The Musical Mind

What are the mental processes involved in listening to, performing, and composing music? What is involved in "understanding" a piece of music? How are such skills acquired? Questions such as these form the basis of the cognitive psychology of music. The author addresses these questions by surveying the growing experimental literature on the subject. The author does not simply review existing research, but takes a critical look at what has been achieved in the subject, introducing such topics as composition and musical skill in non-literate cultures. He draws freely on his own knowledge and experience as a practicing musician as well as a psychologist to provide an overview that is scholarly and also accessible to the general reader. -- From publisher's description.