Out In The Field!

The foundation of ethnomusicology is going out into the real world to collect data from the folk in their land. There are a variety of ways to go about fieldwork ranging from recording music with a tape recorder to writing down notes during an interview with a musician. Like any procedure,there are rules and advice that should be taken into consideration  when doing fieldwork. These rules consist of ways to go about interview a musician or how ethics come into play when collecting data.

Say that you are a new ethnomusicologist studying a present-day culture such as Caribbean immigrants living Brockton, Mass, what sort of guide lines should you follow to carry out the process of collecting data.

• First off before you go into the real world you have to study of Caribbean culture and their music. Learn Popular songs and singers, what instruments are used, where,when, and how  the music used. and of course listen to the music learn what it sound like.
• Remember that "fieldwork involves asking the right questions to the right people" (Lornell 75), in other words talk to the native Caribbean folk that are devoted to their music and have strong knowledge in it. Also be sure to prepare question but do not be confined to them, use them as guide posts to lead you to asking the kind of question that interest you and goes in depth into your topic. 
• In regards to ethics, be sure to introduce your self to the Caribbean immigrants and what your purpose for being their is. If you want to record something with a tape recorder or video tape, watch a performance/ ceremonies, or use the information that is given to you. Asking permission shows respect for the folk and their music. 
• Take into consideration that some songs or that the music in general can be considered to be sacred to the folk and must be respected. If you record a song or a ceremony be sure to tell the musicians what you will be using it for and if you have permission to do so. You work your desire and the wishes of the folk to come up with a mutual agreement of the recorded information and music. 
• When collect your data and recordings you can persevere it in a music library to be "maintained to preserve scholarly integrity" (Lornell 77). The other option is to take your data and publish it or take your recordings to and makes copies to release into the public. Whatever the choice maybe be you must be ethical about your approach by asking permission of the folk of what you can do with it. 
• Remember that "fieldwork requires innovation, exploration, and a sense of carpe diem" (Lornell 80) don't be afraid to go into the unknown and drive you're curiosity but retain a respect to the folk and the music. Their will be be bumps in the process but work around the quarrels to acquire the data that you desire. 

These are some basic guidelines to follow when carrying not just these particular folk, but to any folk you wish to study. 

I will be conducting my own research project in which I will be studying the role music plays in religion, The elements of fieldwork that would in my favor for this study would be interviewing and recording. Interviewing would be useful for discussing the use of music in religion with preachers, pastors, choir member, and worship band members. The recording will be useful to tape record songs and services to used to compare one service to another churches service o find any correlation .

Fieldwork is essential to ethnomuiscology. It allows for ethnomuiscologist to collect real world data that is not just found within a page. You are able to discover things that can not be found in any book, you can find data that is genuine and that is not tainted with the perspective of scholars who write the books that ethnomusicologist study from.  

1. http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/online/2008/03/28/Katine-ethnomusicology.jpg

2. http://musicandculture.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

3. http://www.indiana.edu/~semhome/2012/images/med_street_music_01.jpg

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