Music has consistently been documented as a manner to bring people together across cultures throughout the world. In this research, we propose that people use similar musical tastes as a strong sign of potential social connection. To investigate this notion, we draw on literature examining how music merges the public/private self, the link to personality, and group identity, as well as how it is linked to romantic relationships. Thus, music can be a tool when wanting to get to know someone else and/or forge a platonic relationship. To test this hypothesis, we designed an experiment comparing music relative to another commonality (sharing a sports team in common) to see which factor is stronger in triggering an online social connection. We argue that people believe they have more in common with someone who shares similar music taste compared to other commonalities. We discuss implications for marketers on music streaming platforms.

The purpose of this creative project was to create a stereo sound system in a unique medium. As a team, we decided to integrate a Tesla Coil with a bluetooth audio source. These high frequency, high voltage systems can be configured to emit their electrical discharge in a manner that resembles playing tunes. Originally the idea was to split the audio into left and right, then to further segregate the signals to have a treble, mid, and base emitter for each side. Due to time, budget, and scope constraints, we decided to complete the project with only two coils.<br/><br/>For this project, the team decided to use a solid-state coil kit. This kit was purchased from OneTelsa and would help ensure everyone’s safety and the project’s success. The team developed our own interrupting or driving circuit through reverse-engineering the interrupter provided by oneTesla and discussing with other engineers. The custom interpreter was controlled by the PSoC5 LP and communicated with an audio source through the DFRobot Bluetooth module. Utilizing the left and right audio signals it can drive the two Tesla Coils in stereo to play the music.

Political Notes is a podcast that explores the history of music and musicians over the past several decades and their influence on the political spectrum. Using the case studies of The Chicks and Taylor Swift, Political Notes displays the integration of politics in music and its acceptance by the public, giving musicians the power to change the opinions of their listeners. Political Notes exposes a politician's worst nightmare, as we can expect to see a future where musicians collaborate with politicians to help certain individuals get elected and others to be left behind.

One obstacle which children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) face when learning in a public-school environment is the lack of feeling included when learning. In this study, the term inclusion refers to time that children with ASDs spend in general education settings, interacting and/or engaging with neurotypical students and teachers. Inclusion can help students with ASDs improve their social skills, as well as academic achievement, mental health, and future success (Camargo et al., 2014). Since children with ASDs often have difficulties with social interaction skills, this can prevent their successful inclusion in general education placements. Music is a type of behaviorally-based intervention, which has proven to be effective in helping students develop the skills necessary to be successfully included, and because it is a type of activity which can serve as a bit of a distraction from the social aspect of the interaction, it can help children practice social skills and interact in a comfortable way. This study examines how music is used in public school settings to help foster the skills necessary for autistic children to be involved in standard school curriculums in order to allow them to receive the full benefits from learning in a general education setting. This study was conducted by reviewing past literature on the benefits of inclusion in special education, the benefits of music for children with ASDs, and the difference in efficacy of music interventions when conducted in an inclusive setting. Interviews with special education teachers, music educators, and music therapists were also conducted to address examples of the impact of music in this research area. The study found that music is beneficial in allowing more students to be included in standard school curriculums, and data showed the trend that inclusion positively affected their social and academic development.

SYSTEMA NERVOSUM is an interdisciplinary personal narrative on design, music, and identity. The project is composed of eleven parts, each addressing the themes of interconnection, the power of the human body, internal and external misunderstanding, and fear. The goal of SYSTEMA NERVOSUM was to create a body of work that reflected the very essence of creative and interdisciplinary thinking.