Society
was founded in 1955 to promote the research, study,
and performance of music in all historical periods and
cultural contexts. At present, the Society for Ethnomusicology
(SEM) has more than 2,000 members from six continents.
The
Society for Ethnomusicology is multidisciplinary in
concept and worldwide in scope. Members' interests
range from Japanese shakuhachi performance practice
to popular musics in New York; from the conservation
and display of Native American musical instruments
to teaching world music in public schools.