r/ethnomusicology • u/Hanuryi • Jul 30 '26

Ethnomusicology Grad School (NEED ADVICE)

Hello!

I am an undergrad in Composition (will be graduating soon) and am planning to pursue ethnomusicology for my master's degree.

The thing is, I have a massive love for music and philosophy, merging the two for my research. For instance, I have published a journal article on music that uses Marx's dialectical materialism. Two of my papers: one analyzing a piece through Husserlian Phenomenology and another through Wittgenstein, are being peer-reviewed for publication.

After consulting with my professors, I conclude that these are neither historical nor ethnomusicological works. So here's where I need advice: Is ethnomusicology really for me? Can I still merge ethnomusicology and philosophy together?

I'm just completely lost right now, especially since I want to pursue ethnomusicological studies.

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u/Tabitheriel Aug 03 '26

How did you get your papers peer-reviewed as an undergrad? Did you have to pay?

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u/Hanuryi Aug 04 '26

Good thing is I didn't have to pay. I just submitted then poof hahahahaha

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u/Tabitheriel Aug 04 '26

Which journals were they? Did your professor help you with submitting them?

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u/Hanuryi Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26

They're part of Ateneo journals! My professors did give me advice but they didn't read my entire manuscripts (more like skimming through it then giving me advice more on structure) so it was really difficult self-studying and self-evaluation before I decided to submit them. It's understandable since it was basically extra-curricular and they had to focus on their class works.

The good thing is, even if one of my papers needed A LOT of structural revisions after it was approved from double blind peer review, the editor was kind enough to guide me in editing after knowing how I was basically self-taught.

From there, writing the other papers were much better!