Ethnomusicology
The Ethnomusicology program prepares students to evaluate and study the place of music in various cultural contexts. Students are trained in cultural theory, anthropology, ethnographic methods, problems in cross-cultural musical analysis, and world music and vernacular musical traditions. The University has particular strengths in Middle Eastern, Latin American and Caribbean, and South Asian studies. Chicago ethnomusicology students have undertaken fieldwork in North America, North Africa, Europe, East Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
Composition and Sound Practices
The Composition and Sound Practices program focuses on facilitating the making of creative, critical, experimental, and socially engaged music, sound, and intermedia work in the context of the humanities. In this program, students compose, design, perform, and produce based on the methodological study of music and sound through research, analysis, and reflection, and by learning a broad range of composition techniques and creative technologies.
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Undergraduate Courses
The Department of Music aims to broaden the exposure to and enrich the understanding of the various musical traditions of the world. Courses in the department address the materials of tonal music in the Western tradition, the analysis of individual works, the study of composers and genres, non-Western and vernacular repertories, musical composition, critical approaches to music, and the role of music in society.
Alumni
For nearly 90 years, the University of Chicago Department of Music has prepared graduates to be leaders in the creation and study of music, both historical and contemporary. Graduates of the Department's PhD program hold professorships and lead scholarship in many of the pre-eminent universities, research, and music institutions around the world.
We invite you to visit these pages for the latest news from Department of Music alumni, and to stay connected through in-person and virtual events.
Events
Concerto Competition
The Department of Music holds a biennial Concerto Competition, open to all registered students at the University and to all members of the performance ensembles.
Additional Opportunities
The Department of Music offers a variety of additional performance opportunities beyond traditional ensembles and coursework. Students can participate in various forms of musical expression, gaining valuable experience in diverse musical settings. These opportunities are designed to enhance artistic development, encourage collaboration, and support students in refining their performance skills while engaging with the broader musical community.