The MA/PhD in Ethnomusicology investigates music in cultural and social contexts. In preparing students for careers in studying global music communities, our program assists students in understanding music as social practice from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Students are introduced to the intellectual history of the field and its paradigmatic shifts, and research methodology in preparation for ethnographic fieldwork. Our ethnomusicology program seeks to prepare students for careers in the academy, public sector, the music industry, and/or cultural heritage policy-making. We also offer seminars in select global music cultures as well as topics, which examine music as related to gender, politics, religion, economics, philosophy, aesthetics, and musical practice.
Ethnomusicology
Master of Arts / PhD
Global Music
Cultures
We have MERCH! The UCLA LuValle Commons store has stocked a Herb Alpert School of Music quarter zip and cap. To check out the items in stock, visit the store or purchase online (link in bio).
Have ideas for other merch or designs? Leave a comment.
Tag us if you post a picture in the new gear!
We have MERCH! The UCLA LuValle Commons store has stocked a Herb Alpert School of Music quarter zip and cap. To check out the items in stock, visit the store or purchase online (link in bio).
Have ideas for other merch or designs? Leave a comment.
Tag us if you post a picture in the new gear!
Love gospel music? Dr. Diane White-Clayton (Dr. Dee) breaks down the unexpected connections between gospel music giant ROBERT SMALLWOOD and Russian composer SERGEI RACHMANINOFF.
And if you REALLY love gospel music, The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s African American Music Ensemble (under Dr. Dee’s direction) will perform this Sunday. Join us for a powerful afternoon of music!
🗓️Sunday, March 8
⏰3:00 p.m.
📍Olivet Lutheran Church
2506 W. Imperial Hwy.
Hawthorne, CA
Love gospel music? Dr. Diane White-Clayton (Dr. Dee) breaks down the unexpected connections between gospel music giant ROBERT SMALLWOOD and Russian composer SERGEI RACHMANINOFF.
And if you REALLY love gospel music, The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s African American Music Ensemble (under Dr. Dee’s direction) will perform this Sunday. Join us for a powerful afternoon of music!
🗓️Sunday, March 8
⏰3:00 p.m.
📍Olivet Lutheran Church
2506 W. Imperial Hwy.
Hawthorne, CA
The lineup is locked and the stage is set. On Saturday, January 31, winners of the 20th Annual All-Star competition at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music take the spotlight at Schoenberg Hall, supported by our very own UCLA Philharmonia.
Meet the next two stars in our lineup: Jessica Li and Qeanu Smith. And introducing our famed student conductors Gan Xiong and Oliver Chan and student composer Naveed Perkins!
📅 Saturday, January 31
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Schoenberg Hall
Link in bio
Full Lineup:
Isaac Fromme (Cello)
Mana Tatsuki (Violin)
Esther Kim & Cyrus Asasi (Clarinets)
Grace Brandes (Flute)
Qeanu Smith (Saxophone)
Damian Silvera (Clarinet)
Haruka Taguchi (Saxophone)
Sofia Dell’Agostino (Soprano)
Jessica Li (Piano)
Conductors:
Oliver Chan
Gan Xiong
Neal Stulberg
Composer:
Naveed Perkins
The lineup is locked and the stage is set. On Saturday, January 31, winners of the 20th Annual All-Star competition at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music take the spotlight at Schoenberg Hall, supported by our very own UCLA Philharmonia.
Meet the next two stars in our lineup: Jessica Li and Qeanu Smith. And introducing our famed student conductors Gan Xiong and Oliver Chan and student composer Naveed Perkins!
📅 Saturday, January 31
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Schoenberg Hall
Link in bio
Full Lineup:
Isaac Fromme (Cello)
Mana Tatsuki (Violin)
Esther Kim & Cyrus Asasi (Clarinets)
Grace Brandes (Flute)
Qeanu Smith (Saxophone)
Damian Silvera (Clarinet)
Haruka Taguchi (Saxophone)
Sofia Dell’Agostino (Soprano)
Jessica Li (Piano)
Conductors:
Oliver Chan
Gan Xiong
Neal Stulberg
Composer:
Naveed Perkins
The lineup is locked and the stage is set. On Saturday, January 31, winners of the 20th Annual All-Star competition at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music take the spotlight at Schoenberg Hall, supported by our very own UCLA Philharmonia.
Meet the next three in our lineup: Isaac Fromme (Cello), Esther Kim & Cyrus Asasi (Clarinets), and Haruka Taguchi (Saxophone). Tune in next week to meet more All Stars!
📅 Saturday, January 31
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Schoenberg Hall
Link in bio
Full Lineup:
Isaac Fromme (Cello)
Mana Tatsuki (Violin)
Esther Kim & Cyrus Asasi (Clarinets)
Grace Brandes (Flute)
Qeanu Smith (Saxophone)
Damian Silvera (Clarinet)
Haruka Taguchi (Saxophone)
Sofia Dell’Agostino (Soprano)
Jessica Li (Piano)
Conductors:
Oliver Chan
Gan Xiong
Neal Stulberg
Composer:
Naveed Perkins
The lineup is locked and the stage is set. On Saturday, January 31, winners of the 20th Annual All-Star competition at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music take the spotlight at Schoenberg Hall, supported by our very own UCLA Philharmonia.
Meet the next three in our lineup: Isaac Fromme (Cello), Esther Kim & Cyrus Asasi (Clarinets), and Haruka Taguchi (Saxophone). Tune in next week to meet more All Stars!
📅 Saturday, January 31
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 Schoenberg Hall
Link in bio
Full Lineup:
Isaac Fromme (Cello)
Mana Tatsuki (Violin)
Esther Kim & Cyrus Asasi (Clarinets)
Grace Brandes (Flute)
Qeanu Smith (Saxophone)
Damian Silvera (Clarinet)
Haruka Taguchi (Saxophone)
Sofia Dell’Agostino (Soprano)
Jessica Li (Piano)
Conductors:
Oliver Chan
Gan Xiong
Neal Stulberg
Composer:
Naveed Perkins
The lineup is locked and the stage is set. On Saturday, January 31, winners of the 20th Annual All-Star competition at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music take the spotlight at Schoenberg Hall, supported by our very own UCLA Philharmonia.
Meet the first three of our winners: Damian Silvera (Clarinet), Mana Tatsuki (Violin), and Sofia Dell’Agostino (Soprano). Tune in next week to meet more All Stars!
📅 Saturday, January 31
⏰ 8:00 PM
📍 Schoenberg Hall
Link in Bio.
Full Lineup:
Isaac Fromme (Cello)
Mana Tatsuki (Violin)
Esther Kim & Cyrus Asasi (Clarinets)
Grace Brandes (Flute)
Qeanu Smith (Saxophone)
Damian Silvera (Clarinet)
Haruka Taguchi (Saxophone)
Sofia Dell’Agostino (Soprano)
Jessica Li (Piano)
Conductors:
Oliver Chan
Gan Xiong
Neal Stulberg
The lineup is locked and the stage is set. On Saturday, January 31, winners of the 20th Annual All-Star competition at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music take the spotlight at Schoenberg Hall, supported by our very own UCLA Philharmonia.
Meet the first three of our winners: Damian Silvera (Clarinet), Mana Tatsuki (Violin), and Sofia Dell’Agostino (Soprano). Tune in next week to meet more All Stars!
📅 Saturday, January 31
⏰ 8:00 PM
📍 Schoenberg Hall
Link in Bio.
Full Lineup:
Isaac Fromme (Cello)
Mana Tatsuki (Violin)
Esther Kim & Cyrus Asasi (Clarinets)
Grace Brandes (Flute)
Qeanu Smith (Saxophone)
Damian Silvera (Clarinet)
Haruka Taguchi (Saxophone)
Sofia Dell’Agostino (Soprano)
Jessica Li (Piano)
Conductors:
Oliver Chan
Gan Xiong
Neal Stulberg
Happy Holidays from Michael Beckerman, Dean of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music! Enjoy this festive performance of “Oh Hanukkah,” composed by Mordkhe Rivesman, and may the season bring you peace, joy and light.
#ThisisUCLAmusic #UCLA #Music #HappyHolidays
Happy Holidays from Michael Beckerman, Dean of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music! Enjoy this festive performance of “Oh Hanukkah,” composed by Mordkhe Rivesman, and may the season bring you peace, joy and light.
#ThisisUCLAmusic #UCLA #Music #HappyHolidays
GOOD NEWS, Go Tell It! The African American Music Ensemble of the Department of Ethnomusicology at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music wishes you the very best this holiday season.
“Go Tell It” by John Wesley Work, Jr., arranged by Diane White-Clayton, director of the ensemble.
soloists - Alexis Richmond, Michael Torres
piano - Diane White-Clayton
bass guitar - Dawson Lau
percussion - Dax Corcoran
#thisisuclamusic #ucla #music #happyholidays
GOOD NEWS, Go Tell It! The African American Music Ensemble of the Department of Ethnomusicology at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music wishes you the very best this holiday season.
“Go Tell It” by John Wesley Work, Jr., arranged by Diane White-Clayton, director of the ensemble.
soloists - Alexis Richmond, Michael Torres
piano - Diane White-Clayton
bass guitar - Dawson Lau
percussion - Dax Corcoran
#thisisuclamusic #ucla #music #happyholidays
Happy Holidays from the Piano Studio at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music! Sophia Jin and Helen Yuan bring the magic with a four-hands arrangement of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893).
See our Full 2025 Holiday Playlist on YouTube. Link in bio.
#ThisisUCLAmusic #UCLA #Music #Piano #NutcrackerSuite#
Happy Holidays from the Piano Studio at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music! Sophia Jin and Helen Yuan bring the magic with a four-hands arrangement of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893).
See our Full 2025 Holiday Playlist on YouTube. Link in bio.
#ThisisUCLAmusic #UCLA #Music #Piano #NutcrackerSuite#
David Castañeda
“I enjoyed the connections that I made with my colleagues who have now become family, seeing my approach as a researcher develop substantially in such a short amount of time, and most of all the opportunity to grow as an instructor and educator.” – David Castañeda Ph.D. ’21 | Ethnomusicology
A stream of high-profile artists and scholars from around the world have energized and inspired our students, helping to transform their educational experience. Among them are J.H. Kwabena Nketia, considered Africa’s premier musicologist/ethnomusicologist; Akin Euba, a Nigerian composer, musicologist, and pianist; MacArthur Fellow Steven Feld, an American ethnomusicologist, anthropologist, and linguist, who worked for many years with the Kaluli people of Papua New Guinea; Judith Becker, professor emerita of ethnomusicology, University of Michigan; Mark Slobin, the author or editor of books on Afghanistan and Central Asia, eastern European Jewish music, film music, and ethnomusicology theory; Chano Dominguez, award-winning Spanish-born pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator, and Hossein Omoumi, a scholar and teacher of Persian traditional music, among others.
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