Starting in the late 1980s, wavelets have been used for a variety of purposes in music research. The earliest and still most prevalent use of wavelets has been time–frequency representations of musical signals, as a superior alternative to Fourier analysis. Computer music specialists interested in sound synthesis have also used wavelets as a means of dynamic filtering and separating monaurally superimposed sounds. One researcher has explored the use of wavelets in detecting patterns of whole pitches or rhythms, with varied results. And researchers at Yale University have used wavelets for noise reduction of a 1889 recording of Johannes Brahms performing his Hungarian Dance Number 1. In this paper the different types of wavelet transforms used in the music research mentioned above are explained, and future uses in timber research and sound synthesis is explored.