The Musical Investigator

Music is everywhere around us. It can be heard on the street, in shops, and in gyms. We turn it on to tune out the outside world—or, just as often, to connect with others. Together with a group of MBO and HBO students, Dr. Rebecca Schaefer explores the role of music in society in a distinctive way: by making the students the researchers.

Within the theme of music in society, students and researchers enter into dialogue to formulate research questions together and collaboratively gather the data needed to answer them. This approach gives students a behind-the-scenes look at how scientific research works and helps them develop scientific literacy. At the same time, researchers gain valuable insight into students’ lived experiences, interests, and unique perspectives on everyday practice.

The project is organized along two parallel tracks, each guided by its own research question—one focused on public life and the other on private life. In a special collaboration with the music and science festival SNAAR, both research tracks will be presented through interactive forms of science communication. By bringing together scientists, citizen scientists, and performing artists, the project shares its findings in an engaging and accessible way.

The project runs from November 2025 through November 2026, culminating in presentations at the SNAAR Festival on April 25, 2026, at TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht, as well as during the Leiden Night of Discoveries.

The Musical Investigator is made possible through funding from the NWA Science Communication program.
 

Partners

Leren met de Stad

Leren met de Stad (‘Learning with the city’) is an educational programme in Leiden in which university (WO), vocational (MBO), and university of applied sciences (HBO) students, teachers, residents, and community partners collaborate on current issues facing the city.

Stichting Resonance

The Resonance Foundation organizes cultural activities at the intersection of music and science, with the aim of making the connection between these domains more visible.