The Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) describes ethnomusicology as "the study of music in its social and cultural contexts." Individuals working in the field may have training in music, cultural anthropology, folklore, performance studies, dance, area studies, cultural studies, gender studies, race or ethnic studies, or other fields in the humanities and social sciences.

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The Northeast Chapter of the Society for Ethnomusicology (NECSEM) is a member chapter of the Society for Ethnomusicology. The society promotes the research, study, and performance of music in all historical periods and cultural contexts. The activities of the chapter are designed to provide a forum for the discussion of current scholarly research and to promote and develop the multitude of traditional art forms found in the communities of the northeast and around the world.