Computational Musicology

Course goals

After completion of the course, the student has:

• obtained basic understanding of data collection and data management;
• obtained an overview of the field of music information retrieval;
• obtained an overview of developments in computational musicology within the context of digital humanities;
• developed a critical view on current computational research methods from a musicological and a humanities point of view;
• learnt to identify possibilities for computational methods in musicological and humanities-related research.

By accomplishing these goals you will gain realistic expectations of digital tools and be able to take an informed position in the field of digital humanities, separating the chaff from the wheat.
 

Content

This course provides an overview of current developments in computational musicology within the larger context of digital humanities and encourages students to reflect critically on the place of computational methods in contemporary musicology. A basic introduction to computing and information science as well as a basic introduction to empirical research methodologies is part of the course. The unique opportunities and challenges specific to musicological inquiry will be highlighted in dialogue with the broader field of digital humanities. Topics such as music information retrieval, digital music representations and visualizations, performance analysis, and digital editions will be discussed alongside topics from digital humanities in general.
 

Additional information

This course is an elective for students in the RMA Musicology; students from the RMA programmes Art History, Nederlandse Literatuur en Cultuur and MAPS must contact the course coordinator for permission before enrolling. Ability to read music notation and basic knowledge of music history and music theory are required. The entrance requirements for Exchange Students will be checked by International Office and the Programme coordinator. You do not have to contact the Programme coordinator by yourself.

Please note: the time slot shown here is not yet final, and may still be modified until the third Wednesday in September.

Career orientation:
Training in written presentation of research, training in computer-based research methods, understanding computers as research tools.