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The APEA Model of Appreciation
The APEA scale is a dimensional model that aims to provide an objective and reliable method of measurement for the appreciation of music. However, a modified version of the scale can also be applied to other forms of art. The term APEA is an acronym for the four factors believed to be involved in an individual’s appreciation of music: Appreciative, Philosophical, Emotive and Autobiographical. The interpretation and enjoyment of music varies widely within a single culture, let alone a cross-cultural examination, and the reasons for musical preference are equally diverse (North & Hargreaves, 1999; North & Hargreaves, 2008). The APEA scale was originally developed as means to assess the specific qualities listeners sought out in their preferred genres and proposes to accurately predict an individuals preferred genre of music, based on the importance of the four factors of the scale to the individual.

1. Elements of the Scale
1.1 Appreciative- The appreciative dimension of the scale is set to examine the properties of the music piece itself, and includes the following three subscales: lyricism, musicianship, and composition.

Musicianship: The technical skill and abilities of an artist or group may be more important to a listener than the actual content or meaning of the song(Ali & Peynircioglu, 2006). Subjects are asked to rate the importance of technical ability to their overall enjoyment of the song.

Lyrical Depth: Research has recently explored the relationship between song lyrics and self identity (Batcho, DaRin, Nave, & Yaworsk, 2008). Lyrics may also serve other important functions to the listener (North & Hargreaves, 1999). To evaluate the importance of lyrics, listeners are asked questions regarding the importance of lyrics (the words, not the vocals) to their overall enjoyment of the song.

Composition: A well-composed song that requires only modest technical ability supplemented with superficial lyrics may still garner more praise and popularity than a technically challenging piece paired with meaningful lyrics (Ali & Peynircioglu, 2006). To assess this, subjects are asked to rate the importance of composition in relation to lyrical depth and musicianship.

1.2 Philosophical- While many songs of today do not broach controversial topics or address critical issues, there are those that do, and there are listeners who value these songs more because of it. The philosophical factor evaluates how important it is to the listener that the song carries a deeper meaning or message.

1.3 Emotive- A large body of research is dedicated to the relationship between music and emotion. Listeners commonly choose music that either fits or enhances their mood, or choose music in order to enter a specific mood state (Ali & Peynircioglu, 2006). The Emotive scale is further broken down into 2 components: Active versus Passive, and Positive versus Negative.

The following are proposed results based on combinations of the axis of the emotive scale:

Active and Positive: Songs considered to be active and positive convey feelings of exhilaration and associated emotions.

Passive and Positive: Songs considered to be passive and positive convey feelings of relaxation and tranquility.

Active and Negative: Songs that evoke both active and negative emotion may result in feelings of aggression or associated emotions.

Passive and Negative: Songs that score on the passive and negative axis are likely to convey feelings like melancholy.

1.4 Autobiographical- Research by Cady, Harris, & Knappenberger (2008) examined the link between music and it’s role in cueing autobiographical memory. The autobiographical factor encompasses the range of ways that life narratives (whether of the artist’s own life, stories told in their music, or the past experiences of the listener) play a role in the appreciation of music (CITE TROY).

2. Interpretation and Applications
Subjects are presented with an APEA Scale questionnaire, specific to a genre they were previously screened for, and having identified themselves as an insider of that genre (Insiders are defined as persons who consume, take great enjoyment from, identify with and identify themselves as a ‘fan’ of a particular genre of music). The subject then rates that genre according to the four factors and the respective sub-scales of the APEA scale. From this, researchers are able to develop a construct of which factors are important to the appreciation of the genre, and in turn what elements the subjects look for in their music. It is important to note that subjects are encouraged to think of songs typical and representative of the genre.

Music is a pervasive force that is present many facets of our day to day lives, and as such, plays a significant role on our behaviour, cognitions, and social interactions. There is a current lack of understanding of the ways in which humans appreciate art, and in what way; is it an aspect of the stimulus itself, or an aspect of the listener that draws us to it. The APEA model proposes a method of assessing how music affects an individual, and how the individual responds to the music. Future applications of the APEA model include, but are not limited to uses in the music industry as a review process.

3. References
1. Ali, S. O., Peynircioglu, Z. F. (2006). Songs and emotions: are lyrics and melodies equal partners? Psychology of Music. V.34(4): 511-534.

2. Batcho, I. K., DaRin, M. L., Nave, A. M., Yaowrsky, R. R. (2008). Nostalgia and Identity in Song Lyrics. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. V.2(4): 236-244.

3. Cady, E. T., Harris, R. J., Knappenberger, J. B. (2008). Using music to cue autobiographical memories of different lifetime periods. Psychology of Music. V.36(2): 157-178.

4. North, A. C. & Hargreaves, D. J. (1999). The Functions of Music in Everyday Life: Redefining the Social in Music Psychology. Psychology of Music, V.27, P.71-83.

5. North, A. C. & Hargreaves, D. J. (2008): The Social and Applied Psychology of Music. Oxford University Press ISBN 0198567421

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