MUSGEN 3011 - Music, Health and Wellbeing

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2023

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.

  • General Course Information
    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.

  • Learning Outcomes
    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
  • Assessment

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

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

    Assessment Summary



    1. Annotated bibliography: 30%
    2. Oral presentation: 30%
    3. Essay Assignment: 40%
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Delivery of oral presentations during class time. 
    Written work to be submitted on MyUni using Turnitin.
    Assessment Detail
    Essay: 40%, 3000 Words. Discuss the role of music in developing health and wellbeing

    Article Review Oral Presentation: 30%: give a 10 minute class presentation on the relevance of two selected key sources on the topic of music, health and wellbeing

    Annotated Bibliography: 30%: Give analysis of key sources on one key area of focus within the field of music, health and wellbeing.
    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
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