Bloomsbury Research Studentship

Applications are invited for a 3-year studentship to conduct MPhil/PhD research in the Department of Music, SOAS and the UCL Institute of Education, to begin in October 2016. The Studentship will cover fees and expenses, and will be to work on the following interdisciplinary, intercollegiate project.

Richard Widdess ([log in to unmask])

Learning to Compose and Improvise in an Oral Tradition: Cognitive Aspects of Indian Music

Principal Supervisor: Professor Richard Widdess (SOAS)

Co-Supervisor: Professor Susan Hallam (UCL Institute of Education)

This studentship is only open to UK/EU applicants. The closing date for applications is 17:00 UK time, Friday 4^th March 2016.

While there has been considerable psychological research on the ways that musicians learn to play and perform, almost all of this research has been conducted in a Western musical context. Meanwhile ethnomusicological research has not extensively benefited from or contributed to the insights of music psychology. This means that we do not have a comparative, culture-sensitive understanding of how musical structure and creativity are learned in different cultures and musical systems.

The high dependence on writing in Western classical music makes it an untypical case. In North Indian classical music, most teachers avoid or strictly limit the use of writing and verbal explanation, instead requiring the pupil to memorise extensive materials, and to compose and/or improvise new material that is grammatically and stylistically acceptable. The cognitive processes involved in learning to perform and create music should be particularly apparent in this context.

The successful candidate will work with teachers and students of North Indian classical music, in India and/or the UK, focussing on vocal music, and on the development of musical schemas and improvisation skills in students at different stages of learning. Applicants should have a background in  ethnomusicology, music cognition or music education.

Candidate Requirements

Candidates should have or expect to have a Master’s degree in ethnomusicology, music psychology or music education. Research training will be tailored to the candidate's needs and background, drawing on the expertise available in SOAS and the Institute of Education. Language training is available in SOAS.

Due to funding restrictions, this position is only open to candidates classified as 'Home/EU' student for fee purposes.

We aim to interview shortlisted candidates in the week beginning  Monday 4^th April 2016.  If possible, candidates will be given one week's notice for interview. Online interviews can be arranged.

For further details, go to:

http://www.bloomsbury.ac.uk/studentships/studentships-2016/learning-to-compose-and-improvise-in-an-oral-tradition-cognitive-aspects-of-indian-music

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Richard Widdess
Professor of Musicology and Research Tutor, 

Department of Music
School of Oriental and African Studies
University of London
Thornhaugh St
Russell Sq
London WC1H 0XG

http://www.soas.ac.uk/music/
https://www.facebook.com/soasmusic