Undergraduate Program

(B.A. degree in Ethnomusicology)

Students in the world music concentration may, through elective courses, prepare for a variety of career goals, including study of ethnomusicology in graduate school, composing and performing music, working in the music industry, serving society in the nonprofit sector, or becoming a K-12 music teacher.

Students in the world music concentration must choose one of four emphases:

Emphases

General World Music (for students interested in general training in world music): Students must take courses in the music of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe; popular music and jazz; and the aesthetics, politics, and psychology of music.

Performance/Composition (for students interested in a career in performance and/or composition): Students must take courses in performance, composition, jazz keyboard harmony, theory, arranging and improvisation. Students must also give a recital or compose an original composition.

Public Ethnomusicology (for students interested in careers in the music industry, the music business, archiving, or arts administration): Students must take courses such as the music industry; the music business; audiovisual archiving; and music, science and technology. Students must also work as an intern in professional institutions to prepare for their careers.

Scholarly Research (for students interested in pursuing graduate study): Students must choose from courses concerned with culture areas (Americas, Africa, and Asia); popular music and jazz; aesthetics, politics, and psychology; and/or special topics and individual studies. To demonstrate their research skills, students must also write a senior thesis.

To apply for an emphasis, click here

World Music Performance Ensembles

Because learning to perform the music of the world can enlighten and enrich academic experiences, ethnomusicology majors are required to take performance courses (Ethnomusicology 91 A-Z and 161 A-Z) concurrently with their academic courses. Students have the opportunity to participate in performing organizations representing some 10-12 traditions. These ensembles are taught by masters of each tradition, who are also usually natives of that tradition, giving the student a chance to understand the subtleties of pedagogical technique from someone who has spent a lifetime immersed in the music (for details click on World Music Performance Ensembles).

Private Instruction in Music

Students in the world music concentration who want alternatives to the above performance ensembles may enroll in Ethnomusicology 92 or 162 in order to receive two units of credit for private or semi-private lessons with a distinguished community-based musician. All costs involved with these lessons are to be paid for by the student. Once the student has selected the musician and musical tradition, a 92/162 course contract must be completed and submitted to the department chair's office no later than the end of the second week of the quarter the student plans to enroll. For more information go to: Private Instruction in Music.