Module Code - Title:
MU4013
-
RESEARCH SKILLS: ETHNOMUSICOLOGY/ETHNOCHOREOLOGY/ARTS PRACTICE
Year Last Offered:
2026/7
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To introduce students to the important contextualising disciplines of ethnomusicology and ethnochoreology and their main principles and orientations as well as the practical application of fieldwork and the production of ethnographic representations.
To introduce students to work primarily in an analytical writing mode to explore conditions, concepts, and practices of performing arts in the 21st century.
Syllabus:
To introduce students to the important contextualising disciplines of ethnomusicology and ethnochoreology and their main principles and orientations as well as the practical application of fieldwork and the production of ethnographic representations.
An emphasis is given to the performance of fieldwork and the representation of experiences and findings that can be utilised in, for example, FYP work.
To introduce students to work primarily in an analytical writing mode to explore conditions, concepts, and practices of performing arts in the 21st century including the generation of meaning and value(s) through performance; the domain of artistic practice as reflexive activity; the challenges of representation, translation and archiving of artistic practice.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical trends in the disciplines of Ethnomusicology and Ethnochoreology. Analyse and discuss various approaches to fieldwork practice. Examine analytical writing modes when exploring conditions, concepts, and practices of performing arts.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
Employ a variety of representational strategies for the fieldwork and ethnographic experience - Show a greater understanding for the ethical implications of the fieldwork project - Produce an original ethnographic account of a personal engagement with an aspect of the music and song field.
Produce self reflexive writings on their own arts practice
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
Perform and transcribe interviews.
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The module will be taught in a mix of practical studio based workshops, lectures, seminars, fieldwork and case study research.
In this module students will engage research in a informed and proactive fashion. They will learn to creatively and responsibly engage communities of arts practice in their research.
Prime Texts:
Nettl, Bruno (2005)
The Study of Ethnomusicology: Thirty-One Issues and Concepts
, Urbana: University of Illinois Press
Cooley, Timothy and Gregory Barz (2008)
Shadows in the Field
, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Emerson, Robert, Rachel I. Fretz and Linda L. Shaw (1995)
Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes
, . Chicago: The University of Chicago Press
Buckland, Theresa J. (1999)
Dance in the Field: Theory, Methods and Issues in Dance Ethnography
, London: Macmillan
Other Relevant Texts:
Spradley, James (1979)
The Ethnographic Interview
, New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston
Jackson, Bruce (1987)
Fieldwork
, Urbana: University of Illinois Press
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BACHELOR OF ARTS
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN CONTEMPORARY DANCE
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN IRISH DANCE
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN IRISH MUSIC
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN VOICE
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN WORLD MUSIC
BACHELOR OF ARTS INTERNATIONAL ADVANCED ACCESS
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
Jennifer.Roche@ul.ie