MUSC 41800 - Psychology Of Music

Introduction to the physical, psychological, and physiological aspects of sound and music. Survey of the theories related to sound production, acoustics, music perception and learning, and the effects of sound and music on the behavior of humans. Overview of music psychology research, and the scientific method and research techniques.

Cr. 3.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Synthesize music’s many meanings and functions in society, including contemporary American culture and cultures of other times and places, by analyzing and evaluating diverse cultural perspectives and communicating the ethical and global dimensions of music’s role in human life.
2. Use string theory to explore, analyze, and synthesize the basic principles of acoustics and sound production while critically evaluating how these principles intersect with interdisciplinary fields such as physics and music.
3. Analyze and evaluate the various physiological and physical responses to music by synthesizing research across neuroscience, psychology, and biology and communicating ideas highlighting the complex interplay between these responses.
4. Explain and evaluate affective responses to music, integrating psychological and neurological perspectives to develop coherent arguments that address both individual and collective emotional experiences.
5. Synthesize and evaluate current research in the psychology of music, using diverse methodological approaches to communicate well-rounded arguments, solutions, and narratives drawn from interdisciplinary studies, with consideration for the ethical and global dimensions of this research.