Music and the Jungian psyche
- Course Code: MD601
- Dates: 02/05/25 - 06/06/25
- Time: 13:15 - 15:15
- Taught: Fri, Daytime
- Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Nadia Perez
Course Code: MD601
Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
What happens when we listen to music? What happens when we listen to music with others?
On this course we will survey Jungian concepts with the aim of developing a symbolic attitude towards mindfully listening to music. We aim to allow for a connection to the unconscious process and to be being transformed by what we listen to.
There will be a mixture of Jungian theory and listening exercises that include exploring Musicking as an act of active imagination, active listening, exploring the dissonance and deaf spots, the relationship between sound and image and music and the collective.
These concepts are explained by this reading list:
- Joel Kroeker, When the psyche sings also:
- Rollo May, The Courage to Create
- David Byrne, How Music Works.
We may also encounter some philosophical theories about despair and creative sublimation, Freud, Theodor Adorno and Kiekegaard.
Music examples will be a mixture of world music, classical, theatre, jazz.
What will we cover?
- 1st session An introduction to theory and selected concepts: such as individuation and the collective unconscious, introduction to listening exercises (how to listen actively) and establishing the group constellation.
- 2nd session Exploring the shadow and transferential relationship in Music - Ritual and Spiritual music as connection, community and gateway to the collective unconscious - understanding self and others through their musical expression.
Psychological states and alchemical transformation. Rhythm, cadence and episodes.
- 3rd session Archetypal music - The Hero’s Journey and mythology in music, recurrent thematic elements which appear in music, looking at the time, place, political and sociological place it emerges from. - 4th session - Animus and anima exploring the Feminine and Masculine in sound in music.
- 5th session Music as performance - exploring space and environment for performance, the function of the audience, intimacy or festivals how this impacts the way we listen and feel music. Role of the Persona and narcissism in performance.
- 6th session Endings and transcendence in Music - concept of genius, muses and other worldly experiences.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- discuss several Jungian concepts with confidence
- development of a more symbolic attitude
- reflect on your own listening experiences both on your own and in a group
- widen your listening experience
- be inspired to read further into the suggested reading list.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is an in-depth topic: it assumes a broad familiarity in listening to several genres of music and an appetite for reading philosophical and analytical works. There may be a focus on lecture style classes and specialist musical terminology, as well as homework tasks and /or reading lists for future reference.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Sessions comprise combinations of lecture, discussion, quizzes, guided listening, and video. Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via google classroom.
You will be encouraged to do extra reading outside class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online after each session.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
To find out more about music history classes Music history courses in London and online which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.