Music professions

How To Become an Ethnomusicologist (Plus Salary and Job Outlook)

Updated June 24, 2022

Ethnomusicologists are professionals who study musical styles from all over the world and how they relate to the cultures that produce them. Ethnomusicology can provide rewarding career opportunities for individuals with a passion for music and anthropology. If you're interested in a career in ethnomusicology, it may be beneficial to learn more about the field and how you can enter it. In this article, we explain how to become an ethnomusicologist, describe what they do and provide information on the salary and job outlook for these professionals.Related: Music Careers: How To Pursue Them and Different Types

What is an ethnomusicologist?

An ethnomusicologist is an individual with extensive expertise in musical instruments and styles from around the world. Their field also includes the study of how music relates to the culture that produces it. Since ethnomusicology is primarily an academic discipline it requires a graduate-level degree, and many ethnomusicologists work in higher education with some working as researchers or authors. Some ethnomusicologists may also work in museums that have collections related to music.Ethnomusicology is a very broad field that includes music from every continent. This means that ethnomusicologists often have a narrow focus such as Brazilian traditional music, Afro-Cuban music, North Indian music or jazz. During their studies, ethnomusicology students take courses in ethnography, geography, culture as well as multiple music theory and performance classes.Related: 15 Jobs for Music Lovers (With Salaries)

What does an ethnomusicologist do?

Ethnomusicologists may have a wide range of tasks depending on their experience and place of work. These are some of the most common duties that ethnomusicologists have:

Conducting research

Regardless of their place of work, research is usually the core of an ethnomusicologist's job. Some ethnomusicologists conduct research as part of an academic career, while others spend most of their time conducting fieldwork. Reading is an important part of ethnomusicological research, and academics often spend much of their time reading books and academic papers that deal with music and ethnography in their area of expertise. They may also view films of important musical performances or listen to recordings of music from around the world.

Writing

Writing is often an important part of work for ethnomusicologists and they require strong written communication and editing skills. Ethnomusicology professors often spend their summers and breaks writing academic papers or books that reflect their research or fieldwork. In some cases, they may integrate these pieces into their classes. Ethnomusicology researchers also compile the data they collect into scholarly papers, memoirs and full-length books.

Curating museum collections

Museums that maintain collections of cultural musical instruments or exhibits related to specific cultural groups may hire ethnomusicologists to work as curators. These professionals plan permanent exhibits, coordinate traveling exhibits, restore damaged pieces, create displays and descriptions, manage collections and create educational programs for the public. The primary goal of ethnomusicologists in a museum setting is to enhance the public's knowledge of traditional music through visual displays.

Performing fieldwork

Fieldwork is often the most important element of an ethnomusicologist's work. It usually forms a significant part of their graduate-level education and often continues throughout their career, whether or not they remain in academia. Fieldwork involves collecting information from primary sources, outside a library or academic setting.For ethnomusicologists, this often involves traveling to interact with the cultural groups they are studying. During these trips, they often film and record musical performances, observe dances, conduct interviews and take detailed notes. This research can take them anywhere in the world, meaning some ethnomusicologists spend their time in dense urban environments while others travel to meet with isolated groups in remote locations.

Teaching

Ethnomusicologists who choose a career in academia often spend much of their time teaching students about music and ethnography. This may include giving lectures, helping students conduct research, advising graduate students, grading work and administering tests. Ethnomusicologists outside of academia may also have teaching responsibilities. For example, an ethnomusicologist working in a museum may lead tours or prepare educational talks, while authors might prepare public presentations to promote their work.

Playing music

While ethnomusicologists are scholars, most of them are also artists. During their formal education, they often spend time developing performance skills and learning the fundamentals of music theory. After graduation, they often continue their musical education and may learn to play the music they study as part of their research. Some ethnomusicologists may also participate in musical showcases or play with cultural representatives as part of their fieldwork.Related: What Does an Ethnomusicologist Do? (With Skills and Workplaces)

How to become an ethnomusicologist

Consider the following steps if you are interested in a career in ethnomusicology:

1. Complete a bachelor's degree

If you want to become an ethnomusicologist, the first step is to earn a bachelor's degree in a related field. Most students complete a bachelor's degree in four years, while others may require extra time to meet their credit requirements. Sometimes, you may be able to accelerate your degree by taking summer courses.While some schools offer undergraduate degrees in ethnomusicology, these programs can be rare. Students interested in the field can also earn a degree in musical performance, music education or pair a music major with a minor in anthropology or a related field. If you have musical experience, it may be possible to complete a degree in anthropology and then pursue a graduate-level degree in ethnomusicology using your musical background to pass the musicianship requirements.

2. Earn a master's degree

Ethnomusicology jobs almost always require candidates to have a master's degree in ethnomusicology or in music with an ethnomusicology focus. During the last years of your undergraduate degree, it's important to prepare your application materials and maintain a high GPA. The most common requirements for entering a master's program include a passing Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score, a graduate school application, application fees, letters of recommendation from professors and advisors, your college transcripts and a personal statement or essay. The normal timeframe for earning a master's degree is two years, depending on the requirements of their research.Ethnomusicology master's students usually take a wide variety of music and ethnography classes and complete an in-depth research project that often includes fieldwork. These are some of the classes that you may encounter as an ethnomusicology student:

Music theory: In order to conduct their research, ethnomusicologists require a deep understanding of musical theory and practice. while earning your degree, you may take a variety of high-level music theory classes that introduce you to the technical aspects of composition and musical analysis.
Musicology: Musicology is a discipline that focuses on the academic study of music and the role it plays in society. This can range from the scientific study of acoustics and musical psychology to the history of music and the study of musical instruments.
Musical instruction: As part of their studies, most ethnomusicology students receive private instruction in voice or their instrument of choice. This is an important facet of their education that allows them to be active participants in musical performance and understand music-making in a deeper way.
Ensemble: Aside from their private musical instruction, many ethnomusicology students participate in ensembles. This may include orchestras, jazz bands, dance troupes or groups that perform music from the cultures that they're studying.
Ethnographic methods: Ethnography is the systematic study of cultural groups and is a major part of ethnomusicology. In these courses, students learn to examine societies from the perspective of the study's subject and explore different ways to conduct fieldwork and other types of research.
Music research: Since ethnomusicology focuses heavily on fieldwork and academic research, students often take classes that introduce them to different research methods. In these classes, students learn how to plan a research project, how to collect accurate data, how to analyze their results, how to conduct fieldwork and how to interact with subjects.
World music: As part of their education, ethnomusicology students often take classes that introduce them to musical traditions from around the world. These may be broad overviews or highly focused courses that deal with music in a specific region.

3. Consider a Ph.D.

After completing your master's degree, it's important to decide what career path you want to take. If you have an opportunity to work in a museum or as an independent researcher or music teacher, your master's degree may be sufficient. However, most ethnomusicologists work in higher education as professors. If you want to work in a university, it's important to apply to a Ph.D. program in ethnomusicology. You can remain at the college or look for another university that provides increased financial assistance or better research opportunities.By this stage of your education, your work may focus more on fieldwork and dissertation research rather than classroom instruction. Before you begin a Ph.D. program, it's important to have a clear research plan and area of focus. As a doctoral student, you may also assist professors in their research or teach undergraduate classes. The time required to complete a Ph.D. varies based on students' research requirements, although most finish in five to seven years.

4. Gain experience

When pursuing a career in ethnomusicology, it's important to build a resume that can help you secure a university position. Your time in school provides unique research opportunities that can be challenging to find otherwise, and it's vital to take advantage of these opportunities while you can. If possible, volunteer to work as a research assistant for your professors, and try to conduct as much fieldwork as possible. Published writing is another important way to build your resume, and you can consider contributing articles to scholarly journals and school publications.During and after your university education, it's important to develop a few key skills that are vital for ethnomusicologists, including:

Cultural sensitivity: Ethnomusicologists often work with diverse groups of musicians from around the world. In order to complete this work, it's important for them to have a deep understanding and respect for cultures other than their own.
Listening: Active listening is a vital skill for ethnomusicologists and allows them to communicate with their subjects. Listening skills are also important for analyzing and understanding different musical forms.
Verbal communication: Ethnomusicology is a deeply collaborative field, and it requires scholars to be in constant communication with others. Excellent verbal communication skills can help ethnomusicologists interact with others across cultural barriers and ensure the accuracy and r4elevancy of their work.
Writing: Ethnomusicologists use scholarly papers, books and articles to communicate their research to a wider audience. It's important for these professionals to possess strong academic writing skills as well as storytelling abilities.
Musical skills: Playing music gives ethnomusicologists a better understanding of the subjects they study and allows them to participate in music-making rather than just observing it. It's important to continuously improve your personal musical skills as well as your knowledge of music theory.

5. Make connections

Professional connections are one of the best ways to find work opportunities in ethnomusicology. While you're in school, try to build strong relationships with your professors, advisors and other students. After you finish your degree, you can meet other professionals in the ethnomusicology field by attending conferences and participating in joint fieldwork. These relationships can strengthen your understanding of culture and music and may lead to increased research and teaching opportunities.Related: 22 Careers for Music Majors

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Ethnomusicologist salary and job outlook

Although Indeed doesn't collect information on salaries for ethnomusicologists, it records salary information for professors and curators, which are some of the most common career paths for these professionals. According to Indeed, the average national base salary for professors is $53,894 per year, while museum curators make an average of $52,619 per year. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't have occupational data for ethnomusicologists, they project an increase in demand of 12% for postsecondary teachers across all disciplines.