Who is considered the father of modern music psychology?

• A. Carl Seashore
• B. Susanne Langer
• C. Sebald
• D. Hume

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is identifying who established music psychology as an empirical field by introducing measurable approaches to how people perceive and respond to music. Carl Seashore is widely credited as the father of modern music psychology because he treated musical abilities as scientific, measurable constructs. He developed standardized tests to assess tonal and rhythmic perception and other auditory skills, creating a framework for studying music through systematic experiments and statistical analysis. This emphasis on objective measurement and experimental methods moved the study of music from philosophy and anecdote into psychology, shaping research on perception, memory, and aptitude in music for years to come. Susanne Langer is known for philosophical work on music and expression rather than empirical testing, while Sebald and Hume are associated with other domains, not the development of modern music psychology.