Why are some sounds regarded as 'noise'
while others are experienced as music? When we
perform or listen to music, what occurs at the level of
the sound wave, the ear, and the brain? How do
musical abilities emerge, develop, and refine as one gains
experience with music? What gives the music such a
strong emotional impact and the ability to influence
social behavior in so many different cultural contexts?
These are a several of the frequent questions that
define the field of "music psychology".
In this essay, a comprehensive overview of classic
and contemporary studies in music psychology will be
presented, as well as critical critiques of existing
research focusing on melody, rhythm, and formal
structure perception and cognition, as well as the
origin and development of musical talents, before
moving on to the most practical components of music
psychology: gender in music, customers behavior,
the emotional power of music. I sincerely believe that
my work may contributes to a broader discussion of
music's meaning in terms of its social, emotional,
philosophical, and cultural relevance.