The Ethnography of Music (Honours)

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

Some theoretical or practical acquaintance with music outside the western traditions.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject is designed for students intending to undertake honours or graduate research based on musical ethnography. You will be introduced to some historical and contemporary models of ethnographic representation and writing, field work methods, and ethical issues in musical ethnography. Your learning will be based on readings, practical activities, contributions to seminar discussions and independent research in your area of musical interest.

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 involved in undertaking musical ethnography ;
• demonstrate understanding of the ethics of scholarship in musical ethnography;
• demonstrate understanding of different cultural and musical values;
• demonstrate an understanding of scholarly writing appropriate to the discipline; and
• conduct a thorough literature review

• A critical assessment of two ethnographies of music (1500 words) - Week 6 (40%)

• A 500 word ethnographic description of a performance of music in Melbourne - Week 9 (10%)

• A rationale and a literature review for a research proposal (3000 words excluding bibliography/discography/filmography) - End of Semester Exam Period (50%)

All readings will be available on the LMS prior to the commencement of semester.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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.