MUSGEN 3011 - Music, Health and Wellbeing

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2025

This course provides an overview of the range of benefits that music can offer to the community. Students will gain an understanding of how music programmes in hospitals, nursing homes and schools utilise the unique qualities of music to improve quality of life and general wellbeing for all age groups, from premature babies to the elderly. Recent advances in neuroscience continue to expand our understanding of how music affects the human brain and body. Students will become familiar with ongoing research projects focused on the use of music to alleviate symptoms associated with behavioural disabilities and brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Other topics covered include: music and healthy ageing; music and language development; music and memory; music and early childhood development; music and autism; music and emotional wellbeing and music in the hospital setting. In addition to its health benefits, music also has a valuable role to play in creating community cohesion. The course examines the impact of various participatory music programmes that aim to benefit children from low socio-economic areas; young offenders and prison inmates, and refugee populations.

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Course Details

Course Code	MUSGEN 3011
Course	Music, Health and Wellbeing
Coordinating Unit	Elder Conservatorium of Music
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Assessment	Annotated bibliography 30%, Essay 40%, Oral presentation 30%

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Emily Dollman

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Students will gain an overview of the benefits of music for the community.

2. Students will become familiar with specific ongoing research into the impact of music on the brain.

3. Students will develop an awareness of the ethical and logistical considerations of introducing music into a health care environment.

4. Students will actively participate in discussions regarding the place of music in society.

5. Students will increase their analytical skills by selecting and reviewing relevant research articles.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	3, 4, 5,
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	4, 5
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	3, 4, 5
Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.	4
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	4, 5
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	3, 4, 5

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Parncutt, R. and McPherson, G. (eds.)'Science and Psychology of Music Performance: Creative Strategies for Learning and Teaching', Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Available online at Elder Music Library.

Deutsch, D. (ed) 'Psychology of Music', 3rd Edition, Amsterdam: Academic Press, 2013. Available online at Elder Music Library.

Hallam, S. I. Cross and M. Thaut (eds.) 'Oxford Handbook of Music Psychology', Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.

Hallam, S. 'The Power of Music: Its impact on the intellectual, social and personal development of chidlren and young people.' International Journal of Music Education, Vol. 28 (3), pp. 269-289

McPherson, G., J. Davidson, R. Faulkner, 'Music in our Lives: Rethinking Musical Ability, Development and Identity'. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012.

Recommended Resources

In addition to the required resources for this course, extra resources and links will be posted online at the MyUni Canvas site.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Teaching occurs in weekly Lectures and weekly small group discovery sessions. The lectures will be offered in both face to face and recorded formats.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Weekly Lecture: 2 hours a week (24 hours)
Weekly Small Group Discovery: 1 hour per week (10 hours)
Reading: 6 hrs per week
Research: 2 hours per week
26 hours assignment preparation

TOTAL: 156 hours

Learning Activities Summary

Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Music and the Brain
Week 3: Music in health settings
Week 4: Music therapy
Week 5: Music and wellbeing in education
Week 6: Music and psychology
Week 7: Music and psychology
Week 8: Health for musicians
Week 9: Discussion of case studies
Week 10: "
Week 11: "
Week 12: Overview and future connections

Specific Course Requirements

N/A

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

1. Evidence based project proposal: 30%
2. Oral presentation: 30%
3. Written reflection Assignment: 40%

Assessment Related Requirements

Delivery of oral presentations during class time.
Written work to be submitted on MyUni using Turnitin.

Assessment Detail

Written reflection: 40%, 3000 Words. Discuss the role of music in developing health and wellbeing in reponse to a case study, details discussed in class

Oral Presentation: 30%: give a 10 minute class presentation on the mock project proposal

Evidence based project proposal: 30%: Design a project that uses music for a health intervention, supported by evidence based sources

Submission

Oral presentation: to be delivered during class time.

Annotated Bibliography and Essay: to be submitted online on MyUni using Turnitin by the deadline.

All assignments to be delivered on the scheduled duedate, as indicated on MyUni, with any extensions requested before the due date. Marks will be deducted for overdue assignments in line with the Faculty protocol.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator