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Hans T. Zeiner-Henriksen, Alexander Refsum Jensenius, Kristian Nymoen, Mari Romarheim Haugen, David Buverud, Ruby Topping, and Victor Gonzalez

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is open to everyone. No technical knowledge of music or dance is required. You can use the hashtag #FLmusicmoves to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Read more

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is open to everyone. No technical knowledge of music or dance is required. You can use the hashtag #FLmusicmoves to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

  • A historical overview
  • Perception and cognition of music
  • Functional action-sound categories
  • Multimodality
  • Pulse and Entrainment
  • Groove
  • Gestures and Coarticulation
  • Bodily Metaphors
  • Motion Capture
  • Video Analysis
  • Bio Sensors

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Reviews summary

Exploring music's connection to movement

According to learners, this course offers a fascinating and accessible exploration of the intricate relationship between music and bodily movement. Many found the content insightful and engaging, particularly appreciating how it connects diverse fields like psychology, history, and technology. It's described as an excellent introduction for those with no prior background in either music or dance, making complex ideas understandable. While the course provides a broad overview and covers various facets of the topic, some reviewers felt it could benefit from more depth on specific technical or theoretical aspects, especially for learners seeking advanced knowledge. Overall, students report a positive experience, gaining a new perspective on everyday phenomena.
Overall good production value noted.
"The video lectures were well-produced and easy to watch."
"I thought the quality of the instructional videos was quite high."
"Good visuals and audio made the learning experience pleasant."
Explores history, psychology, technology.
"Loved how the course integrated historical perspectives with modern scientific understanding and technology like motion capture."
"The interdisciplinary approach, connecting music perception to psychology and bodily response, was a highlight."
"It was interesting to learn about the different ways researchers study music and movement, from history to bio-sensors."
"Gave me a much broader understanding of the field than I expected, covering everything from 'groove' to 'entrainment'."
Material is captivating and thought-provoking.
"The topics covered were absolutely fascinating! I never thought about music and movement this way before."
"Each week presented new insights that genuinely surprised and delighted me."
"The content was highly engaging, mixing theory with real-world examples and interesting demonstrations."
"I found myself constantly thinking about the course concepts long after the videos ended."
No prior knowledge needed, easy to follow.
"I had no background in music or dance, but this course was incredibly easy to understand and follow along with."
"Perfect for anyone curious about the topic, regardless of their technical background. The explanations are clear."
"Made complex concepts simple and engaging. I never felt lost, even as a complete novice."
"Great starting point if you're new to the science behind music and movement."
Covers many areas, but some wish for more detail.
"While the course covers a lot of ground, I felt some topics were only briefly touched upon and could have gone deeper."
"It's a great introduction, but if you're looking for advanced research or technical detail, this might be too basic."
"Good for getting a general idea, but not sufficient if you need in-depth knowledge for professional application."
"I appreciated the breadth, but sometimes wished for more specialized exploration within certain modules."

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Music Moves: Why Does Music Make You Move?. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Music Moves: Why Does Music Make You Move? will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
This textbook on the history of Western music, written by a team of leading scholars. It is written in a clear and engaging style, and it is packed with illustrations and examples.
This comprehensive and well-written history of jazz music. It is written in a clear and engaging style, and it is packed with illustrations and examples.
This textbook on the history of Western music, written by a team of leading scholars. It is written in a clear and engaging style, and it is packed with illustrations and examples.
This multi-volume history of Western music, written by a team of leading scholars. It is the most comprehensive and authoritative work on the subject, but it is also very expensive and difficult to read.
This collection of essays on a wide range of topics in music history. It is written by a team of leading scholars, and it is an invaluable resource for students of music history.
This massive anthology of Western music, containing over 1,000 pieces of music from the Middle Ages to the present day. It is an invaluable resource for students of music history, but it is also quite expensive.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of Western music, from its origins in ancient Greece to the present day. It is written in a clear and engaging style, and it is packed with illustrations and examples.
This collection of essays on a wide range of topics in music history, theory, and performance. It is written by a team of leading scholars and musicians, and it is an invaluable resource for students of music.
This classic textbook on the history of Western music. It is comprehensive and well-written, and it is still widely used in university courses. However, it is quite long and detailed, and it may be too difficult for some readers.
This comprehensive dictionary of American music, containing over 5,000 articles on all aspects of music in the United States. It is an invaluable resource for students of American music history, but it is also quite expensive.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the psychology of music, covering topics such as the perception of music, the cognitive processing of music, and the emotional response to music. It is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the psychological aspects of music.
Explores the power of music to influence our emotions, thoughts, and actions. Campbell provides a wide range of examples of how music has been used to heal, inspire, and motivate people. He also discusses the neuroscience of music and emotion, and he offers tips for using music to improve our lives.
Classic work in the field of music and emotion. Meyer argues that music language that can express emotions in a way that is unique to music. He provides a detailed analysis of the musical elements that are used to express emotions, and he offers a theory of how music can evoke emotions in listeners.
This dictionary is another comprehensive resource on all aspects of music, including music and emotion. It is an essential reference work for anyone interested in music.
This interdisciplinary book covers the fundamentals of biomechanics and their application in motion capture, providing insights into the analysis and interpretation of movement data.
This concise guide offers a practical overview of the principles and techniques of motion capture, including tips and tricks from experienced practitioners.
Explores the relationship between music and the mind, covering topics such as the perception of music, the cognitive processing of music, and the emotional response to music. Blacking argues that music powerful force that can shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Personal guide to understanding and enjoying great music. Copland provides a clear and concise overview of the different elements of music, and he offers tips for listening to music in a way that is both enjoyable and educational.
This encyclopedia provides a comprehensive overview of the field of music and emotion, covering topics such as the history of the field, the different theories of emotion, and the empirical research on the relationship between music and emotion. It is an essential read for anyone interested in this topic.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of music and emotion, covering topics such as the history of the field, the different theories of emotion, and the empirical research on the relationship between music and emotion. It is an essential read for anyone interested in this topic.

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