Ethnomusicology Program

The ethnomusicology program at CCM emphasizes ethnographic and analytical methods for studying any musical tradition. It offers course work and world music labs to students in CCM as well as other UC colleges.

Many students pursue studies in ethnomusicology as part of their elective curriculum. Students who are completing a doctoral degree at CCM may enroll in the ethnomusicology cognate as a way of developing a secondary area of specialization in the field of ethnomusicology. It is also possible for graduate students specializing in ethnomusicology to earn a MM or PhD in Musicology within an ethnomusicology "track."

For more information contact Professor of Musicology Stefan Fiol.

Students enrolled in a doctoral program at CCM are expected to demonstrate intellectual breadth through the completion of a significant program of study in a secondary field (cognate). 

Requirements (9-15 credits)*:

  • 3 credits: Theory and Historiography in Ethnomusicology (required)
  • 1-3 credits: World Music Lab(s)
  • 3-6 credits: Electives in ethnomusicology or related discipline(s) in consultation with Professor Stefan Fiol and Professor Scott Linford.

* The following courses may not be used for cognate credits:

  1. Any courses being used to fulfill the student’s degree requirement in music history
  2. Any courses being used as substitution for a DMA thesis

The cognate advisor will participate on the committee for the student's final oral examination. 

CCM offers a number of resources to supplement the study of ethnomusicology. These could include, but are not limited to, the following:

3000-level courses:

  • Music of the World’s Peoples

6000-level courses:

  • Music of the Himalayas
  • Shona Music of Zimbabwe
  • Music, Media and Religion in South Asia
  • Indian Classical Music
  • Across Borders: Musical Flows Between North, Central, and South America

8000-level courses (Advanced graduate level):

  • Theory and Historiography in Ethnomusicology
  • Approaches to Fieldwork and Musical Ethnography
  • Popular Music from the Margins
  • Music and Cosmology
  • Music, Nationalism, and Globalism

World Music Labs:

  • Himalayan Music Lab
  • North Indian Tabla Lab
  • Zimbabwean Music Lab

CCM's Composition, Musicology and Theory program sponsors related workshops, concerts and talks throughout the school year. Campus events also include many "world music" and "folk music" concerts and other events.

Visit the CCM Performances and Public Events webpage for more information and check the UC calendar for upcoming campus-wide events.

Events in 2015-16:

  • Lecture-Demonstration on Sitar by Anupama Bhagwat, September 1, 2015, 12:30-1:50 p.m. in MEH 3205
  • Workshop on Hindustani Music with Kanika Pandey, November 3-5, 2015 in MEH 3205

Events in 2014-15:

  • MbiraCats (Zimbabwean Mbira) Performance at 7HNH, a community service organization working with youth in the West End (near Over-the-Rhine), July 26, 2014
  • Lecture-Demonstration on Hindustani music by Anupama Bhagwat (sitar) and Rahul Pophalla (tabla), September 27, 2014 in Cohen Family Studio Theatre
  • MbiraCats (Zimbabwean Mbira) performance. January 23, 2015 at the Cincinnati Museum Center’s Africa Festival
  • MbiraCats performance at the annual World Music Concert. April 3, 2015 at the University of Kentucky
  • CCM Himalayan Music Lab performance for the Asian Festival. April 13, 2015 at the Cincinnati Museum Center
  • Performance by ‘Naked World Ensemble,’ featuring Ali Mourshedlou on tar, Tsun-Hui Hung (erhu), Om Srivastav (tabla) and Stefan Fiol (sitar). Classical Revolution, May 10, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. at Northside Tavern
  • Performance by Stefan Fiol (sitar) and Jim Feist (tabla) at the Asian and Pacific Islander Awareness Month Reception. May 20, 2015 at the UC Alumni Center
  • MbiraCats performance. May 21, 2015 at Cardinal Pacelli Elementary School in Mt. Lookout

Events in 2013-14

  • "Applied Ethnomusicology in Zimbabwe," A Lecture by Jennifer Kyker (Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology, Eastman School of Music), October 29, 2013 in MEH 3211
  • Concert of Zimbabwean Mbira Music by Patience Chaitezvi, Jennifer Kyker, and Stefan Fiol (supported by the Tangeman Sacred Music Fund). October 29, 2013 at 8 p.m. in Cohen Family Studio Theater
  • Performance by the MbiraCats Ensemble (Zimbabwean Mbira) at the Cincinnati Museum Center’s Africa Festival, November 8, 2013
  • Lecture-demonstration on Hindustani Music featuring Josh Feinberg (sitar) and Jim Feist (tabla).March 12, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the Baur Room
  • Concert by Pandit Rajan & Sajan Misra (Hindustani vocalists) accompanied by Pandit Ashis Sengupta (tabla) and Shree Vyasmurthi Katti (harmonium) (supported by SABHA student organization). March 30, 2014 at 4 p.m. in Werner Recital Hall
  • Performance by the MbiraCats for the MOMA series. April 13, 2014 at the Cincinnati Art Museum
  • Performance by the MbiraCats. Classical Revolution, April 13, 2014 at Northside Tavern
  • Performance by CCM Tabla Lab directed by Jim Feist, with Stefan Fiol (sitar). April 17, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. in CCM Atrium

Events in 2012-13

  • Annual meeting of MIDSEM, the Midwest Chapter of the Society for Ethnomusicology, with keynote speaker Dr. Louise Meintjes. April 12-13, 2013 at CCM
  • Invited Lecture by Dr. Bruno Nettl, Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign "Reflections on Ethnography and Fieldwork in Ethnomusicology." October 23, 2012 at 2:30-5:20 p.m. in MEH 3205
  • Performance by UC Mbira Ensemble, International Coffee Hour, November 8, 2012 at 5:00-7:00 p.m. in Mick and Mack's
  • Midwest Chapter Meeting for the Society for Ethnomusicology, April 12-13, 2013 with Keynote Talk and Thinking about Music Lecture delivered by Louise Meintjes, Duke University on April 12, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. in the Baur Room

Events in 2011-12

  • 'Himalayan Beats' Concert featuring guest artist in residence Pritam Bhartwan and the UC Himalayan Ensemble, October 25, 2011 at 8 p.m. in Cohen Family Studio Theater
  • Invited Lecture by Heather McLaughlan, University of Dayton, "Rethinking Cultural Imperialism: Agency in the Creation of Burmese Pop Music" November 8, 2011 at 2:00-3:20 p.m. in MEH 3211
  • Invited Lecture by David McDonald, Indiana University, "Imaginaries of Exile and Emergence in Israeli and Palestinian Hip‐Hop.” November 10, 2011 at 2:00-3:20 p.m. in MEH 3211
  • Old-Time Music: Lecture-Demonstration featuring John Bealle and Mark Ward, November 29, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in MEH 3244
  • "Globalization and Its Futures." A UC interdisciplinary panel organized by the Department of Anthropology. February 3, 2012 at 3 p.m. at Taft Research Center
  • PRISM Concert with 'World Music' Theme, featuring performances by Jim Feist, UC Himalayan Ensemble, and many other CCM ensembles. February 19, 2012 at 3 p.m. in Corbett Auditorium
  • Thinking About Music Lecture by Beverly Diamond, Memorial University of Newfoundland, "Re"Thinking: Revitalization, Return and Reconciliation in Contemporary Indigenous Expressive Culture," April 20, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the Baur Room
  • Zimbabwean Music Concert featuring Musekiwa Chingodza and CCM students. April 24, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. in the CCM Atrium.
  • 'The Life and Musical Contributions of Sara Montiel.' An panel discussion honoring Spanish singer and film actress Sara Montiel, sponsored by Taft Research Center in collaboration with Romance Languages and Literatures, Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and the Ethnomusicology Program at CCM. May 1, 2012 at 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the Baur Room.
  • "Music of the Afro-Latin Diaspora." A lecture-demonstration by Rolan Vasquez. May 14, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. in MEH 1402

Events in 2010-11

  • Invited Lecture Demonstration on North Indian Tabla by Jim Feist, University of Cincinnati, October 26, 11:00-12:20, Room 3225
  • Invited Lecture-Demonstration on Old Time Music featuring John Bealle and Mark Ward, Room 3225, Nov. 29, 11am
  • Thinking About Music Lecture by Thomas Turino, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, "Peircian Phenomenology and the Study of Music"  February 11, 2:00pm, Baur Room
  • "Perspectives on Indian Music: A Colloquium on Ethnomusicology, Performance, and Composition" with presentations by Kanniks Kannikeswaran, Jim Feist, and Stefan Fiol. Feb. 16, 6:00pm, Baur Room
  • Invited Lecture by Rabbi Creeger, Jewish Student Center, University of Cincinnati, "Music in Lubavitcher Life" March 10, 9:30-10:50, Room 4218
  • Invited Lecture by Dr. Bruno Nettl, Professor Emeritus at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, "Reflections on Ethnography and Fieldwork in Ethnomusicology" May 4, 2:00-4:50, Room 3240