The Ethnography of Music (MUSI30053)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Southbank)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject teaches students to conceptualise and undertake an ethnographic research project on music-making in the contemporary world. Through in-class activities, students learn to make fieldnotes, engage in participant-observation, conduct interviews, and use performance as a research tool. Through weekly readings, students learn to assess and navigate ethical issues related to research and writing about musicians and listeners. The subject is especially designed for students considering honours or graduate research in music.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- find and assess the secondary literature in the disciplines of ethnomusicology and anthropology;
- articulate and formulate responses to the main issues involved in undertaking music ethnography;
- demonstrate understanding of the ethical problems that music scholars encounter;
- select and use specific ethnographic methods to research music-making;
- craft a viable research question and plan for undertaking research in the discipline of ethnomusicology.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should be able to
- negotiate and assess the print and electronic literature in the discipline with confidence
- articulate the main issues involved in undertaking musical ethnography
- demonstrate understanding of the ethics of scholarship in musical ethnography
- demonstrate understanding of different cultural and musical values
- demonstrate an understanding of scholarly writing appropriate to the discipline; and conduct a literature review
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUSI40079 | The Ethnography of Music (Honours) | Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank) |
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
An annotated bibliography of ten sources | Week 4 | 20% |
A research proposal draft of 1500 words (excluding bibliographic citations and discography)
| Week 8 | 20% |
Two short ethnographic exercises due in Weeks 6 and 10
| From Week 6 to Week 10 | 20% |
A revised final research proposal of 1500 words (excluding bibliography and discography)
| Week 12 | 40% |
| Hurdle requirement: Less than 80% attendance will result in a fail. All assessment components must be passed in order to pass the subject | N/A |
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Nicholas Tochka Mode of delivery On Campus (Southbank) Contact hours 24 hours, comprising one 2-hour seminar per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
Delivery
This subject is co-delivered with MUSI40079 The Ethnography of Music (Honours).
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Music Informal specialisation Performance/ Composition/ Musicology/ Ethnomusicology Major Musicology/Ethnomusicology stream Breadth Track Music Outside the Western Tradition - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Science
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 9 April 2025