Approaches to Music Research 1

Module description

Music research in the 21st century is driven by a rich variety of intellectual agendas and underpinned by a plethora of theoretical and methodological approaches with roots in multiple disciplinary areas: from sociology, anthropology and history to philosophy and literary studies. This module sets out to survey and grapple critically with those approaches, agendas and interdisciplinary engagements. It thus bridges an entrenched but in many ways problematic subdisciplinary division between ‘musicology’ and ‘ethnomusicology’ – a division we will examine in response to their divergent methodologies and approaches. Focusing each week on influential scholarly texts engaging with a given topic or approach, we will encounter a wide array of major contributions to music research, assessing the place of those contributions in the history of music studies, broadly conceived. (Weekly topics and themes will differ from year to year.)

 

Assessment details

• Assignment 1 (25%)
• Assignment 2 (25%)
• Assignment 3 (25%)
• Assignment 4 (25%)

Educational aims & objectives

This module aims to:

• provide a sophisticated understanding of central issues and approaches in the cultural study of music;
• foster a high level of critical engagement with a variety of theoretical frameworks and methodologies, considering what music research should do and be;
• develop in-depth knowledge of the relevant scholarly literature.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students will have developed intellectual, transferable and practical skills appropriate to a Level 7 module and in particular will be able to demonstrate:

• an advanced understanding of the core theoretical principles, critical concerns and methodological approaches of music research;
• an ability to contextualise these principles both historically and in broader humanistic and social scientific intellectual fields;
• an in-depth understanding of, and ability to engage critically with, texts drawn from the canonical scholarly literature engaging in the cultural study of music;
• the ability to formulate the theoretical and methodological parameters of a variety of independently conducted research assignments.

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.