Musicology / Ethnomusicology
Musicology is an academic discipline that studies music in its historical, social, and cultural contexts. It is usually divided into two main approaches: historical musicology and ethnomusicology. Historical musicology focuses on art music and often examines music from a historical perspective. Ethnomusicology tends to focus on music traditions outside the art music canon, but it also can include art music, especially from places that are not well known.
At MSU’s College of Music, the musicology/ethnomusicology area consists of distinguished faculty members whose research covers all periods of Western music history and cultures from Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Faculty members work closely with students, helping them develop as writers and as scholars conducting ethnographic and archival research.
Members of the historical musicology faculty teach courses in the full range of Western music, while ethnomusicology faculty members specialize in the music of Africa and the African Diaspora (including North America and the Caribbean). Students in the area have studied a variety of traditions, including Cuban music, Anglo American fiddling, Korean Christian music, Native American music, cultural representation in Malaysian museums, and congregational singing in Mennonite churches.
Class sizes remain small to ensure exceptional instruction, top-quality advising, and individualized attention. Courses are conducted through graduate seminars, lecture–discussion classes, independent studies, and large lecture classes for undergraduates. Students can double major, earning a degree in a related or unrelated field while pursuing their musicology degree. At present, half of the students in the musicology/ethnomusicology area are enrolled in dual degree programs.
Among its many accomplishments, the musicology/ethnomusicology area boasts consistent placement of master’s students in competitive graduate programs throughout the nation.
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