You are probably wondering about the title. I myself pondered what it could mean as I filled out my application for Moody. My parents thought it meant you studied ethnic music and cultures. At a quick glance, that could be a very general way of putting it. It wasn’t until a month ago when I started realizing how much more there was to this incredible major!

First off, I found out that you get to study linguistics (which is the basics of language so you can learn any language from it.) Also, you are able to study culture. Throughout the years, I have found myself more and more fascinated by different cultures and languages. Without realizing it, I automatically think about culture everywhere I go.

One day I was so caught up in studying culture without realizing it, that when I went home for Thanksgiving, I found myself studying the culture of cows in a pasture while taking a three-hour-trip to my grandparents’ house. What was I doing! Jolting myself away from the concept, I blushed and tried to forget the thought. It was an interesting concept, however, and I’m pretty sure it’s true! You see, when cows graze together in a group, they all face the same direction. That way, no one feels threatened that another cow will come and eat his patch of grass. Hill after hill went by, and still, all the cows on the hill faced the same direction as the cows around them. I know you must think this silly, but it really is true!

So, what can you do with such a splendid major? Well, there are actually many things you can do with it. The most common application is to join Wycliffe and go overseas to tribal countries. You would then learn their language, study their culture, study their style of music/dancing/choreography, and then write hymns for them to praise God! When tribes hear the Gospel for the first time, they should also as Christians be able to worship God in their own style, not some other culture’s style.  (I had been to Mexico and had sung many songs that were merely translated American songs into Spanish. So sad!)

The best part about this major is that it is quite similar to my present major. All my classes this year are exactly what I should take for “ethnomusicology.”  Also, I will be required (yay!) to go overseas for my internship during the summer before my senior year. Please pray for me as I seriously consider making this transition from “Bachelor of Arts with Violin emphasis” to “Ethnomusicology with Violin emphasis” major.

Soli Deo Gloria,

~April