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Music Perception & Critical Listening - ELE00073M

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  • Department: Electronic Engineering
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Helena Daffern
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module summary

 

This module considers the perception of music and how we listen within a higher level of musical context. The module provides an introduction to several different psychoacoustic concepts, approaches, and theories of music perception, including theories of nature/nurture and enculturation. This module gives students the chance to challenge conceptions about music perception and how current theories align with their practical understanding of audio and music technology. Students will engage in debate about the interpretation of current research approaches and findings, including specific listening test paradigms, that are both empirical and descriptive.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

Subject content aims:

  • To develop students' knowledge of perceptual and psychoacoustic theories of audio and music
  • To engage students in practical listening skills and the critical evaluation of sound/audio
  • To introduce students to current research including listening test paradigms and methodologies associated with different psychoacoustic and perception theories of music


Graduate skills aims:

  • Group learning
  • Autonomous task planning and implementation
  • Analytical skills
  • Collate, summarise and critically evaluate data from a variety of sources

Module learning outcomes

Subject content learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Describe theories of psychoacoustics and perception associated with music
  • Produce and evaluate a number of audio examples to illustrate a topic related to music perception
  • Design appropriate experimental methodologies to test specific psychoacoustic and or perception theories
  • Develop and apply critical listening skills to a variety of music and audio content


Graduate skills learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Find and critically assess relevant literature summarised in a piece of written work.
  • Apply relevant methods to a specific research objective
  • Organise plan and deliver a group presentation

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Critical Analysis Portfolio		 N/A 85
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Presentation		 N/A 15

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Reassessment: Critical Analysis Portfolio		 N/A 100

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments. A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback. This can be found at https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/assessment-and-examination/guide-to-assessment/ The Department of Electronic Engineering aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. Students are provided with their examination results within 20 working days of the end of any given examination period. The Department will also endeavour to return all coursework feedback within 20 working days of the submission deadline. The Department would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The Department will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.

Indicative reading

Howard DM and Angus JAS, (2009). Acoustics and psychoacoustics, 4th Ed., Oxford: Focal Press.

N Zacharov, S ¸ren Bech, (2006) The Perceptual Audio Evaluation: Theory, Method and Application, Wiley- Blackwell, ISBN-10: 0470869232

In addition a module web-page will be produced giving links to online resources.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.