Subject Area: Music

Music psychology asks questions about music cognition and behaviour: How do we perceive the sound? Why can an instrument sound musical? How do we respond to the sound? What happens when we are preparing and performing on an instrument? Why can performers become debilitatingly nervous? Why can music move us to tears or to feelings of ecstasy? What is the relation between music, sex and cheescake? Can music make you smarter, and what is the Mozart Effect? Why does that tune get stuck in my head? How old must a person be before they can hear and appreciate music? These and related questions are addressed through examination of the music psychology and education literature, and the critical evaluation of the student's own musical attitudes, beliefs and behaviours.