MAKING MUSIC WITH BRAINWAVES: BRIDGING SYSTEMATIC MUSICOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE WITH BRAIN-COMPTER MUSIC INTERFACE RESEARCH

Abstract

This article explores the integration of systematic musicology and neuroscience through Brain–Computer Music Interfaces (BCMI), highlighting its potential to reshape how musical interaction is understood and practiced. Building on traditions from Helmholtz and Adler to contemporary neuromusicology, the study situates EEG-based research within a “third wave” of music–brain studies that emphasizes ecological validity, expressive intent, and inter-brain synchrony. At Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (JVLMA), EEG studies of expressive piano performance and hyperscanning during musical interaction provide novel insights into intra- and inter-brain dynamics. These findings are applied to the design of BCMI systems that function as genuine musical instruments rather than laboratory artifacts, enabling musicians to shape sound and visual environments through neural states in real time. Artistic applications, including orchestral works and electronic performance systems, demonstrate the feasibility of BCMI as both a scientific tool and an artistic medium. Beyond technical innovation, the research underscores institutional benefits: developing in-house EEG capacity strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration, attracts international partnerships, and positions music institutions at the forefront of an expanding field. The article argues that BCMI represents not only a frontier for science and art, but also a model for institutional growth and interdisciplinary research in music and neuroscience.