This course explores a range of methods used in computational musicology. (Image by Prof. Michael Cuthbert.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Michael Scott Cuthbert
MIT Course Number
21M.269
As Taught In
Spring 2012
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Features
- Selected lecture notes
- Projects and examples
- Assignments: problem sets (no solutions)
- Assignments: written with examples
Course Description
The disciplines of music history and music theory have been slow to embrace the digital revolutions that have transformed other fields' text-based scholarship (history and literature in particular). Computational musicology opens the door to the possibility of understanding—even if at a broad level—trends and norms of behavior of large repertories of music. This class presents the major approaches, results, and challenges of computational musicology through readings in the field, gaining familiarity with datasets, and hands on workshops and assignments on data analysis and "corpus" (i.e., repertory) studies. Class sessions alternate between discussion/lecture and labs on digital tools for studying music. A background in music theory and/or history is required, and experience in computer programming will be extremely helpful. Coursework culminates in an independent research project in quantitative or computational musicology that will be presented to the class as a whole.