Für mich hast du Recht, denn ein Adverb wird benötigt, um das Verb "to perceive" zu beschreiben.

Aus Webster's online:

Sim´i`lar`ly
adv. 1. In a similar manner.
Adv. 1. similarly - in like or similar manner; "He was similarly affected"; "some people have little power to do good, and have likewise little strength to resist evil"- Samuel Johnson
Synonyms: likewise

Agree with Todd

Your teacher would be correct in the following version:

"music is perceived IN A SIMILAR WAY to noise"

because similar is being used as an adjective in this instance

KJL: Solange Du noch fragst: "Wer hat recht?" liegst Du (leider) falsch. -

Es kommt lediglich darauf an, herauszufinden, was richtig ist.

Natürlich liegt Dein Prof. richtig . . . (sozusagen 'per definitionem')