Psychology of Music

In Psychology of Music: From Sound to Significance (2nd edition), the authors consider music on a broad scale, from its beginning as an acoustical signal to its different manifestations across cultures. In their second edition, the authors apply the same richness of depth and scope that was a hallmark of the first edition of this text. In addition, having laid out the topography of the field in the original book, the second edition puts greater emphasis on linking academic learning to real-world contexts, and on including compelling topics that appeal to students’ natural curiosity. Chapters have been updated with approximately 500 new citations to reflect advances in the field.

The organization of the book remains the same as the first edition, while chapters have been updated and often expanded with new topics. 'Part I: Foundations' explores the acoustics of sound, the auditory system, and responses to music in the brain. 'Part II: The Perception and Cognition of Music' focuses on how we process pitch, melody, meter, rhythm, and musical structure. 'Part III: Development, Learning, and Performance' describes how musical capacities and skills unfold, beginning before birth and extending to the advanced and expert musician. And finally, 'Part IV: The Meaning and Significance of Music' explores social, emotional, philosophical and cultural dimensions of music and meaning.

This book will be invaluable to undergraduates and postgraduate students in psychology and music, and will appeal to anyone who is interested in the vital and expanding field of psychology of music.

Table of Contents

About the authors Preface to the second edition Notes to instructors Acknowledgments 1. The scope of psychology of music Part I. Foundations 2. The acoustics of music 3. Auditory perception and the neurophysiology of hearing 4. Cognitive neuroscience and the music-language link Part II. The perception and cognition of music 5. Perception of musical pitch and melody 6. Perception of musical time 7. Analysis and cognition of musical structure Part III. Development, learning, and performance 8. Emergence of auditory and music perception 9. Early musical development 10. Practice and musical expertise 11. The psychology of music performance Part IV. The meaning and significance of music 12. The social psychology of music 13. The question of meaning in music 14. The emotional power of music 15. Culture and music. Appendix: The chapters in action. References. Name index. Subject index.