Musicology As Means of Studying Music

Dr. Frank Gunderson

May 25, 2022

What is Musicology? According to Dr. Frank Gunderson, musicology is a academic field that studies music, focusing on both traditional and popular forms. It has many branches, including acoustics and the physiology of the ear, aesthetics and mus. education and appreciation, and ethnology, which studies folk music and dances. Other branches of musicology include the study of instruments and scales, modes and harmony, and terminology.

Musicology is a academic field by Dr. Frank Gunderson

What is Musicology? It is a academic field in which one studies music as an art form. It includes various related disciplines. The field’s scope is nearly unlimited. It includes the aesthetic, physical, psychological, and cultural dimensions of musical art. The term encompasses anything that involves or affects the creation, performance, and reception of music. It includes topics such as the history of printing presses and Renaissance patronage of music.

The field has numerous subdivisions, including acoustics, physiology of the ear, psychology of aesthetics and mus. appreciation, and education, ethnology, modes and scales, and theories of harmony and the social and political roles of music. Some scholars also study ethnology, which includes folk songs and dances. Various disciplines have their own terminology. For example, ethnomusicology studies folk music and dance, music theory, and acoustics.

It is a research-oriented field

Those who choose musicology as a means of studying the art form will have a variety of career options. Some are particularly interested in research and continue their studies in graduate school. Others may want to teach, write music-related books, or run their own businesses. While teaching is the most common career path for musicologists, you can pursue a research-oriented career as a business owner or entrepreneur.

Other professors combine teaching with other jobs, such as teaching professional musicians during the day. Depending on the area of interest, you might decide to pursue a Master’s degree instead of a PhD. Regardless of your career path, musicology is a rewarding and research-oriented field, and many professionals recommend pursuing a PhD.

It examines popular music

In the last century, the field of musicology has been challenged by a variety of developments. For one thing, a number of popular music scholars have come out to argue that “classical” music is no longer the appropriate target for popular music studies. Instead, these scholars use a broader perspective to analyze popular music. The following are some arguments for and against musicology as a means of studying popular music.

Despite the rise of pop culture, classical music has long been perceived as being in opposition to popular music. But, advocates of “New Musicology” argue that this position should not be dominant in music. One example of this collapsing between classical and popular music is Elvis Presley.

It is a good way to think about music by Dr. Frank Gunderson

When we think about music, we tend to focus on the way it is performed. But music as sound does not exist in a neutral state. In fact, most of the details of a given musical piece cannot be specified in existing notations, and no human performer could realize such a notation without every single detail.

The field of musicology started to catch onto these advances during the last three quarters of a century. The development of neuroscience and experimental psychology has shown that our brain responds to sounds in predictable ways. Even our most basic responses to music are part of a shared, coherent process. This means that when we hear a Pavarotti note, for example, we may respond to it with anguish.