Music IA ideas: how do you choose one?
Choose an idea that fits the subject criteria and can be answered with evidence, a method, and resources you can access.
A strong Music IA experimenting with music focuses on one musical parameter and investigates how changing it affects a chosen outcome. Use a clear method, produce measurable results, and link back to a musical concept from the syllabus.
Which research questions fit Music IA?
The questions below are starting points to adapt to your own variables, evidence, and assessment task.
How does increasing tempo affect perceived energy and emotional valence in a short electronic loop?
Approach · Produce one loop at several tempi, keep instrumentation constant, evaluate listener ratings with a survey or Likert response.
How does replacing a major third with a minor third change emotional character?
Approach · Create matched melodic variants, keep rhythm and timbre constant, collect listener responses to emotional categories.
How does adding reverb or delay depth change the sense of space in a voice-plus-piano recording?
Approach · Record one take, apply systematic send levels, evaluate spatial impressions through a small listener comparison.
How does changing drum-machine swing percentage affect groove perception?
Approach · Quantise the same pattern at several swing settings, keep tempo and timbre constant, evaluate groove ratings.
How does the register of a melodic line affect its memorability after one listen?
Approach · Present matched melodies in different registers, test recall after fixed exposure, compare recognition accuracy.
How does layering texture from monophony to polyphony affect perceived complexity?
Approach · Arrange one phrase at three texture levels, keep pitch material constant, evaluate complexity and preference ratings.
How does changing from diatonic to modal chord progression affect resolution?
Approach · Produce two matched loops, collect listener ratings of resolution and surprise, discuss functional harmony vs modal colour.
How does dynamic range compression affect listener engagement in a pop vocal?
Approach · Prepare two masters with different compression settings, keep arrangement constant, evaluate engagement through paired comparison.
How does an atonal pitch set change tension and release in a short film underscore?
Approach · Compose two matched cues, keep rhythm and instrumentation constant, evaluate tension ratings across scenes.
How does repeating a rhythmic motif at different metric levels affect perceived groove?
Approach · Create loop variants with metric displacement, test with listeners or dancers, evaluate rhythmic complexity and drive.
How does the presence or absence of a bass layer affect perceived completeness?
Approach · Produce paired excerpts with and without bass, keep other layers identical, evaluate fullness and balance ratings.
How does lyric intelligibility affect listener connection and theme recognition?
Approach · Produce matched mixes, vary intelligibility systematically, evaluate theme recognition and emotional connection.
Find questions that fit your resources
Filter the Music ideas by time and equipment. This is a practical shortlist, not a judgement about the quality of a research question.
12 of 12 starting points match these time/equipment filters
- 01How does increasing tempo affect perceived energy and emotional valence in a short electronic loop?
- 02How does replacing a major third with a minor third change emotional character?
- 03How does adding reverb or delay depth change the sense of space in a voice-plus-piano recording?
- 04How does changing drum-machine swing percentage affect groove perception?
- 05How does the register of a melodic line affect its memorability after one listen?
- 06How does layering texture from monophony to polyphony affect perceived complexity?
- 07How does changing from diatonic to modal chord progression affect resolution?
- 08How does dynamic range compression affect listener engagement in a pop vocal?
- 09How does an atonal pitch set change tension and release in a short film underscore?
- 10How does repeating a rhythmic motif at different metric levels affect perceived groove?
- 11How does the presence or absence of a bass layer affect perceived completeness?
- 12How does lyric intelligibility affect listener connection and theme recognition?
Items with unspecified equipment or time remain visible. Check safety, ethics, available evidence and the current assessment guide before choosing.
Research question feasibility test →Sources & verification
Primary-source references used to verify key assessment facts on this page. Last source check: September 22, 2026.
These Music ideas are original iBacalao starting points, not official IB research questions. Check the current Music subject guide, your assessment session and your school's safety/ethics rules before committing to a question.
- IB: Diploma Programme assessment and examsOfficial overview of criterion-related assessment and internal assessment in the Diploma Programme.
- IB: current curriculum updatesOfficial hub for current and upcoming subject/assessment changes and subject briefs.
Picked a question? Check your draft before you submit.
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