3rd) Musicology

Musicology

The term “musicology” can be divided into two categories: historical musicology and systematic musicology. As Henkjan Honing (2008) has pointed, “historical musicology is concerned with the history of music, arranged by epochs, peoples, empires, countries, provinces, towns, schools, and individual artists using historiographic methods. Systematic musicology is concerned with the investigation of the chief laws applicable to the various branches of music, aesthetics, the psychology of music, music education, and the comparative study in ethnography and folklore.” According to the quoted statement above, it appears that a link between musicology and research can be easily drawn. The areas of musicology are based in theory research, history contexts research, and musical analysis, (Tim Crawford and Lorna Gibson, 2009) hence guaranteeing a role for ICT as a promising research tool.

Database is one of the applications that can be very helpful for musicology students in their research. As Mark Grabe (2004) stated, “database applications are designed to assist the user in storing, organizing, and retrieving large amounts of information.”  Musicology students are able to sort the database based on their research after completing a new chapter or subject. On top of that, the internet provides a rich source of information for students working on their researches. In comparison to the more conservative method of information retrieving, i.e. paperbacks and textbooks, students these days are able to access first-hand information from the net hassle-free. All that is required is a laptop and internet access. Musicology students can search for different journals, scholar articles, and other information by using different kinds of search engines. 

Wiki, blogger, flikr, and wordpress are places that allow musicology students share perspectives and a portal to exchange ideas. Students have the options to express their online contents publicly or to keep them private. By blogging, students are able to write their reviews based on the information they have found, attached relevant pictures and even share the music they analysed. Students are also able to design their blog, which will promote creativity, and provide critical/constructive feedback on their peer’s posts. 

References:

1.       Honing H. (2008), the role of ICT in music research: a bridge too far. http://emcap.iua.upf.edu/showEmcap/publications/Honing-2007b.pdf

2.       Crawford T. and Gibson L. (2009), Modern Methods for Musicology: Prospects, Proposals and Realities. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=uani7DPZn24C&printsec=frontcover&dq=ICT+and+musicology&source=bl&ots=5g0k6S_24M&sig=kr7_6o8B3cKKt6fBZtMaQPX1Pa0&hl=en&ei=piegTfL7N8yHcZzC5PkB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&sqi=2&ved=0CFAQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=ICT%20and%20musicology&f=false

3.       Grabe M. (2004), Integrating technology for meaningful learning, Houghton Mifflin Company, USA. Pg. 80 - 124