Faculty Advisor: Former Associate Professor, Yale University School of Medicine; Fellow of the Royal Society of Music; Fellow of Royal Society of Medicine

Research Practicum Introduction

It is often said that music and math go together, and there is some truth in that. However, connections between music and science go even further. For instance, some doctors use music as a form of recreation, whereas some health professionals use it in their work, treating repetitive injuries, which are common among musicians, or by exploring the therapeutic potential of music for treating patients with mental health and other problems.

Students in this program will have the opportunity to develop special interests, perhaps centered around the instrument of their choice, exploring the nature and properties of sound, and/or how it impacts on human beings. Students will develop their research skills and draw on a variety of sources, both audio and written. There will also be scope for students to apply themselves both creatively and academically. 

Students will also learn general and subject-specific research and academic writing methods used in universities and scholarly publications. Students will focus on individual topics and generate their own work products upon completion of the program.

Final Deliverables

• In the final session, students will present a summary of their findings, giving a PowerPoint presentation to the group, which could include a (pre-recorded) musical performance. 

• Individual assessment at the end of the program will be based on this presentation plus a written research paper (3000 - 4000 words in length).

Possible Topics For Final Project

• How does music have a positive effect on people’s mental health?

• To what extent does playing a musical instrument help to alleviate stress? 

• How are injuries and illnesses affecting musicians commonly treated?

• The scientific properties of sound and the mechanisms that enable people to perceive and react to sound

• Music is a form of communication. To what extent is music universal as opposed to culturally and socially determined?

• Or other topics in this subject area that you are interested in, and that your professor approves after discussing it with you.

Program Detail

• Cohort Size: 3-5 students

• Duration: 12 weeks

• Workload: Around 4 hours per week (including class time and homework time)

• Target Students: 9-12th grade students interested in medicine, biology, music, and/or psychology. Musical talent is helpful, but not essential.