Ethnomusicology programs at the University of Washington feature an integrated interdisciplinary approach to the study of music and culture. Our faculty are members of both the School of Music and the Anthropology Department; and our students are able to combine studies in both departments with options selected from other disciplines and area studies programs in the university. The B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. programs combine academic coursework in these disciplines with firsthand musical experience in individual lessons and ensembles, taught by leading performers from the world's musical traditions who join us each year as artists in residence.
Our students receive systematic training in the interdisciplinary theories and methods needed to understand both the universal and the unique aspects of cultures and musical traditions. They work in fields as diverse as anthropology, linguistics, comparative religions, cultural ecology, ethnomedicine, history, literary studies, philosophy, folklore, library science, computer applications, video documentation, and musicological approaches, from historical studies to formal analysis.
Students working towards the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees have in recent years conducted field research on traditional, popular, and immigrant musics of Indonesia, China, Japan, Korea, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Hungary, Sweden, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Haiti, Ecuador, Mexico and the United States. Graduates of the program have held positions at academic institutions including Wesleyan University, Columbia University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of North Texas, the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, the University of California-Los Angeles, the University of Hawaii, Oregon State University, Umea University, Sweden, and the University of Zimbabwe, as well as in a variety of public-service oriented settings.
The Ethnomusicology Division has a variety of special resources available for teaching and research, including a sound archives, musical analysis laboratory, special library collections, musical instrument collection, video equipment, and a student workroom with computer, sound equipment, and library. The Ethnomusicology Student Association (ESA) meets regularly to discuss matters of concern to students and sponsors a variety of special activities, including lectures, colloquia, and concerts.
Admission to the Graduate School is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School. Application for admission is made to the Office of Graduate Admissions Box 351280, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. Each applicant must submit a completed University of Washington application form and arrange for the receipt of official transcripts by the office from all previously attended colleges, universities, and institutes.
Besides application to the Graduate School, each graduate student must be admitted into a specific graduate program. Students wishing to be considered for the Ethnomusicology Program in music should submit to the department (Graduate Advising, School of Music, Box 353450, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195), a statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation. GRE scores are not required, but are recommended. The statement of purpose should include background experiences that may be relevant to the study of ethnomusicology as well as a description of intended goals in ethnomusicology. Although musical performance is an important aspect of our programs, their primary focus is academic. Letters of recommendation that evaluate academic ability and promise are far more useful than evaluations of talent and performing experience. Please do not send tapes with your application. New student applications are considered only for the Fall quarter of any academic year. Admissions decisions for the next academic year often begin as early as February. Incomplete appliations will not be considered.
Students wishing to be considered for admission into the Ethnomusicology Track in Anthropology should contact the Anthropology Department for details. Contact Sandra Farley, Graduate Program Coordinator, Department of Anthropology, Box 353100, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 (206-685-1562).
Students wishing to be considered for admission into the B.A. GIS Ethnomusicology Program should contact David M. Sayrs, Academic Counselor, Undergraduate Advising, Box 352805, 171 Mary Gates Hall, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 (206-616-7302; 206-543-2550)
Students entering the graduate Ethnomusicology Program in Music are not initially designated as M.A. or Ph.D. students. In practical terms, this means that students entering with a Masters degree in hand are sometimes required to complete courses required in our M.A. program before the faculty considers advising them to form their supervisory committee for the Doctorate. Equivalencies based upon coursework at another institution are considered on a case-by-case basis. Based upon faculty recommendations, a student may be advised to form his or her committee for the Doctoral qualifying exams without completing a Masters degree. It is up to the student's advisor or supervisory committee to determine the degree program of the student, whether it be a program leading to the M.A. or the Ph.D. Entering ethnomusicology students are assigned a faculty mentor. It is expected that a student may choose another advisor as his/her research interests become more focused. Each student's courses for the following quarter are approved by a faculty member at advising sessions held each quarter. More extensive consultations between a student and his/her advisor are held toward the end of each academic year. Special requests, such as those having to do with the equivalence of credits earned at other institutions, are conveyed by written petition.
Fellowships, scholarships, teaching and research assistantships and work-study opportunities are available. Additionally, students planning to enroll in foreign language classes are encouraged to apply for National Education Research Fellowships.
For information on work-study and student loans, contact the Financial Aid Office, Room 105, Schmitz Hall, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195; telephone number (206) 543-6101. The deadline for the submission of Financial Aid forms varies from year to year, but is usually around the beginning of February.
The School of Music also has a number of scholarships and research and teaching assistantships that are available to ethnomusicology students. To receive application forms or additional information, contact Jenni Cole, Admissions and Outreach Coordinator, School of Music 353450, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 (206-685-9872); jcole2@u.washington.edu.
If you apply for any kind of financial assistance, please be sure to notify the Ethnomusicology Division in writing so that we have the information necessary to support your application.
Inquiries regarding sources of financial assistance for graduate students in the Ethnomusicology track in Anthropology should be directed to Sandra Farley, Graduate Program Coordinator, Department of Anthropology, Box 353100, University, Seattle, WA 98195, (206) 685-1562.
History of the Ethnomusicology
Programs
The first course in ethnomusicology at the University of Washington was offered in 1953 by visiting professor of Anthropology Richard A. Waterman.
In 1962, the Center for Asian Arts was established as part of a project funded by the Ford Foundation. At that time, Shigeo Kishibe was invited as visiting professor of music, and Robert Garfias was appointed to the faculty of the School of Music.
With the establishment of a Graduate School interdisciplinary group and the definition of a course of graduate study in the School of Music in 1965, the program was under way. Since its beginning, the program has invited master musicians each year as artists in residence, to teach instrumental and vocal music and introduce students to some of the problems of fieldwork.
The program has grown to include two artists in residence and four academic faculty members. Students interested in Ethnomusicology may work toward the B.A. in General Studies, and the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Music.
In 1987, an Ethnomusicology track was established in the Anthropology Department.
MUSIC 428 - Music of North India: Classical music of North India, the Hindustani tradition, with emphasis on the Dhrupad and Khyal styles.
MUSIC 430 - Organology: Systematic study of musical instruments involving the history, acoustical phenomena and physical topologies of instruments from around the world, with emphasis on non-Western music.
MUSIC 445 - Selected Topics in Ethnomusicology: Deals with topics not covered by regular courses in ethnomusicology. Frequently taught by visiting artists. Content varies with different instructors.
MUSIC 447 - Music of South India: Classical music of South India, the Karnatic tradition, with emphasis on the concert repertoire.
MUSIC 448 - Music of China: Confucian philosophies that relate to music, theory, scale systems, and cosmology. Development of instrumental styles, vocal and dramatic regional forms from early historical periods to the present.
MUSIC 480 - The Anthropology of Music: Analysis of aspects of anthropological thought influential in ethnomusicology. Critical evaluation of dominant theoretical schools and modes of explanation (e.g., evolutionist, diffusionist, historical particularist, structuralist, functionalist, symbolist, and semiotic) through detailed examination of seminal texts. (Crosslists as ANTH 430)
MUSIC 511 - Seminar in Field and Laboratory Methods: Methodology of research in ethnomusicology along with practical experience in recording and processing field and laboratory materials.
MUSIC 512 - Seminar in Ethnomusicology: Study of methodological procedures in ethnomusicology applied to specific research problems.
MUSIC 531 - Proseminar in Ethnomusicology: Theoretical and methodological practices in ethnomusicology based on existing major writings. Critical evaluations of works with broad view toward developing ethnomusicological research.
MUSIC 533/534/535 - Preceptorial Readings in Ethnomusicology: Significant ethnomusicological literature on the major music cultures.
MUSIC 536 - Transcription and Analysis: Study of practice in different notational analytical systems used in non-Western music.
MUSIC 589 - World Music Laboratory: World music traditions taught by visiting artists with emphasis on cultural pedagogy and traditional theory. The particular culture studied changes from year to year.
MUSIC APPLIED 389 - World Music: World music traditions taught by visiting native artists. Consult department for current offerings.
MUSIC APPLIED 589 - World Music Laboratory: World music traditions taught by visiting artists with emphasis on cultural pedagogy and traditional theory. The particular culture studied changes from year to year.
MUSIC EDUCATION 452 - Ethnomusicology in the Schools: Issues, teaching materials and techniques involved in incorporating music cultures of the United States and related world music repertoires in K-12 classroom instruction.