The Musical Mind: The Cognitive Psychology of Music / Edition 1

by John A. Sloboda

Overview

In this survey of our current knowledge concerning the cognitive psychology of music, the author—a psychologist and practicing musician—examines the mental processes involved in composing, performing, listening to, and "understanding" music, and shows how such skills are acquired.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198521280
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	05/15/1986
Series:	Oxford Psychology Series , #5
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	314
Product dimensions:	9.24(w) x 6.17(h) x 0.71(d)

About the Author

University of Keele

Table of Contents

1. Music as Cognitive Skill2. Music, Language, and Meaning3. The Performance of Music4. Composition and Improvisation5. Listening to Music6. Musical Learning and Development7. The Musical Mind in Context: Culture and Biology

Editorial Reviews

"A breakthrough...brings together recent work in a way that demonstrates its significance for musicians, whilst in no way compromising the psychological theory on which it is based. The clarity of Sloboda's writing and his numerous suggestions for further research will make his book essential reading for anyone, student or researcher, interested in how minds and music interact."—Nature

"For the cognitive psychologist, this book is a gem. The coverage is complete and up-to-date."—The Psychological Record

"Sloboda's book deserves loud applause, for its content, for its frankness in dealing with speculative issues largely ignored by other workers, and especially because it brings with it a new kind of approach."—New Scientist

"It is a highly individual synthesis of research and theory in music psychology, yet it also works as a textbook. Advanced undergraduates in music and psychology, professional musicians and psychologists, teachers, and researchers will all find something in The Musical Mind to intrigue them."—Contemporary Psychology

"In this highly readable book, Sloboda provides a thoughtful introduction to research on musical cognition....highly recommended as a carefully written, provocative, and entertaining introduction to the field."—Journal of Acoustical Society of America

"Sloboda has done a fine job of melding the disciplines of psychology and music. Both experimental psychologists and musicians will discover something of interest here."—American Journal of Psychology

"Sloboda has provided a valuable work on cognition and the psychology of music. The book's specific strength is that Sloboda discusses cognition in relation to real music rather than laboratory-produced aural stimuli....Sloboda has made a useful and unique contribution to an area of music study that has, until recent years, been neglected somewhat by music researchers and authors."—James W. Sherbon, Council for Research in Music Education

"Rich in ideas and novel in that it combines research findings with cognitive theory. The Musical Mind is the first book of its type....The book is a brave proposal in music psychology and is a ‘must' book for those of us concerned with this discipline."—Kacper Miklaszewski, Council for Research in Music Education

From the Publisher