99)
James Hepokoski (2002–03)
Dane Heuchemer (2001–02)
Stephen Hinton (1999–2000)
Roy Howat (2006–07)
David Huron (2001–02)
Brian Hyer (2000–01)
Allan Keiler (1999–2000)
Kay Knittel (2006–07)
Nola Reed Knouse (1998–99)
Lev Koblyakov (2004–05)
Kevin Korsyn (1998–99; 2006–07)
Ellen Koskoff (1996–97)
Kim Kowalke (1999–2000)
Richard Kramer (2003–04)
Joseph Kraus (1997–98)
Harald Krebs (2000–01)
Joel Lester (1998–99)
Mary S. Lewis (2002–03)
Rebecca Leydon (2004–05)
Laurence Libin (2001–02)
David Lidov (2005–06)
Judith Lochhead (2003–04)
Justin London (1996–97)
Hugh Macdonald (2001–02)
Patrick Macey (2006–07)
William P. Malm (1998–99)
Michael Marissen (1998–99)
Elizabeth West Marvin (2005–06)
David McAllester (1996–97)
Honey Meconi (2004–05)
Daniel Melamed (2000–01)
Severine Neff (1999–2000)
Massimo Ossi (2005–06)
Leeman Perkins (2006–07)
Harold S. Powers (2003–04)
Guthrie Ramsey (1996–97)
Thomas L. Riis (2002–03)
Jenefer Robinson (2003–04)
Alex Ross (2005–06)
Lee Rothfarb (2003–04)
William Rothstein (2006–07)
Lewis Rowell (2000–01)
Leonora Saavedra (1999–2000)
Carl Schachter (1999–2000)
Luitgard Schader (2000–01)
Peter Schubert (1997–98)
Anthony Seeger (1998–99)
Peggy Seeger (1999–2000)
Kay Shelemay (2001–02)
Hedi Siegel (1998–99)
Dennis Slavin (1996–97)
Charles Smith (2004–05)
Peter H. Smith (1996–97)
Ruth Solie (2003–04)
Rose Subotnik (2004–05)
Jeff Titon (2005–06)
Leo Treitler (1997–98)
Michael von der Linn (1999–2000)
Paul von Hippel (2005–06)
Bonnie Wade (2004–05)
Alan Walker (2005–06)
James Webster (1998–99)
Steven Zohn (1999–2000)
James Zychowicz (1996–97)