MUSIC 445 A: Selected Topics In Ethnomusicology
MUSIC 445 A: Selected Topics In Ethnomusicology
Sound Archiving in Ethnomusicology
University of Washington, Winter 2016, Music 445 A (3 credits)
Thursdays, 1:30-3:50, Music Bldg. 27
Laurel Sercombe (julius@uw.edu) and John Vallier (vallier@uw.edu), co-instructors
Office Hours: By appointment
Class dates: Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28; Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25; March 3, 10
Final project due – Thursday, March 17, 5:00 p.m. in Canvas
ABSTRACT
The development of sound recording technology in the 1890s revolutionized scholarly research in music. With the establishment of the first sound archives at the turn of the 20th century, the link between the comparative study of the world’s music and sound archiving was firmly established. This course will cover both historical and contemporary approaches to media archiving, with an emphasis on the curation of ethnographic recording collections. In addition to lectures and discussion, the class will offer hands-on experience with a variety of analog and digital audiovisual technologies, tools, and best practices. Other topics to be covered include copyright and ethics, digital access and preservation, description, and “green” archiving.
REQUIREMENTS & GRADING
Readings – All readings are freely available on the Canvas course site.
Assignments
- One in-class presentation based on reading assignments (10-15 minutes).
- Weekly reflections (about 300 words) due in Canvas on Wednesday by 11:59 pm.
- One-page written description of proposed project due in Canvas by 1:30 pm January 28 (class Week 4); bring paper copy of proposal to class that day.
- Final project due in Canvas on March 14 by 5pm; oral presentation based on your final project due in class during Weeks 9 and 10.
Grading will be based on the following formula:
- Class attendance, participation, and weekly reflections - 20%
- In-class presentation - 20%
- Final project proposal - 10%
- Final project - 50%
SCHEDULE
January 7 (Week 1) - Introduction to Ethnomusicological Sound Archives
- Student introductions
- Instructor introductions & archive stories
- Lecture: Introduction to Ethnomusicological Sound Archives (Laurel)
- Assign readings for in-class presentations
January 14 (Week 2) – History of Sound Recording
Guest: John Gibbs (Special Projects Librarian, UW Music Library)
John's website is one of the best sources for on-line information related to
sound archiving: http://guides.lib.washington.edu/AudioPreservation
Readings for discussion:
January 21 (Week 3) – Audio Characteristics, Deterioration, and Preservation
Guest: Gary Louie (Media Maintenance Technician, UW School of Music)
Hands-on ethno archive experience (Week 1) - Ethno Archives and mediArcade
Discussion of issues related to the digital preservation of and access to archival materials, including an introduction to digitization standards and best practices as defined by the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (TC-04, 2nd edition, 2009).
Readings for discussion:
January 28 (Week 4) – Audio Appraisal, Maintenance, and Description
Written description of proposed project due in class today
Hands-on ethno archive experience (Week 2) - Ethno Archives and mediArcade
Readings for discussion:
February 4 (Week 5) – Audio Preservation, Reformatting and Storage
Guest (via Skype): Alan Burdette (Director, Archives of Traditional Music, Indiana University) - The Media Digitization and Preservation Project at Indiana University
Hands-on ethno archive experience (Week 3) - Ethno Archives and mediArcade
Readings for discussion:
February 11 (Week 6) – Contracts, Copyright, and Ethics
Guest: Chris Heaney (Ph.D. student, UW Information School)
Readings for discussion:
Protocols for Native American Archival Materials - http://www2.nau.edu/libnap-p/protocols.html
February 18 (Week 7) - Video and Film
Guests: Andrew Weaver (Digital and Archival Media Technician, UW Libraries) and Hannah Palin (Film Archives Specialist, Special Collections, UW Libraries)
Readings for discussion:
February 25 (Week 8) – Critical Concerns
Guest: Hiromi Lorraine Sakata (Professor Emerita, UCLA)
Readings for discussion:
Optional: Davis, Casey. "PROJECT_ARCC: Archivists Responding to Climate Change."
March 3 (Week 9) – In-class presentations (Week 1)
March 10 (Week 10) - In-class presentations (Week 2) (Last class!)
Monday, March 14 - Projects due
Course Summary:
Date | Details |
---|---|