Music and Human Communication (U04413)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : ACE-3-MusHumCom

How valuable is music to human communication? Given that words and speech can provide such a rich and specific mode of human interaction, what is musics 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.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Music 2A: Music and Ideas or Music 2B: Set Works. This course is also open to non-Music students by permission of the Course Organiser.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Music, (School of Arts, Culture and Environment, Schedule A)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
12/01/2009	14:00	15:50	Faculty Room 2.02, Alison House	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	16:10	18:00	Central

? Additional Class Information : Lectures in weeks 1-5 and 7-11.

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

- Short presentation on coursework assignment topic (10%, week 7)
- 2500 word coursework assignment (40%, week 11)
- 3000 word coursework assignment (50%, week 1 of exam term)