The interpretation of music styles among music students in Bangkok

Abstract

Human behavior can be influenced by the media through observational learning. Visual and verbal communication act as stimuli that can have a strong impact on the learning process. However, music can be considered a third form of communication, and thus, this research, “The Interpretation of Music Style among Music Students in Bangkok”, has two research objectives: 1) to identify how music tracks can influence music students’ mental imaging and 2) to study how specific behaviors in decision making and mental images are influenced by music students’ perceptions about musical styles, experiences and knowledge.

This study employed two qualitative research methodologies: experimental research and in-depth interviews. In the experimental research, 21 music students studying in Bangkok were separated into three groups based on their interests, or preference, in musical styles (classical=7, jazz=7, rock=7). To begin, they were asked to listen to a music track that was consistent with their interests and then describe in writing the images the work created in their minds. Then, they were asked to do the same with a music track that was not consistent with their interests. After that, indepth interviews were conducted with each of the music students. The data collected was then discussed with three experts in the study of music and communication.

The research found that music students all experienced mental images while they listened to the music tracks, while members of each group focused on different music elements. Musical elements were signifiers that could influence music students’ thoughts of their own experiences, what they have seen in various media and their understandings in music fundamentals. According to Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, these mental images can influence student behavior. In this research, each music student showed different behavior in decision making based on the musical elements they chose to focus on while listening to the music tracks. Due to the relationship between musical elements and styles they had interested in, each group of music students displayed specific behaviors in decision making as well. Thus, the research result can be applied in marketing and advertising, music therapy, music teaching and further research in related fields.