Investigates the enigma: 'What's the flavor of your preferred melody?' (UCLA lab)
UCLA's PEER Lab Explores the Sensory Aspects of Music
The UCLA Practice-based Experimental Epistemology Research Lab (PEER Lab), located at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, is delving into new territories by exploring the multisensory aspects of music. The lab, led by musicologist and vocalist Nina Eidsheim, is collaborating with researchers from Carleton University in Canada, Ahmedabad University in India, and various UCLA and other university researchers to push the boundaries of music research.
Eidsheim believes that experiencing music is not just about hearing it, but about music vibrating in and through us. This perspective forms the core of the PEER Lab's research, which aims to understand and capture the sense of being filled by music.
The PEER Lab's projects often focus on the practical application of research, particularly in education, and they have previously explored interventions to improve the use of research evidence among turnaround school leaders and cross-state research-practice partnerships. However, their latest research takes a different turn, focusing on music as an event rather than an object.
The PEER Lab's upcoming events, which are free and open to the public, aim to provide audiences with a multisensory experience of music. The first event, scheduled for April 29, is part of a series of events that will be held on the final Thursday of the month throughout the spring. The series will include two Soundtrack to Creativity events on April 29th and May 27th, as well as a workshop on multisensory writing about music led by Nina Eidsheim on June 24th.
Authors and activists such as Shana Redmond and Daphne Brooks will share what music has informed their forthcoming books at the events. The PEER Lab's research projects include "Sensing home," "Music beyond metaphor," and "Practice-based research in context and action."
Eileen Strempel, dean of the UCLA School of Music, believes that the lab's pioneering approach could serve as a national model. The PEER Lab was opened in the summer of 2020 and is funded by the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, the UCLA College's Division of Humanities, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.
The PEER Lab is also working to correct the lack of multisensory experience in music theory and language. By exploring the sensory aspects of music, the lab hopes to contribute to a better understanding of how a culture recreates their idea of what is human through music.
[1] For more information on the PEER Lab's broader research interests and previous projects, please refer to the studies on interventions to improve the conceptual use of research evidence among turnaround school leaders and cross-state research-practice partnerships to promote consistent education technology practices informed by research evidence. These studies can be found in various academic journals and publications.
- The PEER Lab's upcoming events, such as the "Soundtrack to Creativity" series and the multisensory writing workshop, promise to blend music with other sensory experiences, extending their research beyond traditional music theory and language, thus aligning with their focus on 'lifestyle' that encompasses a holistic approach to understanding music.
- Aside from their recent foray into the multisensory aspects of music, the PEER Lab's research portfolio also includes projects like "Sensing home," "Music beyond metaphor," and "Practice-based research in context and action," demonstrating their exploration of various facets of music, including its role in fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden settings.
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