Ethnomusicology is the study of music from various cultures and societies around the world. It is a fascinating field of study that has seen a rise in popularity in recent years. If you are looking to become an ethnomusicologist and gain expertise and knowledge in this area, there are certain steps you should take to ensure success. This blog post will provide an overview of what aspiring ethnomusicologists should know in order to become successful in this field. Here, we will discuss the education and training necessary to become an ethnomusicologist, as well as career options and job opportunities. Additionally, this post will provide insight into the rewards and challenges associated with a career in ethnomusicology, so you can decide if this is the right field for you. With the right approach and dedication, anyone can become an ethnomusicologist. Read on to learn more about how to become an ethnomusicologist.
What does an ethnomusicologist do?
Depending on their background and place of employment, ethnomusicologists may be assigned a variety of tasks. Some of the most typical responsibilities that ethnomusicologists have are as follows:
Conducting research
No matter where they work, research is typically at the heart of an ethnomusicologist’s responsibilities. While some ethnomusicologists work in academia, others spend the majority of their time working in the field. Reading is a crucial component of ethnomusicological research, and academics frequently devote a significant amount of their time to reading texts and scholarly articles that pertain to music and ethnography in their field of specialization. Additionally, they can watch videos of significant musical performances or listen to global music compilations.
Writing
For ethnomusicologists, writing is frequently a significant aspect of their work, and they need to have strong writing and editing skills. Academic papers or books that reflect their research or fieldwork are frequently written by ethnomusicology professors during their summer and winter breaks. They may occasionally incorporate these pieces into their lessons. Additionally, ethnomusicology researchers write books, memoirs, and scholarly articles using the information they have gathered.
Curating museum collections
Ethnomusicologists may be employed as curators by museums that preserve collections of cultural musical instruments or exhibits relating to particular cultural groups. These specialists organize traveling exhibits, plan permanent exhibits, fix broken objects, make displays and descriptions, look after collections, and design public education programs. Enhancing public understanding of traditional music through visual displays is the primary objective of ethnomusicologists working in museum settings.
Performing fieldwork
The most crucial aspect of an ethnomusicologist’s work is frequently fieldwork. Whether or not they continue in academia, it typically constitutes a sizable portion of their graduate-level education and frequently continues throughout their career. Fieldwork entails gathering data from primary sources away from a library or academic environment.
Travel is frequently necessary for ethnomusicologists to interact with the cultural groups they are researching. They frequently film and record musical performances, watch dances, conduct interviews, and take thorough notes while on these trips. Because their work can take them anywhere in the world, some ethnomusicologists spend their time in crowded cities while others visit isolated groups in far-off places.
Teaching
Those ethnomusicologists who decide to work in academia frequently devote a large portion of their time to instructing students about ethnography and music. This could entail giving lectures, assisting students with their research, counseling graduate students, grading their work, and giving tests. Ethnomusicologists outside of academia may also have teaching responsibilities. For instance, an ethnomusicologist working in a museum might plan educational talks or lead tours, and writers might create public presentations to advertise their writing.
Playing music
While ethnomusicologists are scholars, most of them are also artists. They frequently devote time during their formal education to learning the foundations of music theory and honing their performance abilities. They frequently continue their musical education after graduation, and they might pick up the instrument they studied for their research. As part of their fieldwork, some ethnomusicologists may also take part in musical performances or collaborate with cultural representatives.
What is an ethnomusicologist?
A specialist in musical instruments and global musical styles is known as an ethnomusicologist. The study of how music relates to the culture that creates it is another aspect of their field. Due to the fact that ethnomusicology is primarily an academic field, it is necessary to hold a graduate-level degree. Many ethnomusicologists work in higher education, with some serving as researchers or authors. Some ethnomusicologists might also work in institutions with musical collections.
The extremely broad field of ethnomusicology includes music from every continent. This means that ethnomusicologists frequently have a limited focus, such as jazz, Afro-Cuban music, North Indian music, or Brazilian traditional music. Students majoring in ethnomusicology take numerous classes in music theory and performance along with courses in ethnography, geography, and culture throughout their studies.
How to become an ethnomusicologist
If you’re interested in a career in ethnomusicology, think about taking the following actions:
1. Complete a bachelors degree
Getting a bachelor’s degree in a related field is the first requirement if you want to work as an ethnomusicologist. Most students finish their bachelor’s degrees in four years, but some may need more time to complete the necessary credits. Occasionally, taking summer courses may allow you to advance more quickly through your degree.
Although some universities offer undergraduate programs in ethnomusicology, these courses can be hard to find. Students who are interested in the subject can also pursue degrees in music education or performance, or they can combine their music major with a minor in anthropology or another relevant subject. If you have musical training, you might be able to finish your anthropology degree and then go on to get a graduate degree in ethnomusicology by using your musical background to meet the musicianship requirements.
2. Earn a masters degree
A master’s degree in ethnomusicology or in music with an ethnomusicology focus is almost always required for ethnomusicology jobs. It’s crucial to prepare your application materials during your final years of undergraduate study and to keep a strong GPA. A passing Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score, a graduate school application, application fees, letters of recommendation from professors and advisors, your college transcripts, and a personal statement or essay are the most typical prerequisites for admission to a master’s program. Depending on the demands of their research, a master’s degree typically takes two years to complete.
Students pursuing a master’s degree in ethnomusicology typically enroll in a variety of music and ethnography courses and complete a comprehensive research project that frequently involves fieldwork. As a student of ethnomusicology, you might take some of the following classes:
3. Consider a Ph.D.
It’s crucial to decide what career path you want to follow after earning your master’s degree. Your master’s degree may be sufficient if you have the chance to work in a museum, as an independent researcher, or as a music teacher. However, most ethnomusicologists work in higher education as professors. It’s important to apply to a Ph.D. program if you want to work in higher education. D. program in ethnomusicology. You can stay at this college or search for one that offers more financial aid or better research opportunities.
Your work may at this point in your education concentrate more on fieldwork and dissertation research than on classroom instruction. Before you begin a Ph. D. program, it’s critical to have a precise research agenda and area of concentration. You could teach undergraduate classes or help professors with their research as a doctoral student. The time required to complete a Ph. D. varies depending on the research needs of the student, but most finish in five to seven years.
4. Gain experience
It’s crucial to create a resume that can support you in getting a job at a university if you’re pursuing a career in ethnomusicology. It’s important to take advantage of these opportunities while you can because your time in school offers special research opportunities that can be hard to find otherwise. Volunteer to assist professors with their research projects if at all possible, and try to do as much fieldwork as you can. A resume-building strategy that also involves published writing is to think about writing for academic journals and school magazines.
It’s important to develop a few crucial skills that are essential for ethnomusicologists both during and after your university education, including:
5. Make connections
One of the best ways to discover employment opportunities in ethnomusicology is through professional connections. Try to establish close bonds with your professors, advisors, and fellow students while you are still in school. Following graduation, you can network with other experts in the field of ethnomusicology by attending conferences and taking part in collaborative fieldwork. These connections may improve your knowledge of music and culture and open up more opportunities for research and teaching.
Ethnomusicology 2.0 | John Vallier | TEDxUofW
FAQ
How much money does an ethnomusicologist make?
On average, Ethnomusicologists earn approximately $72,600 annually. The salary range for Ethnomusicologists runs from $32,000 to $122,000.
What skills do you need to be an ethnomusicologist?
- Musical abilities. In their research into various cultures, ethnomusicologists draw on their extensive knowledge of musical theory and practice.
- Research. …
- Analysis. …
- Cultural sensitivity. …
- Communication.
What does an ethnomusicologist do?
The study of music in its social and cultural contexts is known as ethnomusicology. To understand not only what music is but also what it means to its practitioners and audiences, ethnomusicologists study music as a social process. Ethnomusicology is highly interdisciplinary.
What degree do you need to be a musicologist?
A Quick Summary Musicologists who hold academic positions must hold a minimum of one bachelor’s degree in music as well as one advanced degree in music and another subject, typically a social science.
