Music has been examined from multiple perspectives: as a product of human history, for example, or a product of human culture.But there is also a long tradition, intensified in recent decades, of thinking about music as a product of the human mind.Whether considering composition, performance, listening, or appreciation, the constraints and capabilities of the human mind play a formative role.The field that has emerged around this approach is known as the psychology of music.Written in a lively and accessible manner, this volume connects the science to larger questions about music that are of interest to practicing musicians, music therapists, musicologists, and the general public alike.For example: Why can one musical performance move an audience to tears, and another compel them to dance, clap, or snap along?How does a "pump up" playlist motivate someone at the gym? And why is that top-40 song stuck in everyone's head?
