Module MUSI2731: Music and Science

Department: Music

MUSI2731: Music and Science

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To provide a solid grounding in acoustics and psychoacoustics of use to musicians
• To develop critical understanding of the intersection of scientific research and music
• To appreciate new research investigations in music psychology, musical neuroscience, and music information retrieval

Content

• This module investigates the intersection of music and science, as manifested in such sub-disciplines as musical acoustics and psychoacoustics, music psychology, and empirical musicology. Topics will range from the physics of music and human auditory physiology, to higher level cognition of musical structure, and musical modelling inspired by scientific approaches to knowledge. Students will develop their independent research skills through a written assessment on a topic inspired by the module content, and also undertake a final exam which tests their understanding and ability to critically integrate the strands of scientific thinking on music.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will become familiar with scientific perspectives on music, from the underlying physics to psychological approaches and scientific modelling. They will appreciate the interaction of musicological and scientific world views, and the reconciliations of empirical musicology.

• After taking the module, students will be able to critically evaluate scientific theories of music. They will gain experience in empirical musicological approaches (also known as ‘systematic musicology’), and have developed their research skills in undertaking a project on an aspect of music and science.

• The module will establish theoretical understanding of the science of music, while developing research skills pertinent to this cross-disciplinary field. The module will reinforce critical self-awareness key to broader practice in musicology.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Core theoretical teaching will be delivered in weekly lectures/seminars to discuss research literature and critically reflect on lecture themes. Students will receive two tutorials in the first two terms and an exam revision session after Easter.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Students will prepare a short presentation on their research topic to present during seminar time to their fellow students. They will also prepare a long abstract (500 words) to discuss in a tutorial. An exam revision workshop will be run in term 3 to specifically prepare students ready for the exam.