Kicking off AMPS’ Community Engagement activities, AMPS members Xanthe Lowe Brown and Dianna Vidas visited St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School to run an interactive workshop with the Year 10 music class.
The session introduced students to the field of music psychology -what it is, how it combines science and art, and the exciting pathways it can open for future study and careers. Xanthe and Dianna led students through the concept of “sonic seasoning”- the fascinating idea that music can actually influence how we perceive the taste and enjoyment of food and drink.
Students were encouraged to think like researchers as they developed their own hypotheses and took part in a hands-on experiment exploring how different types of music could alter the flavour of orange juice.
This workshop reflects AMPS’ broader community engagement mission: to bring music psychology beyond the lab and into classrooms, communities, and everyday life – showcasing how music shapes our emotions, perceptions, and wellbeing.
You can find out more about our community engagement here
