Studying at York
Introduction to the Psychology of Music - MUS00126I
Module summary
This course will introduce you to scientific research in Music Psychology which aims to explain and understand musical behaviour and experience, including the processes through which music is created, perceived, responded to, and incorporated into everyday life.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
Music Psychology aims to explain and understand musical behaviour and experience, including the processes through which music is created, perceived, responded to, and incorporated into everyday life (Tan, Pfordrescher, Harré, 2010). Accordingly, this module will introduce you to the basic mechanisms underlying these human capacities. We will start with engaging in the functionality of the auditory system and from there, elaborate on the perception and cognition of musical elements, such as melody, rhythm, harmony, timbre or higher level structures like compositional form or expressiveness. Subsequently, we focus on basic principles underlying listener experience (aesthetics, emotion, and preferences). Finally, the module will provide a introduction to the mechanisms that underlie musical performance skills, like sensorimotor learning, training, and musical talent. During the course of this module, you will be also introduced to basic principles of social science research methods including the design of experimental studies, statistics, and data analyses.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the taught part of the project you should:
- have a knowledge and understanding of how the human mind processes music including the perception of pitch, timbre, timing, expectation, emotion and aesthetics and the mechanisms underlying musical performance skills,
- be able to evaluate the methodology of empirical studies from the field of Music Psychology,
- be able to design empirical studies from the field of Music Psychology,
- and be able to apply this knowledge in their own professional approach to teaching, composing, and performing music.
Second years: On completion of the module, in your independent work, you should demonstrate learning outcomes B1-6.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Oral presentation/seminar/exam | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
An academic poster accompanied by short (10-15 minute) presentation followed by Q+A, with notes for the presentation submitted with the poster. The poster and presentation should summarise an existing music psychology study, setting it in the context of broader literature and evaluating its effectiveness based on the principles introduced in the project.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Oral presentation/seminar/exam | 100 |
Module feedback
You will receive written feedback in line with standard University turnaround times.
Indicative reading
Hodges, D. & Sebald, D. (2010). Music In the Human Experience: An Introduction to Music Psychology. New York: Routledge.
Hallam, S., Cross, I., Thaut, M. (Eds.) (2009). The Oxford Handbook of Music Psychology. Oxford: University Press.
Goldstein, E.B. (2010). Sensation and Perception. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Deutsch, D. (1999). The psychology of music. Academic Press.