Comments on: Hard-Wired Songs

By: Connie Armstrong

Connie Armstrong — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:47:10 +0000

Paul Gorbel makes an interesting statement, although extremely biased. It’s obvious that he enjoys using extraneaous words that are meltisyllabic as well as controversial. Perhaps if he were to try NOT using his brain as much as he does, and tries some interpersonnal skills that encourage use of his SOUL, he might understand the part of the brain that is used in these spiritual settings and experiences.

By: Just Six Songs | Music, Education, and Technology

Just Six Songs | Music, Education, and Technology — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:27:39 +0000

[...] including some interesting studies on the body’s chemical reaction to music, listen to this ON POINT interview on NPR online. In it, Daniel Levitin shares findings about music and the brain. | Email This [...]

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:31:28 +0000

To Susan – this show includes clips of lots of songs, and I think there are legal issues with providing a downloadable podcast.

You can of course listen to it online, as I’m doing right now!

By: Susan Todd

Susan Todd — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:09:50 +0000

I heard only part of this show on the radio, but it sounded really interesting. I’ve been trying to find a downloadable podcast so I can listen in the car. The others are on iTunes, but this episode isn’t. Any suggestions?

By: Bill Ramsay

Bill Ramsay — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:54:05 +0000

I am intrigued with this as a subject matter alone. I too have often been moved to tears and emotions so euphoric I genuinely feel deep empathy for those who don’t also experience music on such a profound level.

I’ve been an avid runner for years and have recently begun to incorporate an IPOD into the runs. This has greatly enhanced an intergrated body mind experienced that races my pulse while the hairs of my arm literally stand on end.

By: Rebekah Fraser

Rebekah Fraser — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:42:06 +0000

Thank you for this great show! Music and singing have always been integral in my family. My daughter and I often improvise song and dance to fill random moments with fun and joy. I have also witnessed the power of music to heal tensions in my extended family.

In March 2008, I had a vision of people in all parts of the world singing for peace on the summer solstice, thus shifting the global focus to peace on the [symbolic] “longest” day of the year. With this vision, I founded Solstice Sing for Peace, an all-inclusive grassroots movement empowering local organizations and individuals to work together to create 24-hours of singing for peace in 24 time zones on the June Solstice.
This June, people participated on 5 continents. I’m now planning Solstice Sing for Peace 2009, and could use help. I also invite anyone reading this to participate!
http://www.solsticesingforpeace.com

By: hmw

hmw — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:44:29 +0000

I so enjoyed this discussion. I read Oliver Sacks’ Musicophilia earlier this year and look forward to reading this book for additional insight, as well as complementary information.

I grew up in a very musical household, learned several instruments, heard classical music on a daily basis, yet the music that I love is music that affects me viscerally, and can be from any genre. And at this point my preferred musical expression is through dance, which of course has to be to a piece of music I enjoy. It is certainly a more physical experience for me than purely auditory.

I look forward to reading the book and what he has to say on this subject.

By: paul gorbel

paul gorbel — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:02:35 +0000

A fascinating show… I work in Renaissance a cappella sacred music, and I have found that, by the use of the Pythagorean scale, in an appropriate acoustical setting, religious experiences, defined as such by those experiencing them, can be produced at will. To be absolutely clear on this point: turned on and off, as if by a switch. This obviously touches in many ways upon the ideas of Pinker, Chomsky and Jung, but I have always wondered which brain centers were likely to be involved in such a multifarious mixture of the auditory, linguistic, so-called transpersonal, and social brain functions, many others [such as motor, visual, etc.]. Would anyone have any comment upon this?

By: k.a.m.

k.a.m. — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:55:54 +0000

I am enjoying this discussion very much. I am also blogging about this book as I listen. It is very note worthy(no pun intended). I was wondering if Daniel Levitin thinks it’s possible to Levitate to music? Or if it’s possible to raise your consciousness to a higher level by listening or producing music and hitting that high note?

It ain’t over till the fat lady sings kinda deal.

By: Sean Clarke

Sean Clarke — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:51:55 +0000

For reasons unguessable, music has played a tremendously important role in my life since childhood. It’s not food, sex, sleep, oxygen… yet seems necessary to live anyway. Why?
There’s a subculture of us who become so immersed in the music of certain musicians that we seek out the alternate versions… demos, outtakes, live versions, etc… because we can’t get enough of the artists we love from the “official” catalogues. Hearing Beatles outtakes for the first time as a teenager was tremendously moving.
Likewise, I didn’t really “feel” the effects of September 11th until I watched a church ceremony broadcast from New York a day or two later… the second the bagpipes started playing, emotions came through in a flood unexpectedly.
Pax,
Sean