MUS 1307 - Psychology of Music

Credits: 3 hrs.

This course uses music as a unifying theme to introduce fundamental concepts of cognitive, behavioral, neurological and emotional responses. It is intended as a comprehensive overview of human musical behavior viewed from a psychological perspective. Topics will include: Music, Society and Culture; Applications of Music in Contemporary Life; Psycho-acoustical Foundations; Rhythmic Foundations; Melodic and Harmonic Foundations; Foundations of Performance, Improvisation and Composition; Affective Behaviors in Music; Musical Preferences; and Musical Ability and Its Development. Students will engage in discussion, a class presentation, a research project and a group project. Students will be able to discern how music and psychology coexist and interact in society and culture. Major psychological thinkers discussed in this course include, but are not limited to Merriam, Kaplan and Gaston. General Education Course that Satisfies SLO: Scientific Literacy; AK: Fine Arts