Undergraduate Course: Music and Human Communication (MUSI10067)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Music |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | How valuable is music for human communication? Given that words and speech can provide such a rich and specific mode of human interaction, what is music=s role? In some cases where social acts of communication prove to be very difficult (e.g. autism, behavioural problems, dyslexia), the work of music therapists and community music practitioners appears to alleviate difficulties. What makes music special?
By focusing on musical action and performance - studying music as something that people do - this course introduces students to aspects of the relationship between music and human communication. During the course, students consider such questions as: What are the materials of musical communication? How can we examine the relationship between music and language? Does music have a social, communicative function?
Ethnomusicology, music psychology and social interaction research have all contributed to the study of music and human communication. Reading material for the course includes contributions to the topic from these various disciplines, offering an introduction to the application of social science methods in music research. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting Student pre-requisites: Open to Music students who have taken prior courses with a humanities or social science approach (focus on writing, not practical). Open to students with a social sciences background by permission
of Course Organiser. |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
- Skills for interdisciplinary study - critical reading, reflection and synthesis.
- Knowledge of key contributions to the study of music and language from ethnomusicology.
- Knowledge of key contributions to the study of music and communication from the field of music psychology.
- Familiarity with specific cases of communicative disorder where music appears to be an effective intervention.
- Students with Music in the Community experience will gain theoretical grounding for their applied practice. |
Assessment Information
- Synoptic assessment (weekly writing tasks, equivalent to c.1500 words) (15%)
- Video case study: Group presentation (10%) with individual report (c.1500 words) (15%).
- 3,000 word coursework assignment (60%). |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Skills in critical reading, reflection and synthesis. |
| Reading list |
Key Texts:
1. Course Reader (available in first class)
2. Miell, D. E., MacDonald, R., & Hargreaves, D. J. (Eds.). (2005). Musical Communication. Oxford: Oxford University Press. |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Nikki Moran
Tel: (0131 6)50 2423
Email: n.moran@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Brad Herbert
Tel: (0131 6)50 2422
Email: brad.herbert@ed.ac.uk |
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