Dear Alumni:
These are exciting times for ethnomusicology at UCLA. Not only has the department successfully established a new curriculum for both the undergraduate and graduate programs, but we have also hired new permanent faculty and staff.
New Curriculum and Roster Faculty
For several years, both students and faculty have called for revisions in our curriculum. After much discussion and deliberation, the University has approved the changes and provided some support for the department to implement the revisions. This is wonderful news because it allows us to expand and strengthen our core course offerings in the two undergraduate concentrations: jazz and world music concentrations. By providing undergraduates with an opportunity to choose from several new emphases (performance/composition, public ethnomusicology, or scholarly research), students can design a course of study to meet individual needs and goals. For more details, click on the link below.
Undergraduate Program in Ethnomusicology
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/academics/undergrad/index.htm
The graduate program has also been revised. In addition to two new courses integrated into the core curriculum, several other changes have been implemented to enhance the training of our students. (Click on link below for more details)
Graduate Program in Ethnomusicology
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/academics/grad/index.htm
Another critical component of the revisions is the hiring of Münir Beken, a new faculty person whose primary focus is theory and composition (see link below for bio). Having Professor Beken on our faculty allows the department to put greater emphasis on the creative aspects of music, which, in turn, enhances and complements our research and scholarship.
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/people/beken.htm
History of Ethnomusicology at UCLA
In addition to curricular changes, we are approaching several critical junctures in the history of ethnomusicology at UCLA. In fall 1987 (20 years ago), the faculty in the "old" UCLA Department of Music voted to separate and become three independent departmental units. We became the Department of Ethnomusicology and the other two units became the Department of Music and the Department of Musicology, respectively. The Office of the President of the University of California (in Oakland, California) formally approved our department status in fall 1989.
Another historical marker is 2010. In that year, we will be celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Ethnomusicology at UCLA. To celebrate the founding, the 55th Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnomusicology will take place in Los Angeles in fall 2010 (more details later).
If you have items (photos, articles, music recording, video recordings, music scores, etc.) that you think are important to the history of ethnomusicology at UCLA, please send this material to us so we can share it with others. At a later date, we hope to add the information to our history. See below for a brief historical statement that is now on our web site.
History of the Department
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/aboutus/history.htm
More New Faces
The department welcomes the entering class of graduate and undergraduate students for 2007-08. Click on link below for their photos and other information.
New Graduate Students
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/newsevents/news/newgraduatestudents07.htm
New Undergraduate Students
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/newslevents/news/newundergraduatestudents07.htm
In summer 2007, the department hired Kathleen Hood (see link for bio) as our new Publications Director/Events Coordinator. As noted in an earlier communication, Kathleen permanently replaces Kelly Salloum who retired in spring 2007. http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/people/hood.htm
Other new faculty for 2007-08 include Kirk Brundage and Wolf Marshall. Mr. Brundage will be teaching the music of Brazil. He replaces Beto Gonzalez who is now conducting fieldwork in Brazil for his doctorate degree. Wolf Marshall will teach jazz guitar. He replaces Anthony Wilson who has an extensive touring schedule in 2007-08 and cannot be with us.
Kirk Brundage
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/people/brundage.htm
Wolf Marshall
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/people/marshall.htm
Congratulations
Our students continue to be successful in receiving fellowships and awards (click on link below for a list of their names and the awards). Also, I want to congratulate students who received their B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees between winter and summer 2007. We wish them much success in their future endeavors. In addition, the department's second annual World Music Summer Institute (WMSI) was a major success. Thirty-six students from different parts of the United States (Arizona, California, Georgia, and Texas) attended. Much thanks goes to the faculty, teaching assistants, and staff who participated in WMSI 2007. Some of the students who attended WMSI 2006 are part of the incoming class of undergraduates for 2007-08. So this is good news because it demonstrates the importance of WMSI to outreach and recruitment.
Student Awards 2007-08
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/currentstudents/studentawards/2007-08.htm
Department Graduates 2007-08
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/newsevents/news/gradreception07.htm
Recent Doctoral Dissertations
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/alumni/recentdissertations.htm
World Music Summer Institute 2007
http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/academics/summerprograms.htm
Activities for 2007-08
Several activities are planned for fall 2007 (see below).
Friday, September 28, 2007
Ice Cream Social
3-5 PM, SMB Green Room
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Jonathan Stock, Director of the Ethnomusicology Program, University of Sheffield
Lecture: "Fieldwork at Home: English Perspectives"
Time and location - TBD
Friday, November 2, 2007
Spiritual Sounds of Central Asia
Performance Workshop
12 noon, SMB 1143
Monday and Tuesday, December 3 and 4, 2007
UCLA Jazz Students Showcase and Holiday Concerts
7:00 PM, Schoenberg Hall, SMB 1100
Search for Ethnomusicology Archive Librarian
In the coming weeks, several individuals will be visiting UCLA to interview for the Ethnomusicology Archive Librarian position. Because this position is important to training at UCLA, we encourage you to attend the public presentations by the different candidates if you live in the area.
Regents’ Lectureship and Ash Grove Celebration - spring 2008
Two major events will take place in April 2008: (1) the two-week residency of folk musician Mike Seeger, who will serve as the department's Regents Lecturer (April 8-22) and (2) the department partnership with UCLA Live in celebrating (April 18-20) the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Ash Grove, the legendary West Hollywood club that promoted diverse genres of American music, including bluegrass, blues, country, jazz, and rock. Click on link below for more details.
http://www.uclalive.org/event.asp?Event_ID=490
News, Enhanced Web Site, and Staying in Touch
Thanks to Donna Armstrong, the Chair's Assistant, the department's web site continues to be current and up-to-date. Because of the thoughtful and thorough manner in which Donna presents the information, the web site has become an essential and important resource for communications.
In summer 2007, Donna enhanced the web site to make it easier to use. You will notice that the listing of topics or links on the left of each page has been modified. In addition, there are now several new topics along the top of the page in bold black letters and a grey background.
The link for “news and events” can now be found on top. For recent news, I encourage you to visit the news page. Also, please continue to stay in touch by sending us news about your activities and achievements. Whatever you send is informative to everyone. http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/newsevents/index.htm
In addition, if you would like to be listed on our "Where Are They Now" page (see link below), send your information to Donna at donnaa@arts.ucla.edu. http://www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/alumni/wherearetheynow.htm.
I hope you agree, as I noted at the beginning of this email, that these are exciting times for ethnomusicology at UCLA. As the year unfolds, I hope that you will send us messages or comments so you can contribute to the synergy taking place in the department.
For those attending the Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) in Columbus, we hope to see you there, particularly at the UCLA reception on Thursday evening. Similar to past years, UCLA is well represented at the meeting of the Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) with students, faculty, and alumni involved in all facets of the meeting.
On behalf of the faculty and staff, I wish you a successful year. Let’s continue in the tradition of moving forward.
Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje
Chair