RESEARCH IN THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT |
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Note: This brief article was published, citation information below. | |||
Ang, M. (1999). “Research in the Music Department”. Human Ecology Research Bulletin. (ISSN No.: 1511-7391). 1(1): 43-45. | |||
Music is a vastly different discipline from the Social Sciences. As such, the various types of research carried out in the Music Department may not be familiar to members of other departments within the Faculty of Human Ecology. This short article serves to introduce what music research encompasses, and what are the specific areas of research carried out by the Music Department at UPM. Areas for Research in Music The scope of research in music is very wide. Topics include (but are not limited to) acoustics, aesthetics, audio engineering, automated composition, AI and music, computer based music systems, discography, digital audio, digital sound analysis, ethnomusicology, folk music, iconography, instrumental pedagogy, multimedia systems, musicology, music education, music history, music synthesis, music technology, organology, performance practice, psychoacoustics, psychology of music, and sociology of music. Some of these areas are interdisciplinary in nature: for example, music education research may share many characteristics with education research in general, acoustics with physical science research approaches, AI and music with computer science, and so on. Focus of our Music Department Research in the Music Department, Faculty of Human Ecology, UPM, is understandibly focused on areas of staff specialization. As such, the main (broad) areas for research are music technology, music education and musicology. Music Technology Research Music technology research in the Department is spearheaded by Dr Minni Ang. A Music Technology Research Team has been set up comprising several full-time graduate students. The research focus of the team is summarized neatly in the diagram below. (Attached page). Research methodologies often closely mirror that of the basic and applied physical sciences, specifically computer science, mathematics, physics and engineering. Music Education Research Music education research is conducted by various members of staff, and graduate students. Ms Liew Ai Lin has been focusing on music education amongst young children, while Mr Chan Cheong Jan has been focusing on curriculum-related research as well as the assimilation of local folk music into mainstream art composition style for teaching purposes. Dr Minni Ang has also guided graduate students in research on computer-assisted music learning. Research methodologies are often similar to that of the social sciences in general, specifically education and sociology. Musicology and Other Areas of Music Research While a relatively new area for our own Music Department, this is in fact the most established area of research in music in most music departments, besides being the least related to any existing disciplines in UPM. Musicology can encompass research in music theory, analysis, music history, performance practice and related areas. Other areas of music research include ethnomusicology, which is the study of (mainly folk) music in its broader ethnic and cultural context. Research methodologies here include historical research, descriptive research, qualitative research, and theoretical analysis, amongst others. Conclusion What constitutes music research, and even the specific subject areas and content studied under the various sub-disciplines of music, is still very much misunderstood by non-music specialists. It is hoped that this article will contribute a little towards enlightening the non-music specialist in this matter. |