What to Expect
Musicology students study the music of different cultures and historical
periods. They may also study things like the way music affects our thoughts
and feelings.
Jennifer Ladkani did her PhD in ethnomusicology at Florida State University.
She is qualified to teach courses on music from many other countries and its
role in those cultures, as well as classes in North American music styles
such as blues, Cajun, zydeco, salsa and Native American music.
She has a particular interest in music of the Middle East. "I have learned
to play many instruments from that part of the world," she says. As part
of her research, she lived in Jordan for a while. She hopes to eventually
publish her research in book form.
Ladkani says graduate studies are necessary if a student hopes to find
a job related to the field. "There is a fairly limited range of what you
can do with a musicology degree, so you really must commit to a full course
of three degrees through the PhD level," she says.
Being a graduate student in musicology means being a teaching assistant,
which requires spending time preparing lectures, teaching and marking.
Students must also find time for their own graduate courses and research.
Another language comes in handy. "You will be required to learn one
or two other languages," says Ladkhani. "For historical musicology, usually
German and French or Italian. For ethnomusicologists, a whole range of others.
I learned Arabic, for instance."
How to Prepare
High school students should learn as much about European history
as they can, suggests former musicology student Michael Jones. "Maybe even
some 19th-century philosophy, as late Romantic composers are undeniably affected
by the writings of the major philosophers."
Jones says students should take music lessons of some kind and join
a choir if the opportunity is available.
"You really must play an instrument or sing," says Ladkani. "Well
enough so to be accepted into a music school at a university. Try to play
in as many ensembles as possible."