mcpherson has published many edited books and book chapters, encyclopedia entries, monographs, and edited conference proceedings. examples of edited or co-edited/authored volumes for oxford university press include "the child as musician, the oxford handbook of music education," and "music in our lives: rethinking musical ability, identity and development." the forthcoming "oxford handbook of music performance", of which mcpherson is editor, will be the most comprehensive publication on music performance ever compiled.