The mission of the ISME Research Commission is to:

 - examine through research important issues facing music education worldwide;

 - develop, refine and demonstrate a range of research approaches, methods and techniques for critically examining issues in  music education;

 - provide a forum for the communication, critical analysis, and dissemination of research innovations in music education; and

 - deepen and develop the research knowledge base for practitioners, policy makers, and researchers in music education.

The Research Commission accomplishes its mission by providing workshops, lectures, seminars, and demonstrations in different locations in order to build research capacity and to promote research expertise in all regions of the ISME membership. Commission seminars bring together early career and experienced researchers from a broad geographic representation.