Many Musics: Intro to Ethnomusicology

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course offers an introduction to ethnomusicology. We will explore its development and research methods, focusing on the "big questions" asked by ethnomusicologists: How might we define and refine our understanding of musical sound(s)? What are the shared and unique building blocks of expression in different kinds of musics? How do these musics differ across time and space, and what can musical practice teach us about any given society? Approaching these questions thematically and geographically, students will not only encounter numerous musical systems and cultures worldwide, but also be encouraged to rethink their own relationships with music. Coursework will include completing an ethnographic project as well as attending concerts and workshops with practitioners of various musical traditions (such as Indonesian gamelan, Afro-Cuban drumming, Middle Eastern maqam-based performance, Indian dance, etc.).