Ethnomusicologist Job Description

Ethnomusicologists are responsible for studying the cultural and social aspects of music, and how different cultures create, interpret and enjoy it. They must observe how music was originated and how it is interpreted and incorporated into the daily lives of people from different cultures.

Typical Job Duties

• Objectively observe cultural practices and how daily life is conducted among different cultures

• May stay in a location long enough to adapt to the local culture

• Conduct interviews view locals

• Document every detail of interviews and observation

• May report on comparisons between one culture and another

• Travel extensively, often for long periods of time

• Prepare reports based on findings

• May present findings to other social scientists, funding bodies or cooperating researchers

Scholarships for Becoming an Ethnomusicologist

The Applicable Majors section below shows fields of study relevant to a career as an Ethnomusicologist. You can search for scholarships matched to those fields of study on our All Scholarships by Major page.

Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!