Established in August 2002, the Graduate Institute of Ethnomusicology (GIEM) at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) is a leading academic institution dedicated to the research, transmission, and creative application of traditional music and diverse sound cultures in Taiwan. Formerly the Musicology Program of the Department of Music, GIEM traces its academic origins to the 1980s, when Professor Hsu Tsang-Houei (1929–2001), a pioneer of ethnomusicology in Taiwan, led students in extensive field research on traditional music throughout the island.

At its establishment, GIEM comprised the Division of Research and Preservation and the Division of Performance and Heritage. In 2006, the Division of Multimedia Applications was established to strengthen students’ professional and technical competencies while integrating traditional culture with the rapidly evolving digital society through information technology. Since 2015, the former two divisions have been merged into the Division of Research and Heritage, which integrates theoretical inquiry with artistic practice in the training of ethnomusicologists.

Features

1. GIEM is dedicated to the research, interpretation, and multimedia application of Taiwan’s traditional music and diverse sound cultures. 

2. GIEM integrates theory and practice, providing students with abundant opportunities for fieldwork, performances, and internships. 

3. GIEM offers extensive opportunities for international exchange, together with scholarships and various forms of financial support. 

Highlights for Training

1. Advanced researchers in music and culture. 

2. Performers, composers, and educators with intercultural perspectives. 

3. Professionals and entrepreneurs in the music and cultural industries.