Research Areas and Perspectives

Since the inception of the institute, its research activities have been focused on the scientific exploration of vocal and instrumental forms of folk and amateur musics, their historical foundations and contemporary transformations, their functions, transmissions and receptions.
 
The institute focuses on ethnomusicological investigations of regional musical cultures of the present, as well as basic and historical research from ethnomusicological and music sociological perspectives. Orally transmitted songs as well as newly created and medially distributed musics are examined in relation to the social and political frameworks of their times. This often involves questions based in Social and Political Sciences, such as how songs are used for purposes of ideological indoctrination in political systems, or what roles songs have played in forms of political resistance.  
The strong connection between music pedagogy and the research of amateur practices has led to an independent scientific profile which favours the blending of European Ethnomusicology/Musical Folklore and Music Education both in research and teaching practice.
 A central task is to integrate students into the research and publication activities of the institute as well as to train them in presentation formats. Following the principle of "learning by researching", students are encouraged to take part in these activities, including ethnographic fieldwork. This agenda leads in a long-term to a future-oriented and sustainable way of doing research and teaching in ethnomusicology as wide range of exam works (examples) and publications have proven.

Members of the institute have dealt in these areas of research.