Processes of East Asian 'modernization' have brought with them revolutions in the practical and conceptual life of music in the region. In this course we consider the social power of music and its transformations in modern Japan, China and Korea, attentive to the themes that unite them. We consider Korean and Chinese assimilations of Western and Japanese notions of the modern, tradition, culture and music, and other legacies of Japanese colonialism; the impact of war on music; East Asian revolutionary socialisms and music; the capitalist transformations of East Asian musical culture, including the rise of popular music industries and the transformation of nightlife culture; the canonization of traditional music as national culture; the utility of music in East Asian modernity’s everyday lives; and other issues. We examine the role that music has played in these transformations, and their specific consequences for musical practice.