The Science and Psychology of Music: From Beethoven at the Office to Beyoncé at the Gym

by William Forde Thompson (Editor), Kirk N. Olsen (Editor)

Overview

This book provides a broad introduction to the scientific and psychological study of music, exploring how music is processed by our brains, affects us emotionally, shapes our personal and cultural identities, and can be used in therapeutic and educational contexts.

Why are some people unable to carry a tune while others are musical savants? What do our musical preferences say about our personality and the culture in which we were raised? Why do certain songs remind us so strongly of particular people, places, or events? How can music be therapeutically used to help those with autism, Parkinson's, and other medical conditions? The Science and Psychology of Music: From Beethoven at the Office to Beyoncé at the Gym answers these and other questions.

This book provides a broad and accessible introduction to the fascinating field of music psychology. Despite its name, music psychology includes a number of fields, including neuroscience, psychology, social psychology, sociology, and health. Through a collection of thematically organized chapters, readers will discover how our brains recognize elements of music, how music can affect us and shape our identities, and the many real-world applications for such information.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798216142195
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	01/26/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	7 - 17 Years

About the Author

William Forde Thompson, PhD, is a Professor in Psychology at Bond University, Australia, and an Emeritus Professor at Macquarie University, Australia.

Kirk N. Olsen, PhD, is a Research Centre Manager at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Australia. He is also the Research Manager of the Macquarie University hub of the Music, Sound and Performance Research Group.
Kirk N. Olsen, PhD, is a Research Centre Manager at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Australia. He is also the Research Manager of the Macquarie University hub of the Music, Sound and Performance Research Group.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments

Part 1: Understanding Music

What Is Music?
1. Defining Music
2. Sound Waves: The Music inside Sound
3. Pitch, Timbre, and Rhythm
4. Scales, Intervals, and Tuning Systems

Music across Cultures
5. Defining Culture
6. Cross-Cultural Research in Music Psychology
7. Nature versus Nurture
8. Musical Universals

Musical Expertise
9. What Is Musical Expertise?
10. Musical Genius
11. Genetics and Musical Expertise
12. Competitions: Judging Expertise

Musical Prodigies and Savants
13. Becoming a Musical Prodigy: Hard Work or Born That Way?
14. Prodigies in Performance
15. Prodigies in Musical Creativity
16. Musical Savants

Music and the Brain
17. Contemporary Approaches to the Neuroscience of Music
18. Music and the Brain across the Life Span
19. Tone Deafness
20. Music and Language

Part 2: Psychological and Social Implications of Music

Music and Identity
21. Defining Ourselves through Music
22. Music and Cultural Identity
23. Gender Bias in Music History
24. Music and Social Class

Music and Personality
25. Personality and Listeners
26. Personality and Musicians
27. Who Likes Sad Music and Why?
28. Violence and Music

Music and Ritual
29. Maternal Songs as Bonding Rituals
30. Music and Ecstatic States
31. Music and Rites of Passage
32. Music and Death

Music and Belief
33. Religion and Music
34. Music and Lyrics
35. Music and Advertising
36. Music and Healing Rituals

Music and Social Bonding
37. Lullabies
38. Love and Music
39. Intercultural Relations through Music
40. Music as Social Grooming

Part 3: Impact and Applications of Music

Music and Emotion
41. Why Is Music Emotional? Theories of Music and Emotion
42. Contemporary Research on Music and Emotion
43. Music as Emotion Management
44. Music and Emotion across Cultures

Music and Memory
45. What Is Memory for Music?
46. Music and Studying
47. Earworms
48. Music-Evoked Autobiographical Memories (MEAMs)

Music and Movement
49. Movement and Music Performance
50. The Case of Ensemble Performance
51. Music and Dance
52. Why Do People Exercise to Music?

Music and Health
53. Defining Music, Health, and Well-Being
54. Five Healthy Ingredients of Music
55. Music Therapy
56. Music and Healthy Aging

Music Education
57. Music in Schools
58. Music Learning across the Life Span
59. Music in the Community
60. Media and Technology in Music Education

About the Editors and Contributors
Index

What People are Saying About This

Professor Diana Deutsch

"Bill Thompson, who has carried out highly influential research concerning many aspects of musical function and emotional wellbeing, reaches out to a general audience in his new book, The Science and Psychology of Music, edited with Kirk Olsen. The book is remarkable for its accessibility, expansive coverage, clarity of exposition, and thoughtful and far-reaching discussions. All readers with an interest in music will be fascinated by the research and theory that are so eloquently described in this engaging book, and generations of students will be inspired to enter into the study of how music affects the mind."

Isabelle Peretz

"Everyone knows the appeal of music. Yet, very few know the science behind it. Here, you will find a remarkable collection of short stories that are diverse, accessible and lucid."

Brian Jersky

"This fascinating and important book describes and thoroughly explores how important music is to us all, and why. It is beautifully written and edited, and provides a fascinatingly wide coverage of its subject. In addition, interested readers will find a huge reservoir of additional references. Reading it will deepen your appreciation of what it means to be human."

David Huron

"Thompson and Olsen have assembled an A-team of world experts in music psychology and created a compelling encyclopedia of major topics on the many ways we experience music. The result is a valuable volume with entries that offer depth and insight, while remaining wholly accessible to the non-expert reader."

Patrícia Vanzella

"This is the first book to concisely and objectively provide a comprehensive panorama of all possible topics explored by researchers in the field of Psychology and Science of Music. Anyone interested in understanding why and how music touches upon virtually all aspects of our lives should read it! Undoubtedly, it will stimulate readers and inspire young adults to immerse themselves in this fascinating area of knowledge that has been growing exponentially over the past few years."

Patrik N. Juslin

"This book is the perfect introduction to the exciting field of music psychology. The wide-ranging, up-to-date, and socially relevant coverage, and the concisely written and uniquely accessible chapters, will surely inspire a new generation of music researchers. The book is a real treat even for someone who is already familiar with the field. Both the editors and the authors have done a splendid job."

Dr. Daniel J. Levitin

"If you read only one book about the psychology of music, this is the one to get. It is both the most up-to-date and most comprehensive book on the market, masterfully presented. You know you want it—what are you waiting for?"

Patrícia Vanzella

"This is the first book to concisely and objectively provide a comprehensive panorama of all possible topics explored by researchers in the field of Psychology and Science of Music. Anyone interested in understanding why and how music touches upon virtually all aspects of our lives should read it! Undoubtedly, it will stimulate readers and inspire young adults to immerse themselves in this fascinating area of knowledge that has been growing exponentially over the past few years."