An ethnomusicologist studies the music of different cultures, usually in cultural, social, and historical contexts.

What Does an Ethnomusicologist Do?

Professor Adriana Helbig of the University of Pittsburgh says it’s the study of “how people use music to create community and how they relate to each other on the physical, emotional, and national level.”

Ethnomusicologists research music of different cultures and times, both by reading and by spending time in said cultures. They also teach students, present work to peers, write and submit grants, and write research projects.

A Day In the Life of an Ethnomusicologist

Helbig said her day usually looks like this:

• Research (usually between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.)
• Teach two classes a day
• Conduct fieldwork during the summer

The average salary of an ethnomusicologist is about $95,624 per year. The salary range of an ethnomusicologist is about $114,000 to $213,000¹.

How Does an Ethnomusicologist Make Money?

Ethnomusicologists can make money in several different ways, oftentimes combining multiple streams of revenue.

They might be an assistant professor at a university and collaborate with a museum on the side. Or they might work at a research institute while also archiving recordings and documents for a library.

Most of the time, you would get a position with a salary and benefits, especially because a career ethnomusicologist needs to earn at least a bachelor’s degree.

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Usually, an ethnomusicologist will teach during the school year, with occasional overseas trips to teach study-abroad courses.

Other than that, they have regular office hours and teach a certain number of classes during the day or night.

Schedules also vary based on where the ethnomusicologist’s main area of study is located. This is because they need to communicate with people around the world, so often have to get up very early or stay up very late.

Here are the most common positions an ethnomusicologist could get…

Professor at a University

Most ethnomusicologists become professors at a university.

If you want to pursue this career, you would probably start as an adjunct professor, moving on to become visiting professor or visiting assistant professor before landing an assistant professor position and getting on a tenure track.

Helbig became an adjunct professor the last year of her graduate school program. From there, she became an assistant professor as a sabbatical replacement. Finally, she ended up teaching at the University of Pittsburgh for six years before getting on a tenure track.

Research Institute

This would involve researching the cultures that developed different kinds of music, and working alongside anthropologists and sociologists.

Museums

Ethnomusicologists can curate exhibits at museums. They are the ones who know about the history and culture of music, so museums tap their expertise to help create the presentations.

Libraries

Many libraries and various archives house recordings and written materials about music history and its culture. As an ethnomusicologist, you could help preserve and organize these historical music recordings and materials.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

As an ethnomusicologist working at an NGO, you would help document, protect, and promote endangered musical traditions.

Here are the main experiences and skills you should develop to help you in your career as an ethnomusicologist…

Study Abroad

Helbig said you should “study abroad so you know your comfort levels.”

Even as undergraduates, the connections that aspiring ethnomusicologists make on these programs are key because as in all music careers, it’s who you know. And these are the connections people will use to help their research projects.

Traveling experience ranks highly for a slightly different reason. Part of Helbig’s job as an Assistant Professor is planning and leading groups of students on study abroad.

“When I do my study abroad programs, I’m drawing on how much time I need,” she said. “…How long it takes to find an underground scene versus talking to producers. Everything you see builds on everything else.”

Learn To Market Yourself

Helbig said the typical ethnomusicologist position has 50-80 applicants, and every one of them has a Ph.D. and is qualified.

“A lot of it is learning how to market yourself,” she said. “You need to know more than just your subfield these days so you can be hired to teach other classes.”

Learn Other Languages

Helbig said it’s important to study a language that isn’t French, German, or Spanish.

Choose “something that relates to your own experiences but isn’t a colonial language.”

She uses the example that in Russia, everyone speaks Russian, yet there are also many other tongues specific to minority cultural groups. Speaking these languages will help researchers communicate, navigate their new location, and show respect and a serious interest in the culture.

Participate In Other Cultures

Although this is an academic field of study, aspiring ethnomusicologists must not adhere to the buttoned-up Professor stereotype.

While learning about other cultures, you might hear things like “take your shoes off, we’re going to learn some Irish dancing.” So you have to be excited to “participate in the music and how that music is used in the culture,” Helbig said.

Building a career as an ethnomusicologist requires going to school for multiple years.

Ethnomusicologist Degree

A Ph.D. is essential to becoming an ethnomusicologist professor.

Ethnomusicology master degree programs are available, but they have almost no likelihood of being funded, and will not allow a candidate to advance as far as possible in this career.

“You need this degree in music to make these connections,” Helbig said, explaining that the connections you’ll make during research and studying abroad will stay with you throughout your career, opening new doors to study in different areas of the world.

She stresses that attending an undergraduate program with world music classes is important.

“If you only go to a school that talks about Bach and Beethoven, it’s not going to give you a sense of what you can do,” she said.

In addition to schoolwork, you need to be motivated to attend regional conferences, join ethnomusicology organizations, and get to know the people in your chosen field to get exposure to more opportunities.

She advises you start looking at grad school programs during your junior year, and have at least two solid pieces of writing “that show your chops.”

Then make connections with people.

With yearly conferences held in North America, The Society for Ethnomusicology is an excellent resource.

The International Council for Traditional Music holds conferences across the world.

Google Scholar is a great resource for online research.