Come Back and See Me Next Tuesday, Bruno Nettl

The Study of Ethnomusicology

• Ethnomusicology is the study of music in its cultural context. It encompasses music's social, cultural, and historical implications.

• The focus is on both the music itself and the human experiences surrounding it.

Arrival in the Field

• Description of the initial experience arriving in a small town in the northern Plains, focusing on the author's feelings about engaging with the local Native American culture.

• A brief exchange with a Native American filling station attendant highlights the author's excitement and apprehension.

• The author feels out of place but is motivated to learn about Native American music.

First Encounters and Challenges

• Attempts to converse with locals are met with feelings of isolation and fear of being perceived as an outsider or exploitative.

• Fleeting interactions, such as with the neighbor at the sandwich shop, reveal the difficulty of breaking social barriers.

• Emotional weight of the search for connection and understanding manifests as anxiety about self-disclosure in this new cultural context.

Building Relationships

• The author realizes that initiating contact requires humility and respect for the local culture.

• The encounter with a Native American barber leads to the discovery of a key informant, Joe F., a local singer.

• This indicates the importance of networking and personal connections in ethnomusicological fieldwork.

Becoming a Fieldworker

• The author's initial interactions evolve from tourist-like observations to more engaged fieldwork, indicating growth in understanding and integration into the community.

• The timing and process of Joe's willingness to participate in the research reflect local customs and patient relationship-building.

• The passage emphasizes ethnomusicology as a stress-laden process involving personal interactions and relationship management.

Nature of Ethnomusicological Fieldwork

• Fieldwork methodology in ethnomusicology has historically emphasized the role of personal relationships and daily interactions within the community being studied.

• Differentiation between an ethnomusicologist's and a consultant's perspectives, highlighting the personal and subjective nature of ethnomusicological research.

The Role of Consultants and Teachers

• There is an evolving terminology for research participants from 'informants' to 'consultants' and 'teachers'—reflecting a more respectful engagement in the research process.

• Emphasis on selecting individuals who provide an authentic experience of the culture, acknowledging the difficulty in ensuring representation.

Challenges of Representation in Ethnomusicology

• The issue of insider versus outsider perspectives in understanding music culture affects the validity and authenticity of research findings.

• Relationships with local consultants are nuanced by power dynamics and expectations of reciprocal understanding between ethnomusicologists and community members.

Conclusion: Respect and Patience in Fieldwork

• Acknowledgment of the complexities and challenges of conducting fieldwork, including balancing scholarly objectives with cultural sensitivities.

• The title "Come Back and See Me Next Tuesday" illustrates the importance of patience and mutual respect in building trust and rapport with research subjects; it's a metaphor for the ongoing relationship between scholar and community.