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Created by Chris Tillotson, Leif Schuster, Mary Catherine Slagle, and Max Vindman
Click any of the images below to learn more about different topics in music perception
What is Perception?
What is Perception?
Music perception refers to the cognitive and sensory processes that allow us to interpret and organize musical sounds. It involves processes in both the brain (for organizing and analyzing auditory information) and the ear (the actual process of sensing sound waves). In addition, there are various elements which are involved in musical perception, including:
Pitch- Being able to differentiate between high and low musical notes. The amplitude of a sound wave influences the frequency at which we hear it.
Rhythm- The recognition and interpretation of patterns in the timing and duration of musical notes and beats.
Melody- The main tune of a piece or song, specifically the sequence in which the pitches in a piece are organized and being able to tell what the tune sounds like.
Harmony- The combination of different musical notes being played and understanding the relationships between them. This can include chords and dissonance.
Timbre- Being able to tell the quality of sound from either an instrument or voice.
Emotional Response- The emotional reaction that individuals feel when they hear a piece of music. Could relate to mood, expressiveness, aesthetic, and other ways which we define music.
All of these factors influence what we perceive as music, as well as other topics which are linked above.
Image Sources
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) | GlobeHealer
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hearing-loss/in-depth/ear-infections/art-20546801
Information concerning components of music on this page is courtesy of Leif Schuster's expertise as a musician.
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