McAdams, Stephen
ACTOR CENTRAL | People
McAdams, Stephen
Academic title(s):
Ph.D., D.Sc.
Canada Research Chair in Music Perception and Cognition
Professor, Schulich School of Music, McGill University
Director, ACTOR Project (Analysis, Creation, and Teaching of ORchestration)
Research Interests
Sound source perception, categorization, recognition and identification
Perceptual representation and processing of musical timbre
Perceptual organization of the acoustic environment (auditory scene analysis)
Perception and cognition of musical materials and forms
Perceptual foundations of orchestration practice
Cognitive and affective dynamics of music listening
Intercultural studies of music perception
Prof. McAdams is interested in auditory perception and cognition in everyday and musical listening. The primary emphasis of the research is on psychophysical techniques capable of quantifying relations between the properties of vibrating objects, acoustic signals or complex messages and their perceptual results. A long-term goal is to provide empirical data that will allow the integration of lower- and higher-level auditory processes. Current work is focused on developing a perceptually grounded theory of orchestration practice.
Education
Habilitation à diriger des recherches (D.Sc.), Cognitive Psychology, Université Paris Descartes, June 1996
Ph.D., Hearing and Speech Sciences, Stanford University, June 1984
B.Sc. (First-class honours), Experimental Psychology, McGill University, June 1977
Professional distinctions
Killam Research Fellow, Killam Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, 08/2016-07/2018
Schulich School of Music Outstanding Teaching Award, McGilll University, 05/2015
William Poland Lecture in Music Theory, School of Music, Ohio State University, 11/2014
Resident Faculty Fellow, Institute for the Public Life of Arts and Ideas, McGill University, 09/2012-08/2014
Foreign Medal, Société Française d'Acoustique, 2009
Distinguished Lectures "Bilan et tendences des musicologies" (4 lectures), Faculté de Musique, Université de Montréal, 01-02/2009
Chaire Alphonse Dupront, Visiting Professor in Musicology, Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV), 05/2008
Canada Research Chair in Music Perception and Cognition, McGill University, 2004-present
Fellow, Acoustical Society of America, 1999
Philips Prize, Société Française d'Acoustique, 1992
Bronze medal, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France), 1991
Work experience
Professor, Department of Music Research, Schulich School of Music, McGill University, 10/2004–present.
Director, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology, Schulich School of Music, McGill University, 11/2004–07/2009.
Senior Research Scientist, CNRS, Laboratoire de Psychologie Expérimentale, Université Paris V, 10/97 - 919/99 ; IRCAM, 10/1999–09/2004 ; on leave at McGill University, 10/2004-present.
Team head "Auditory Perception ", Laboratoire de Psychologie Expérimentale (CNRS URA 316), Université Paris V, 11/1994-09/1999.
Research Scientist, CNRS, Laboratoire de Psychologie Expérimentale , Université Paris V, 10/1989-09/1997.
Team head "Music Perception and Cognition", IRCAM-Centre Pompidou, 01/1986-03/2003.
Senior Research Scientist, IRCAM-Centre Pompidou, 01/1986-09/1989.
Project head "Perceptual and Cognitive Processes ", IRCAM-Centre Pompidou, 09/1984-12/1985.
Research Scientist, IRCAM-Centre Pompidou, 06/1981-12/1985.
Publications and Research
Contact and Website
stephen.mcadams[at]mcgill.ca
McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
