Forum on Music and Christian Scholarship

In a nationwide academic environment marked by budget cuts and a tight labor market, humanities scholars are once again being asked to defend themselves against charges of irrelevance and lack of economic viability. There is one strategy for combating these charges that scholars often overlook: stepping outside of the academy and making a difference in the lives of real people in the community. Musicology and its sister disciplines can lead the way, particularly in Christian contexts. At least two community-based applications of musicological scholarship are especially suited to such contexts: ethnodoxology and the pedagogy of service-learning. The goal of this panel is to explore these and other ways in which musicologists can use their knowledge and skills as scholars and teachers to meet the specific needs of communities throughout the nation and the world.

With similarities to the Roman Catholic concept of “liturgical inculturation,” ethnodoxology fosters authentic and heartfelt Christian worship in specific communities using locally-created artistic forms and traditions, especially music. Although most ethnodoxologists work in economically underdeveloped regions of the world, there is great potential for applying this unique set of musicological skills in the United States. Ethnodoxology uniquely combines musical research with Christian service and love of neighbor.

As its name implies, the pedagogy of service-learning is based on the idea that students learn by serving others. Beyond mere community service, though, the effective use of this pedagogy results in the reciprocal sharing of knowledge between students and the communities being served. To achieve this result, community projects must reinforce classroom concepts. For example, beginning music theory students might write simple diatonic settings of texts written by local schoolchildren and then teach these songs in classroom music lessons. Alternately, music history students might work with local public radio stations to develop interesting and marketable programming.

In ethnodoloxy and the pedagogy of service-learning, the Christian dimension of service is readily apparent. What can be more relevant than helping people experience music in more meaningful ways?