Perceived emotions in music : if musical experience effects perception of emotion in music

We know little about the mechanics behind emotions perceived in music because of the subjective nature of emotional experience. This makes it difficult to measure responses and make comparisons across individuals, since we have a factor that we can’t fully control: the individual’s perception and earlier experiences. But how big is the effect of earlier experiences in perception of music? In this essay the focus is on musical experience and whether musical experience makes a difference in how we perceive emotions in music. Listening tests were done by three groups of subjects with differing experience of music to see if there was any detectable difference. The groups where audio engineers, musicians and people with very little experience in music. The results from the listening test showed indications of that the musicians perceive more emotions in the music. Any reasons for and against these signs are discussed.Validerat; 20101217 (root