A Definition of Cognitive Musicology

I like to think of cognitive musicology as the set of all phenomena surrounding computational and mental representations of musical thought and action (a definition modeled after the Newell and Simon (1976) definition of computer science, namely that computer science is the set of phenomena surrounding computers).  The focus on representation suggests that the roots of cognitive musicology lie in cognitive science.  The thought and action tag is a reminder that the field also has historical ties to the psychology of music.

Newell, A., & Simon, H.  (1976).  Computer Science as Empirical Inquiry:  Symbols and Search.  Communications of the ACM, 19, 113-126.