To introduce and explore a set of multidisciplinary topics central to the field of music psychology
• To allow students to gain a broad understanding of how music influences listeners in everyday contexts and the essential physiological and psychological mechanisms and processes involved in different kinds of music-related activities
• To appraise existing scholarship in the field of music psychology and be able to argue how the theoretical and empirical issues are connected
• To become familiar with research methods commonly utilised by music psychologists

(LO1) Students will acquire general and specific knowledge on various topic areas in the multidisciplinary field of music psychology and develop new perspectives on how the human mind processes and responds to music.

(LO2) Students will be able to critically evaluate existing scholarship in the field and demonstrate awareness of the relationship between theoretical and empirical contributions to music psychology.

(LO3) Students will be familiar with music psychology research and how it helps understanding the uses of music in everyday life.

(LO4) Students will be able to integrate literature and research into a logical argument and communicate (orally and textually) effectively and appealingly presenting research findings to a lay audience.

(S1) Intellectual skills (curiosity, research and exploration, critical understanding, analytical demonstrations).

(S2) Creative and re-creative skills (presentation, interpretation).

(S3) Information technology and media literacy.

(S4) Teamwork and collaboration.

(S5) Oral and written presentation skills.

Music Psychology is a multi-disciplinary field that aims to understand and explain musical activities and experiences through the scientific study of mind and behaviour. This module provides an introduction to key contemporary topics in this area, including the origins of music, music and emotion, the brain on music, musical development and the effects of music training and music uses in everyday life and healthcare. Each week, students will watch a pre-recorded lecture that introduces central concepts and perspectives on a core topic of music psychology and provides students with a strong base to further explore each topic in “out of class” study time. In the seminars, students will have the opportunity to actively explore each topic via set activities and group discussions sessions guided by the module tutor. Students are expected to take a proactive approach to these sessions by preparing in advance, leading and participating in small and large group discussions, an d contributing to various class activities. Independent study time should be spent reading around the subject matter (mandatory and suggested readings will be provided), preparing for the seminars (directed reading, preparations for discussions and activities), and working towards the assessment. Lectures’ recordings, course support material, assessment guidance and marking criteria will be available online via the module page. Library resources will be accessible through the module electronic reading list.

Teaching Method: Lectures
Description: Each week students will watch a pre-recorded lecture that introduces central concepts and perspectives on a core topic of music psychology that provides students with a strong base to further explore each topic in “out of class” study time. Each lecture will be available via Canvas at least one week before the synchronous sessions (the approximate duration is 1h).
Attendance Recorded: No

Teaching Method: Seminars
Description: In the seminars, students will have the opportunity to actively explore each topic via set activities and small group discussions during online and face-to-face synchronous sessions guided by the module tutor. Students will have the change to raise any questions that they may have in relation to the pre-recorded lecture or propose a discussion topic, work in small  groups on various tasks devised each week (see module syllabus) and engage in open discussions with the whole class and mod erated by the module tutor.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method: Tutorials
Description: Individual tutorial time will be available to students in weeks 11 and 12.

Self-directed Learning: Independent study time should be spent reading around the subject matter (mandatory and suggested readings will be provided), preparing for the seminars (directed reading, preparations for discussions and activities), and working towards the assignments.