Music cognition focus

[kaister]

I know this is a really specific topic and from what I've seen there aren't many professors that focus mainly on this. This is a huge passion of mine, I cannot see myself studying anything but this (at least not passionately). I come from a music background and getting my BS in psychology. I'm wondering if it's foolish to put all my hopes into getting a PhD program that will allow me to study this or a program that has a faculty that studies this. What I'm seeing is that most music cognition has foundation in music theory fields not psychology and if someone in the psychology field is studying this it is just a side interest, with a main interest in memory or linguistics, etc.

What I want to know is if I should start researching a more broad topic like those mentioned. My concern is that I know I won't be as passionate about these areas, but it would give me more common ground with faculty in prospective PhD programs.

[franks98]

I know this is a really specific topic and from what I've seen there aren't many professors that focus mainly on this. This is a huge passion of mine, I cannot see myself studying anything but this (at least not passionately). I come from a music background and getting my BS in psychology. I'm wondering if it's foolish to put all my hopes into getting a PhD program that will allow me to study this or a program that has a faculty that studies this. What I'm seeing is that most music cognition has foundation in music theory fields not psychology and if someone in the psychology field is studying this it is just a side interest, with a main interest in memory or linguistics, etc.

What I want to know is if I should start researching a more broad topic like those mentioned. My concern is that I know I won't be as passionate about these areas, but it would give me more common ground with faculty in prospective PhD programs.

There's a professor at my undergrad institution who is very well known in this field: http://www.uwosh.edu/psychology/rauscher.htm We have a master's program that, while not prestigious or anything, is a really solid program. She is very personable, so I would recommend contacting her as I'm sure she would be more than happy to offer some advice.

[LJK]

While I get what you are saying about this being a prof's 'side interest' rather than main interest, that can be sufficient if the prof is in a big department where they have a number of grad students - one or two working on the side interest keeps it alive. If you study any area of cognition - language, memory, attention, etc. you need to learn about the others and how they contribute to the portion of cognition you are most interested it - we only have one brain each, there is lots of interaction between these 'different' processes.

I would suggest going through abstracts of the Psychonomics and Cognitive Science conferences to see who presents research having to do with music cognition - conference abstracts tell you the latest complete work coming out of a professor's lab, work that may not be on their website or in their official description of their interests. My feeling is that there is growing interest in music cognition in the field, though I may be mistaken.

[TheDude]

I emailed the aforementioned professor twice this summer and never heard back from her.

Check out McGill and Dan Levitin's lab. Also, I think Stanford does this kind of work.

I'd branch into studying creativity if you could. At least if you enter the private sector with that as a focus you have some potential as a consultant.

I think there is a university in Illinois that focuses on this too. I can't remember which one, but when I thought this was a focus of mine I found more researchers linked up with music departments than psych departments.

Edited March 10, 2011 by TheDude

[shrubin2]

There's a number or programs around the continent that have a focus in music cognition. UCSD, Northwestern Univ, Univ of Texas Austin, Columbia Univ, NYU, McGill Univ... I'm a BM music composition and BS psychology from Univ of Illinois Champaign, and I got accepted to a MM program at McGill. Both Robert Zatorre and Daniel Levitin have labs in Montreal and are McGill faculty.

[veggiedelight]

I found this list of research groups/schools. You might find it helpful: http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~mucoaco/resources/groups.html

[Arcadian]

I applied to a few programs with music cognition researchers (it's not my main interest, but it is definitely an interest). Two of them were Janata at UC Davis, and Dowling at UT Dallas.

[kaister]

Thank you so much for all the wonderful responses!

I added a few of these to my lists of schools to apply to. I've found a bunch that have at least one professor that researches some aspect of music cognition and I think that is just going to be my best bet.

I didn't see any faculty in Columbia or UT Austin that had interests involving music.

How is McGill? I know Canada has so much more opportunities in music cognition, but I guess I'm a little intimidated because it would mean me having international status.

Do you think that it is more beneficial to show my extreme interest and devotion to music cognition or would it be wiser to show that I am flexible and can get into more broader topics? I feel like both are good things to do, but I feel like my interest and background in music would be one of the things that makes me stand out, along with the passion. I guess I just don't want to feel like I'm lying to them (though I know you must be disciplined in more than one specific topic to be a successful researcher). I'm just getting mixed signals, as they tell you to be focused on what you want to research so they know you're serious, but don't be so closed off that it doesn't seem like you know about the area in general.

I also wonder if because of my specific interests, do I have less chance than other applicants, those who have interests in broader topics like memory and such.

[TheDude]

If you are into music cognition you should show it in your SOP. Go for busts. This application season all the programs where I went "all the way" with my SOP I was admitted. The others, where I tried to show I could mesh with multiple advisors, I was given a Master's offer.

McGill is fabulous, but the problem you are going to have is Levitin, and that lab, are really renown in popular press. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the applicant pool is crazy. When I was thinking of focusing on this subject and looked at McGill it didn't seem like those 2 professors had many grad students, the grad students they did have had really cool life experiences in the music industry, etc. So, you and everyone else who applies will have some kind of background in music. It would be silly to have music cognition as an interest if you didn't have that background. What I am trying to say is when you apply, if you choose McGill, I wouldn't have it slated as a "sure thing," but rather a "reach."

I'd develop a second interest if music cognition is your only focus, unless of course you can't stomach the idea of having a second interest and would only be happy with studying music cognition. If this is the case just apply to the aforementioned programs and develop a plan B that isn't grad school.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that finding funded research projects revolving around the arts is a tough go.

Also, with the schools where you couldn't find faculty... did you look in the music department? Like I said lots of music cognition researchers are affiliated with the music school at various universities. That might make you uncomfortable though if you are expecting a straight Psych department affiliation.

Edited March 15, 2011 by TheDude

[kaister]

If you are into music cognition you should show it in your SOP. Go for busts. This application season all the programs where I went "all the way" with my SOP I was admitted. The others, where I tried to show I could mesh with multiple advisors, I was given a Master's offer.

McGill is fabulous, but the problem you are going to have is Levitin, and that lab, are really renown in popular press. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the applicant pool is crazy. When I was thinking of focusing on this subject and looked at McGill it didn't seem like those 2 professors had many grad students, the grad students they did have had really cool life experiences in the music industry, etc. So, you and everyone else who applies will have some kind of background in music. It would be silly to have music cognition as an interest if you didn't have that background. What I am trying to say is when you apply, if you choose McGill, I wouldn't have it slated as a "sure thing," but rather a "reach."

I'd develop a second interest if music cognition is your only focus, unless of course you can't stomach the idea of having a second interest and would only be happy with studying music cognition. If this is the case just apply to the aforementioned programs and develop a plan B that isn't grad school.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that finding funded research projects revolving around the arts is a tough go.

Also, with the schools where you couldn't find faculty... did you look in the music department? Like I said lots of music cognition researchers are affiliated with the music school at various universities. That might make you uncomfortable though if you are expecting a straight Psych department affiliation.

How is the application process as an international student? I've read somewhere that it may be harder to get funding?

Also, I'm planning to go into a PhD in a psychology department so that's why I figure it would only work if the faculty are in that department or cross appointed. I know there is a lot of music cognition research going on in musicology and theory concentrations in the music department, but I'm not going for those degrees.

I've got about 16 schools on my list, so I'm hoping at least one of them will be into my research ideas lol. I still haven't really put any Canada schools in my list though because I'm hesitant about the international application process.

I planned to just really dedicate my SOP in music cognition, especially around the respective faculty's interest in it.

How would I show that I'm interested and have knowledge in other general cognitive areas, so I do seem flexible without looking like I'm unsure. I definitely have other interests as well, but I have been focusing on music cognition mostly because of the research I've been doing in my undergraduate is on it and I want to be totally educated on it by the time I start applying.

[franks98]

Here's something you music-cog folks may be interested in checking out: