Ethnomusicology is the study of music in people's lives. We examine not only melody or rhythm, but also why and how people make music, and what music means to their daily lives. The department studies different types of music from around the world - from Javanese gamelan, dangdut, folk songs, to contemporary music - to understand how music reflects the identity, values and social life of its people. Our research is conducted directly with the communities that own the musical traditions with the principles of mutual respect and cooperation.
Our academic outputs include international journal publications, rare music documentation, and cultural discussion forums. Applied ethnomusicology outputs include cultural preservation through digital recording, community education programs for the younger generation, cultural heritage protection policy support, creative industry consultancy, traditional music therapy, and sustainable cultural tourism development. This approach ensures that our research provides direct benefits to society, not just academic interests.
Graduates of this program are ready for careers as music and culture researchers, entertainment industry consultants, cultural program developers in the public and NGO sectors, traditional music educators, museum curators, and cultural digital content producers. In an era of globalization when many traditional musics are in danger of being lost, ethnomusicology plays an important role in preserving cultural wealth while helping communities harness it for prosperity. We believe every music has a valuable story and value that needs to be understood and preserved.