Music Education Special Interest Group
Research Seminar Announcement
The Qualities of Musical Rhythm: From Theory to Educational Tools
Dr. Eduardo Lopes, University of Évora, Portugal
Monday 26th October
16.30 – 17.30
Room: Elvin Hall
Further details from Lucy Green, l.green@ioe.ac.uk
All are welcome
Rhythm is usually considered one of the most, if not the most, important parameters of music - deeply rooted in our physiology and cognitive system. Research has shown that from an early age children perceptually relate to rhythmic structures, attempting to imitate them. This bond between rhythm and humans may be the result of psychological qualities that listeners infer once exposed to rhythmic structures. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that rhythm (whether musical or in its most basic shapes of synchronicity and out-of-synchronicity) is in many ways present in our everyday life, and carries wide educational potential. From being used in games and exercises that foster issues of group inclusion and interaction, the rhythmic qualities of 'salience' (perceptually accented pulses) and 'kinesis' (sense of motion) have been recently integrated in some Artificial Intelligence (AI) educational computer programs. This talk will address research issues in music theory, the psychology of music, and music education which were involved in the development of software that triggers automatic 'rhythmic sounds' as a soundtrack in a computer game for children concerning interactive story telling.
Eduardo Lopes studied drum kit and classical percussion at the Rotterdam Conservatorium (Netherlands). He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree (Summa Cum Laude) from the Berklee College of Music (USA), and a PhD in Music Theory from the University of Southampton (UK). As a drummer he has performed in several countries including Portugal, Spain, UK, France, Holland, Brazil, Japan, and the USA. He performs regularly with some the most well-known Portuguese jazz musicians, and has performed with international artists such as Mike Mainieri, Myra Melford, Phil Wilson, Kevin Robb, Dave Samuels and Bruce Saunders. His research interests are in rhythm and meter theory, performance practice, jazz studies, and music education. He currently lectures at the Music Department of the University of Évora, Portugal, where he is also Head of Department.
