The Society for Ethnomusicology will hold its 53rd annual meeting, October 25-28, 2008, in Middletown, CT, hosted by Wesleyan University. The Society for Ethnomusicology will hold its 53rd annual meeting, October 25-28, 2008, in Middletown, CT, hosted by Wesleyan University. All conference events will take place on the campus of Wesleyan, home to one of the oldest ethnomusicology programs in the USA,

The annual Charles Seeger lecture will be delivered by Robert Garfias, Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Irvine.  He is a former president of SEM, founded the ethnomusicology program at the University of Washington and has served as Dean of the College of Fine Arts at UCI.  In addition to decades of research in diverse areas such as Korea, Romania, Burma, Mexico, and Turkey, he has made numerous documentary films, recordings, and radio programs.

The conference theme for the 2008 meeting will be “Ethnomusicology Beyond Disciplines”.  Topics will include the following:

Proposals on any other topics relevant to the field of ethnomusicology are also welcome. 

Please note:  Paper copies of the submission forms will not be included in the SEM Newsletter this year.  Abstract proposals should be submitted using the online submission forms available at http://www.indiana.edu/~semhome/2008/index.shtml .  Those without internet access who require a paper copy of the submission form may contact the SEM Business Office at 812-855-6672 or sem@indiana.edu to obtain a copy. The online and postmark deadline for submission of SEM proposals is March 15, 2008.

The Pre-Conference Symposium, to be held on October 24, will be devoted to the theme:  Toward a 21st Century Ethnomusicology

The SEM 2008 Program Committee consists of Gregory Barz (Vanderbilt University), Fabian Holt (University of Roskilde), Terry Miller (Kent State University), Robin Moore (The University of Texas at Austin), Sarah Weiss (Yale University) with Jeffrey A. Summit (Tufts University) as chair. For further questions about the program for SEM 2008, please contact: Jeffrey A. Summit at Jeffrey.summit@tufts.edu or 617-627-3242.

Do not send proposals or abstracts to this address; please see the Call for Papers forms for the proper address.

The SEM Local Arrangements Committee consists of Jennifer Caputo (Wesleyan University), Eric Galm (Trinity College), Michael Veal (Yale University), Su Zheng (Wesleyan University), with Eric Charry (Wesleyan University) as chair.  For questions about local arrangements, contact Eric Charry at echarry@wesleyan.edu.

All proposals must include two components—the proposal form and an abstract.  When submitting your proposal, first select the appropriate form.  Note that two types of forms are used for submitting proposals:

1. “Individual Presenters Form” for single papers, performances or lecture-demonstrations, film/video programs, poster (media) session and workshops (participatory) proposals.
2.  “Organized Sessions Form” for organized panels, forums/roundtables, workshops (participatory), and films/videos (the film or video itself is the presentation).

Please note that poster (media) presentations are welcome and that presenters may set up their presentations on their own laptops in the poster presentation area at the conference.

PROPOSALS TO BE SUBMITTED ON THE “INDIVIDUAL PRESENTERS FORM”:

1. Single Papers:  Individual paper presentations are 20 minutes long and will be followed by 10 minutes of discussion.  Individual paper proposals must include:
1. The Individual Presenters Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract.  Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
2. Performances or Lecture-Demonstrations:  Up to one hour long.  Proposals must include:
1. The Individual Presenters Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract.  Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
3. Film/Video Programs:  Recently completed or in-progress films or video programs up to two hours long.  Sessions may include an introduction and discussion time.  Submit titles, subjects, and formats, and indicate the exact duration of the proposed films/videos and introduction/discussion.  Proposals must include:
1. The Individual Presenters Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract.  Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
4. Poster (Media) Sessions:  Display stations will be set up in a room where presenters can exhibit work in a variety of media and remain on hand for scheduled two-hour periods for discussion.  Displays might include posters, audio-visual presentations of research, instrument building, as well as written work made available in a form suitable for informal presentation in a table-top or wall display.  Special display requirements (e.g., computer equipment and monitors) will be the responsibility of the presenter.  Displays should be designed with the other presenters in the room in mind.  Proposals must include:
1. The Individual Presenters Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract describing the subject, purpose, and physical/audible characteristics of the display as well as the audio/visual equipment, wall, or table space required.  Certain special display equipment may be the responsibility of the presenter.  Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
5. Workshops (participatory):   Informal, interactive hands-on session on one topic (e.g. music performance, dance, recording technology, etc.). The presenter must submit:
           a.     The Individual Presenters Form (if led by one person)
           b.     A 250-word maximum abstract describing the subject.  Abstracts over 250 words will not be

accepted.

PROPOSALS TO BE SUBMITTED ON THE “ORGANIZED SESSIONS FORM”:

6. Organized Panels:  Organized panel sessions are 90 minutes or two hours long.  A 90-minute panel consists of three papers.  A two-hour panel consists of either four papers or three papers plus a discussant.  Each presentation (a paper or a discussant’s formal response) will be 20 minutes long followed by 10 minutes of questions and general discussion.  Panel abstracts will be evaluated individually as well as collectively.  The program committee reserves the right to suggest the addition of a panelist where an independently submitted abstract appears to fit a panel.  (Those interested in a more flexible format with more participants may want to consider proposing a forum/roundtable.)  Proposals for organized panels should be submitted by the panel organizer and must include:
1. The Organized Sessions Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract describing the rationale for the panel as a whole.  While the individual abstracts are necessary, the overall panel abstract is the linchpin of the panel.
3. A 250-word maximum abstract for each presenter.  Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
   
7. Forums/Roundtables:  Forum/Roundtable sessions provide opportunities for participants to discuss a subject with each other and with members of the audience.  Sessions of up to two hours long should include at least four but no more than five presenters.   We encourage formats that stimulate discussion and audience participation.  The organizer will solicit position papers of up to 15 minutes from each presenter and will facilitate questions and discussion for the remaining time.  Proposals for forums/roundtables should be submitted by the session organizer and must include:
1. The Organized Sessions Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract outlining the purpose/agenda and organization of the session, as well as the anticipated contributions of its members.  Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.

8. Workshops (participatory):  Informal, interactive hands-on session on one topic (e.g. music performance, dance, recording technology, etc.). The organizer must submit:
1. The Organized Sessions Form (more than one but no more than 6 session leaders)
2. A 250-word maximum abstract describing the subject.  Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.

NOTE:  This year, we are providing the option for Forum/Roundtables organizers to moderate an on-line discussion with Forum/Roundtable participants and interested SEM members leading up to their session at the conference.  Details will follow after proposals are accepted.

9. Films/Videos:  Recently completed or in-progress films or video programs up to two hours long.  Sessions may include an introduction and discussion time.  Submit titles, subjects, and formats, and indicate the exact duration of the proposed films/videos and introduction/discussion.  The organizer must submit:
1. The Organized Sessions Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract describing the subject and a list of participants.  Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
   

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ABSTRACTS:  Abstracts should demonstrate a clear focus or statement of the problem, a coherent argument, knowledge of previous research, and a statement of the implications for ethnomusicology.  Do not include the names of any participants in the body of the abstract.  If submitting a hard copy abstract proposal by mail only, please format your abstract as follows: Abstracts should be typed, single spaced.  Include your name and institutional affiliation (for session abstracts, the session organizer’s name) and the title of your paper (for session abstracts, the name of the session). 

Guidelines:

1. Abstracts must not exceed 250 words.  Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
2. Abstracts must appear as a single paragraph.
3. Because abstract review is anonymous, do not include your name, the names of other panelists, or the names of fellow researchers in the body of the abstract. Abstracts identifying presenters or other participants will not be accepted.

SUBMISSIONS, REQUIREMENTS, AND DEADLINES:
Proposal submissions:  Abstract proposals should be submitted using the online form at www.ethnomusicology.org (follow the links to the abstract-submission site), available after January 15, 2008.  The deadline for on-line submissions is March 15, 2008.

If you do not have Internet access, you may contact the SEM Business office at 812-855-6672 or sem@indiana.edu  to obtain a paper copy of the form.  Mail your form and abstract to the address listed below, postmarked by March 15, 2008.

Address for submissions:

            *Online:  http://www.indiana.edu/~semhome/2008/index.shtml

            *Postal mail: Indiana University Conferences
                                Attn.:  SEM 2008 ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
                                801 N. Jordan Ave.
                                Bloomington, IN 47405 USA

Deadline for submissions:  All submissions must be submitted online or postmarked by the published deadline—March 15, 2008—or the abstract will not be reviewed.

Charles Seeger Prize:  Students interested in having a paper considered for the Charles Seeger Prize should consult the guidelines in the January 2008 issue of the SEM Newsletter or on the SEM website (www.ethnomusicology.org).

Pre-registration fees:  Following SEM policy, all participants whose proposals have been accepted for the program must be SEM members and must pre-register for the meeting by August.  This requirement applies also to those who have agreed to be waitlisted. SEM members whose proposals have been accepted will be sent pre-registration materials around May 15, at the time of notification of their acceptance to the program.  If by June 15 you have not received a letter from the program committee indicating whether or not your abstract was accepted, please contact Jennifer Gentry, Conference Coordinator, at Indiana University Conferences, semconf@indiana.edu.

Limit on the number of presentations:  SEM policy specifies that each presenter may give one paper (individually or as part of an organized panel) OR act as discussant for a panel OR participate in one forum/roundtable, workshop, performance, lecture-demonstration, or poster session OR present one film/video program during the regular sessions.  Presenters may, however, also serve as chair of one panel, forum/roundtable, or workshop.

Cancellations and no-shows:  No-shows inconvenience the chair, discussant, fellow panelists, and audience members attending the session.  Participants who discover they are unable to attend the meeting should notify the program chair and semconf@indiana.edu immediately. As a general rule, SEM does not allow someone else to read your paper in your absence.  Pre-registration cancellations made after September 10 will not qualify for a refund.

Special requests:  Please indicate potential scheduling conflicts.  If notified in advance, the program committee will attempt to accommodate requests but cannot guarantee a particular time slot.

Timetable: