Unifying concert research and science outreach

Abstract

Music has the ability to captivate and engage people from all walks of life and in a wide range of situations. Music psychologists seek to understand the various psychological processes that are involved in music listening and making, including perception, cognition, motor skills, and emotion. In recent years, music psychology researchers have begun to collect data in real-life settings, such as concerts of live music. This approach offers a unique opportunity to connect with a wide variety of participants and at the same time gain insights that may not be available in laboratory settings. In this Letter to the Editor, we report on the novel format of an outreach activity called the Golden Ear Challenge that introduces a gamified component and thus unifies concert research and science communication. First organized at the University of Oldenburg in October 2022, the activity uses this format to demonstrate the approaches and methods of music psychology in an accessible and engaging way. By providing accessible and informative content, it aims to inspire people from various backgrounds to learn more about science and, in particular, the fascinating field of music psychology.