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26 jun 2012

Response to "The Music Instinct: Science and Song"

Documentary on the effects of music on the mind and body

What an amazing documentary from the amazing Dr. Daniel Levitin, who has received high esteem for his book, This Is Your Brain on Music. The documentary features legendary musician Bobby McFerrin and a cocktail of neuroscientists who all articulate the real mental, emotional and even physical reactions our body and mind have to music.

I showed this documentary to my middle school music students who before were convinced that the only relevance music had to them was passive consumption through listening. After we watched the documentary, students were amazed at how different parts of the body, even on microscopic levels behaved in manners similarly to how some musical instruments function. They had their eyes opened very widely and can now see that music is a part of them, whether consciously or subconsciously. Understanding this now, the students were very invested in the idea of developing as young musicians and not being content to being merely tolerant of music, but taking an active role in its development, creation and dissemination in their school and community.


 

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