The Discipline Of Ethnomusicology
April 28, 2011What is ethnomusicology? According to Britannica encyclopedia, it is the study of music around the globe from various social and cultural perspectives. Bela Bartok, Carl Stumpf and Alexander J. Ellis were the first musicians to compare the various musical genres of the world at the beginning of the 20th century; thus, setting the foundations for ethnomusicology.
Some people wrongfully believe that it deals only with non-Western music because the Western one is no longer traditional, but very commercial. The study of this discipline began with the non-Western music and it has gradually expanded to include all regions around the world. Thanks to the discoveries that theoreticians have made throughout the years, it is now preoccupied with ethnic music that has been transmitted orally in both Western and non-Western communities.
The best methods of study have been provided by anthropology, sociology and other humanistic sciences because these disciplines are very similar to ethnomusicology. Thus, researchers use the long-term participant observation and the analysis of historical documents as the most reliable sources for gathering both qualitative and quantitative information. Others choose to consider it as a branch of anthropology; therefore, these aspects are discussed in relation to the social behavior of these communities.
Due to the importance of the various discoveries that have been made in this field, it is often present in many school and academy curricula. Students who are fond of music can enrich their knowledge by studying the various instruments and the significance of many ethnic songs.
Some people don’t study music because they think it takes too long to become experts. However, the new Dec Play method can teach students to interpret music sheets in less than three hours. The method presupposes the replacement of the old music notes with numbers and colors, so the Dec Play technique may be used to easily study piano and/or other instruments. Those who choose to practice this method for a longer period will become advanced musician and will be able to interpret both ethnic and commercial songs.
There have been significant discoveries made in the domain of ethnomusicology, such as, the fact that communities play specific songs for weddings, funerals and other important events. Although
People who learn piano can easily find ways to enjoy life.
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