Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology

Subject: Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 12:03 PM

I have had a worm in my brain for some time now about studying ethnopmusicology. I earned my BA in 1972 and have an MA in education. Anyone who can lead me in a good direction? Is it possible to do a majority of coursework on line? I live in Central California.

Subject: RE: Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology
From: Dave Swan
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 12:27 PM

There'a a program at UC Berkeley which has turned out some good students, friends of mine among them. Don't know what their on-line offerings are, but it's a chance to get to Berkeley once in a while. Are you on the coast or trapped in the valley?

Good luck,

Dave

Subject: RE: Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology
From: Benjamin
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 01:01 PM

This would be a bit of a move, but the University of Washington has a great ethnomusicology department.

Subject: RE: Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 02:02 PM

There don't need to be any more PhDs in ethnomusicology. After all, how many cab drivers do we need?
\
Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 02:07 PM

An MSN search (I wasn't curious enough to Google) turns up:

SoCal Society for Ethnomusicology has a "members list" link. You might find someone (or a few) you know who could give more direct advice.

SEM Homepage has a "contact the society" link with email clickies to the President and to the Society Office. It's possible they have information on "accredited" courses.

UCLA Department, since it seems in your neighborhood, includes their course requirements if you follow the links. It doesn't appear that they have a web-based program, and the inclusion of "performance" sessions as a requirement would seem to mandate on-site presence. (They also seem to disparage MA candidates who don't intend to seek the Ph.D.)

There seem to be only about a half-dozen schools offering this course of study (in the US & Canada), and their requirements look pretty similar. I'd be dubious that the requirements they list could be met through web study, but it's certainly worth looking further before reaching any conclusions.

John

Subject: RE: Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 04:56 PM

Dave, Ben, and John;
Thanks for the information.
I am on the coast, and love it.

Uncle Dave - I've been there, done that. Five years in Santa Barbara in the early '80s. And besides, nowadays I don't think you can drive a cab with only a masters degree. I don't want the PhD.

Subject: RE: Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 14 Jun 03 - 12:29 AM

What are you a stup-nagle?


It is obvious that the references to enthnomusicology sunk the entire white-person mentality of the Eastern-USA prejudice which spawned this entire web-site.

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 12:56 PM

Garg:

"Sunk" is improper, Mister Big Brains. The past perfect of "sink" is "sank".

A

Subject: RE: Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology
From: Fortunato
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 11:18 AM

Ethnomusicology is a very long word. Proctology is shorter. Ethnomusicology pays poorly. Proctology pays well. Ethnomusicology can be lonely, proctology introduces you to new people all the time. Ethnomusicology and Proctology have one thing in common, you can always get into something different. Oh, and ethnomuscicologists seldom wear rubber gloves, which can dry out the skin and cause discomfort.

Subject: RE: Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology
From: Frankham
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 11:36 AM

Guest,
There are many ways to go it seems to me. The academic route is one of them. Usually, there are two approaches. Monographic. Ethnographic. First is a study in-depth of a specific music and it's culture where measurements are taken and examples analyzed. Second, an overview of the world's music in the way that Lomax attempted. Whether his "cantrometrics" really works is not for us to say right now. Over time, we'll know.

Selective reading by Kremenliev, Meriam, Kurt Sachs, Charles Seeger (Pete's dad, an excellent ethnomusicologist)...A.L. Lloyd,Bela Bartok and Kodaly, Mantle Hood, and others in the field would give you some perspective.

I believe that much can be learned by independent study if you have a specific cultural orientation. I would trust what Joe Heaney, Mick Maloney or Willie Clancy had to say about Irish music.   I would trust what Jean Ritchie had to say about Appalachian music or Ewan McColl and Jeannie Robertson about the Scottish ballad. A lot has to do with what music you want to study.

Frank Hamilton