The Ethnography of Music

This subject is not offered in 2009.

Available as breadth and to BMus students with permission of the coordinator.

An introduction to the writings of the seminal scholars in ethnomusicology from the 19th century to the present day and to the key issues of ethnomusicological theory and methodology presented in those writings, including fieldwork methods, approaches to transcription and analysis, the ethnography of music, ethical considerations and future directions of ethnomusicology. This subject provides a conceptual base for students intending to pursue research in ethnomusicology.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• negotiate and assess the print and electronic literature in the discipline with confidence
• articulate the main issues in ethnomusicology
• demonstrate practical understanding of the ethics of scholarship in ethnomusicology
• demonstrate understanding of different cultural values.

A research project (2000 words, excluding bibliography) due at the end of semester (50%); two written class presentations (1000 words each), mid-semester and end of semester (20% each); an ethnographic description of a performance of music in Melbourne (minimum 500 words) due at the end of the semester (10%)

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

On completion of this subject students should be able to demonstrate:

• an understanding of different cultural values
• a capacity for independent thought and critical analysis
• the capacity to write in a scholarly manner appropriate to the discipline
• an openness to new ideas.