Ethnomusicology: The Study of Culture and Music

Cecilia Hann

My students see and experience music every day in their young lives. In their families, they experience culture. Anthropology includes culture, attitudes, values, beliefs, education and laws. “Culture is a fundamental building block in the development of a child’s personal identity.” Ethnomusicology is a world-wide, interdisciplinary study of individuals and institutions engaged in the study of music across all cultural contexts and historical periods” (Wallace p. 32). My unit, “Ethnomusicology: The Study of Culture and Music”, connects culture and music. It helps my students understand the importance of music, especially the folk song, in their lives and the community. Folk songs began in the community and were passed along through generations of villages and church musicians taking on characteristics of other societies. My students will learn the history of folk music; they will read and sing folk songs in North America and will discuss the importance of folk songs. They will also experience folk music by singing and playing rhythms and instruments. Analysis of style, form, melody and rhythm will let them better understand the structure of folk songs. They will explore answering the questions: “How do folk songs affect my life and the community?” “Do I hear them at school, church and at home?”