Department of Ethnomusicology
Head of the Department:
Prof. Dr. Habil. Daiva Vyčinienė
E-mail: daiva.vyciniene@lmta.lt
Coordinator
Lukas Sandhu
E-mail: lukas.sandhu@lmta.lt
Phone: +370 603 04 028
LMTA Building 2, Vilniaus 6-2, 01110 Vilnius, Room 216.
Address:
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Building 2
Vilniaus str. 6-2, 01110 Vilnius, Lithuania
Phone: +370 5 249 7487
Department of Ethnomusicology
Established in 1989, the Department of Ethnomusicology is the only institution in Lithuania that educates broad-profile ethnomusicology specialists. The department offers two study programmes that encompass both theoretical and practical aspects of ethnic music, while also fostering interdisciplinary artistic research.
The Music Studies (Musical Folklore) (BA) programme focuses on developing theoretical and practical competencies, allowing students to achieve a high level of proficiency in ethnic music research, Lithuanian musical folklore performance, and music and ethnic culture pedagogy. This program is based on theoretical lectures and practical training directly related to the professional field of ethnic music. It aims to educate professional experts and practitioners of ethnic music who can work in arts, cultural, and educational institutions.
The Arts Research and Communication (Ethnomusicology) (MA) programme provides opportunities for conducting scientific and artistic research, with a particular focus on issues related to ethnic music phenomena in Lithuania and worldwide. The programme encourages interdisciplinary research and the development of creative methodologies in the context of ethnic music studies.
Graduates of the master’s programme can continue their academic careers in doctoral studies. The department offers PhD studies in Ethnology in collaboration with the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore (LLTI) and Vilnius University (VU), as well as PhD studies in Art Research (03H) in cooperation with the Vilnius Academy of Arts (VDA) and the Lithuanian Culture Research Institute (LKTI). Doctoral students conduct interdisciplinary scientific and artistic research in ethnomusicology, ethnology, music anthropology, and related fields, contributing to the formation of original academic discourse. This provides an opportunity to become leaders both among ethnomusicology researchers and within the practicing community, promoting the discipline’s development and international dissemination.
Faculty and Students
Currently, the Department of Ethnomusicology is a small but motivated and active academic community. Students are guided and encouraged by a team of professional educators. The core faculty consists of eight permanent lecturers, experienced specialists in various ethnomusicology fields, including traditional singing, ethnochoreology, and organology. The faculty members are also organizers of international folklore festivals and instructors of traditional music, singing, and dance workshops. Among them, four lecturers have been awarded the prestigious National Jonas Basanavičius Prize, while one has received the National Culture and Arts Prize. Their pedagogical, scientific, and artistic experience provides a solid foundation for student education.
Each year, the department welcomes guest lecturers whose international and national expertise enriches the study programs, deepening students’ understanding and practice of ethnic music. This diversity allows students to explore new research directions in ethnomusicology, innovative methods for teaching traditional singing, music, and dance, as well as interdisciplinary approaches that foster creativity and critical thinking.
Collaboration and Projects
The Department of Ethnomusicology actively engages in international cooperation, significantly contributing to students’ professional and artistic development. Since 2011, the department has been a partner of the “Nordplus” program network “Nordtrad”, which enables students and lecturers to participate in seminars, training sessions, and creative projects in various countries, including Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Estonia, and Latvia. These activities allow students to integrate into the contemporary ethnic music interpretation scene and expand their career prospects.
The department collaborates with institutions such as the Institute of Folkloristics and Ethnomusicology at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, and the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, among others. Academic exchanges for students and lecturers take place through the Erasmus+ mobility programme.
Students gain practical folklore performance skills by performing with the department’s folklore ensemble studio group “Tatato”, participating in international folklore festivals such as “Skamba skamba kankliai” and “Baltica”, as well as the Dzūkija folklore festival “Čiulba ulba”. They also perform in Lithuanian schools and kindergartens and organize folk music gatherings. Some students begin leading folklore ensembles while still studying, while others form alternative folklore groups to realize their innovative creative projects.
Fieldwork is also an essential part of students’ practical activities, with annual folklore expeditions conducted in various regions of Lithuania. These experiences provide deeper insights into the cultural uniqueness of different localities and serve as a foundation for further creative collaboration with regional communities.