Yea... I don't get this really, I'm open to any opinions about why music effects how we feel/think. Feel free to use science or whatever else you choose to explain things.

Just the way our brain interprets sound, is my guess. Although, i'm sure how you arrange tones, and rythmic patterns is what makes it extrodinary.

IMO it does effect us a lot! Mind, body and soul.

Scientifically, i have notthing to prove this.

IMO, and all those i know, Good tunes will cleanse your soul.

"Music is the Rod, and we are Moses. Preaching and comforting at the fathers command, Leading Gods children to the Promised Land"
- Garnett Silk

Music has been a part of every human culture known. It almost always causes an emotional affect, that much is known. Why this should be so no one knows. We don't even have a good theory afaik.

well,for me,some certain songs,bring up memorys,which is good or bad,depends on what song

Music is like the Language of the Soul.

It's emotion, only you're hearing it. Do you know what I mean?

Listen to moonlight sonata. The beginning is very emotional for me, and it 'sounds sad', though I guess it's the notes Beethoven used that create this effect.

I listen to Native American music, and it's very inspiring. I write very well when I listen to it.
I feel moved after I listen to it. And I can see images in my head, like wild horses galloping across an open field...or a sunset over a canyon. No, the music doesn't even really have lyrics yet I get this image from the instrumentals.
Music says things that mere words cannot.
Like, you could say "I'm sad.." but instead you could play, say, ...moonlight sonata to better get your emotion across.
hopefully this makes some sense.

But hey, you can't explain a song with words.

i don't understand how you can't feel the influence of music on your mind.

I think it may be related to the physiological - the brainwave patterns we experience when performing different activities. The easy examples would be Alpha, Beta and Theta waves during different stages of relaxation and sleep and dreaming - I think its likely that at least to some extent, music "strikes a chord" so to speak, with some of these - its almost like musical hypnosis.

my bad conservativepessimist, i thought you meant you couldn't feel any emotional effects from listening to music which i made me post that.


but to get back on topic, i love how music can send chills down your spine.

Resonance.....
Vibration........
carrier waves.......
why do we listen to different types of music during variouas moods?
Why does music uplift us...or depress us....

Moonlight Sonata is without a doubt the best song of all time. If composed correctly that is . Qarrah u have nice taste.

well this my first time posting and , i take this brazilian martial arts called capoeira and the most important thing to capoeira is the music. whenever i listen 2 it it calms me down, and it makes me pumped up, its like voodoo or something. i could have a bad leg, and the music starts to play and im kicking like eddie gordo.

it's hidden messages the goverment puts in the music. just kidding

"Yea... I don't get this really, I'm open to any opinions about why music effects how we feel/think. Feel free to use science or whatever else you choose to explain things."

Music apparently temporarily increases our Emotional Intelligence.

Hmm Yes. Ever heard of Mozart for the Mind? Apperantly listening to Mozart or classical music "Increases your IQ". I heard about a few Uni students doing an experiement like this and those who listened to Mozart before entering and exam got better results than those who didnt. Hold Up...let me search this...


Here We Go:

http://www.musical-expressions.com/listen_...r_Your_Mind.htm

I remember hearing this when i was 9 and about to go into my first piano exam. I made my Dad play classical cassette tapes for the whole entire drive, hahaha.

Perhaps it just relaxes you? Does anyone have anymore info?

Listening to certain types of music stimulate different parts of the brain and encourages more brainwave activity. Not sure how or why, exactly.

Whatever causes it, it's quite an effective tool. I worked in a nursing home activities department for the mentally and physically disabled (residents had to be some level of both) for 10 years. We had many with severe MR and behavior disorders. Many of them were very effected by music, especially noticable when they were distressed. We could put on some Yo-Yo Ma or Yanni in a busy noisy room and you could almost feel everyone relaxing. On sunday afternoons to liven things up we would often do the opposite and put on some Beach Boys or something a bit more uppity to get people moving.

Music has an effect on every facet of our lives. It transcends race, culture, beliefs, etc.

In fact, there have been countless studies discussing the effects of music on the Human mind. One area that comes to my mind (pardon pun) is movie scores. The picture tells one story; audio another; and music brings everything together. Hollywood is keenly aware of this. Thus, they shell out lots of money to illicit a “mood-swing effect”.

Primary example: Blockbuster movies like Star Wars (Darth Vader’s theme), Gladiator, Batman Begins, The Rock, Rocky, Superman & others give its audience a “rush effect”. Hans Zimmer is one of the best at it!

When we are in our Mother's womb we here the rhythm of her heart beat. It comforts us, maybe music is a variation on that theme. I know when I am at drumming sometimes I get lost in beat and become one with it.

I know what you mean by capoeira. We had some come to our drumming circle one time, I was in a wheel chair at the time (I could stand and walk a little, but not very well and with a lot pain). They all came surrounded me next thing I know I am on my feet. I wouldn't say I was dancing but my feet were moving and there was little pain. Powerful stuff.

I think it's one of the best things humans have ever created.

Ever been outside and just listened to the sounds of nature? Its quite beautiful in itself.

Everyday I hear those type of music such as Enya,Moya Brennan,Yanni,Vangelis and so...... and I as an music student I must say that I found my music,I never get tired of,and I think everyone have their own music,maybe because we have different minds.
My father says this kind of music relaxs him,and it works as a fresh air cleaning the garbage that we listen in the radios.

I just joined here to contribute to this thread so I hope you'll all be welcoming, and all.

I have done a little reading on the likely purpose of music, and although I've forgotten most of it, I do remember some of Dan Sperber's theories (in an article called "The Epidemiology of Representations"). Dan Sperber is a French writer who talks about the common ground between culture and cognition, among other things (such as pragmatics).

I've dug it out now, and I'll copy the relevant chapter. He does not call it a scientific theory - it's just a bit of fun.

"Imagine that the ability and propensity to pay attention to, and analyze certain complex sound patterns became a factor of reproductive success for a long enough period in human prehistory. [...] human vocal communicative sounds. [...] In such conditions, a specialized cognitive module with the required disposition might well have evolved.

"This module would have had to combine the necessary discriminative ability with a motivational force to cause individuals to attend to the relevant sound patterns [...] pleasure and hopeful expectation. [...] The human ancestor's vocal abilities may have been quite poor, and the intended sound pattern may have been embedded in a stream of parasitic sounds.

"It could be that [the proper domain of this module] is now empty: another adaptation, the improved modern human vocal tract, may have rendered it obsolete [...] The sounds meeting the objects input conditions are not often found in nature [, ... h]owever, such sounds can be artificially produced. And they have been, providing this module with a rich cultural domain: music. The relevant acoustic pattern of music is much more detectable and delectable than that of any sound in the modult's proper domain. The reward mechanism, which was naturally tuned for a hard-to-discriminate input, is now being stimulated to a degree that makes the whole experience utterly addictive.

"The idea is, then that humans have created a cultural domain, music, which is parasitic on a cognitive module..."

(All that must be copyright Dan Sperber, in some way).

I love this theory, particularly the way it almost permits me to say that music is another kind of masturbation.

Neil

Heartbeat in the womb, good connection there, Darkwind. Also an interesting connection, radioahead. Music does seem to bring forth a sense of both familiarity and release. Especially upon hearing an old favorite song - or even a familiar background noise that can be like music. The bullfrogs and locusts at my parents old house in the evenings comes to mind. I hear that anywhere and I'm out like a light.. I wish I could find that combination in mp3 format!

Familiarity is a good word for it, Episteme, and I like your user name.

There are certain sounds that make me want to scream in happiness. Some of the intervals in Arabic music I find incredibly touching. Most of the music that people sing and play around the world is not in equal temperament, and it is this, what we westerners now perceive to be sharpness or flatness, that makes for emotionally "dashing" music, in my opinion.

I don't know about everyone else, but I associate music with moments in my life.

Wow Qarrah, i came to this conclusion too. Its nice to hear from someone with the same thoughts and conclusions as mine.

Music has the power to change a persons mood for good or bad. thats why music is used in Movies to establish mood and tone, you could watch a horror movie with comical music and it would be funny. Its that powerful. Your soul responds to it.

Your soul definitly responds to it! It is Art, it is imagination, it is creation, it is innovation... i adore music!

John Updike-

Static & nature. What was that quote again?

Yeah, there's this saying in my town. -

In solitude, in common.

Timeless truth, endless harmony.

i agree

Well we hear 24 hours per day...
When our eyes are closed our ears arenot...

It's like smelling something bad and smelling something nice
Or touching something nasty and hugging the person you love...
It's like looking to a wonderfull picture, and looking to a video of people killing animals


It can make us burst and explode... But It can also make us burst into tears
Relax us, or make us headbang

I am not really a proper person to expain the effects, but At least I am sure it affects me!

^No "we" don't hear all of that 24 hours per day. NOT all of us. Don't speak for the deaf Mr. Dreamless. I admit I am not deaf. Still though- your not covering the issue....This is a thread that does belong to the section about a tree falling - that makes a sound. You can hear it if your around the tree right?????? O.K. Well, I'm not a moron and I am AFFECTED by music.

No one is EFFECTED by music. People are AFFECTED. I am affected.

I'm sure Dreamless knows that deaf people cannot hear, PFlack.

And he is covering the issue. I agree with him. He put it in simple terms. How music relates to our emotions when we experience something, like he said, hugging someone you love. And spelling mistakes are irrevalant. Not everyone can put what they're thinking into words.

Any opinions??? About why music ------- EFFECTS ------ Affect us????? & and how we FEEL/THINK?????

Music effects affect me. My emotions. My feelings. My thinking. K?

No.

Me. We. Us. Who-ever, doesn't hear 24 hours per day. Not everyone. He isn't covering the issue.

Who do you love???? Do you hug yourself???? Not everyone can put what they're thinking into words.

What happens when I spell this out for you and I think different of you????

EFFECT.

How is it your so sure Dreamless knows????
AFFECTION.

I'm affected, I don't know about you ----- but ...... I'm pretty much ........

Affected.

I get effects from music, and I am also......

affected. So, it is relevant.

Hooooraaahhhhh Qarrah!!!!!!

That last post lost me.

Bethoven wasn't deaf??
And he was musician.

I said that we hear 24 hours per day, TO SHOW THE IMPORTANTANCE OF HEARING!

For example when we sleep we have our eyes closed (most of us I am 100% that you are such a genius that you will bring up the example of an uncle of yours who sleeps with his eyes open )

Thus we can still hear! And most times what we hear may be implemented into our dreams (ever tried of sleeping while listening to music ? Or... Someone may talk to you when you sleep and his voice appears in your dreams etc)


Then I give some examples... a nice aroma makes us feel relaxed (smelling)
Hugging the person you love has the same effect (touching)
blah blah
Music (hearing !!!) has the same effects as any other information our brain analyzes.

We see something "nasty" and we feel angry or sad. It affects our mood/feelings!!!
We smell something.... "not so good smelling" and we want to leave. It affects our mood/feelings!!!
We hear music we don't like or bad music (not proper beats, not proper instrument selections, repeating melody, bad lyrics etc) ........ I 'm pretty sure you can continue from here. I put it in very simple (and i was in a haste) terms.


And want me to prove that (almost) everyone is affected by music ??

+ HAVE YOU EVER DANCED TO MUSIC ? YES ? YOU ARE AFFECTED...
+ Ever heared of a musical piece which brought shivers down your neck ??????
Those are effects on the human mind

Every time I headbang or sing I know I am affected by music...
Every time someone whistles or hits his hands on the table trying to create a beat is affected.

Everytime I play a really hard piece on the piano and I end up in "ecstasy" I know I am affected. (to my knowledge, that happens to every single musician)


Because it's not my body that wants to dance or my neck which shivers. It's my MIND which demands that and makes it true!!!!
It's my mind which is in ecstasy !!!

It affects how we feel... that's for sure!!!

And if you take some theory and history of music lessons, you will be taught that music has much more and greater effects on our minds than these....

Ever heard that people which were put to listen classical music did better at various exams ?
Ever heard that plants may grow faster when they are put to "listen" to soft music ?

Do you now that, It is used in the medical field as a source of research and as a sort of therapy as well? As therapy for seizures, to lower blood pressure, treat ADD children, treat mental illness, treat depression, aid in healing, treat stress and insomnia and premature infants, etc.



And about the EFFECT and AFFECT words... English isnot our primary language!
In case you didn't notice, we are not supposed to be fluent english speakers!!!
But we all respect this board's rules and do our best to communicate properly.
As far as we understand each other it's good!
Just because someone cannot speak your language perfectly (if english is your primary language) it doesnot mean that he/she isnot wise!
Afterall, you can't speak Greek, can you ?!


And if you are so sure that I am not covering the issue ? Why don't you englighten me ? Why didn't you cover the issue yet ?

Yeah ^ You got it. Thanks. Much better.....

It changes how you feel because it sounds good. I mean, hearing a family member scream in pain sounds bad, so you won't feel happy, but music, that sounds good, makes you happy.

I think that music encompasses all aspects of our life. Every ability that we have. We were once communicating emotions and ideas with grunts, groans, chants, and hums. Everything from love to war. And every culture has music. It almost goes without saying that it seems to have "levels".

I am not musical, but above all, prefer vocal works. I particularly admire early works.

But above all, vocal pieces. The voice is the source, and a standard by which I base my understanding and appreciation.

For Example: Last night i was watching the Eurovision song contest, and had a sudden urge to kill myself.

I also think it depends on what floats your boat. "Good music" is what you like. Eg: Someone who likes Jazz, and isnt really one for Heavy metal, wouldnt feel to good if you dragged them along to a Cradle of Filth concert.

It has been scientifically proven that Beethoven's 9th symphony (or some other classical piece, or even ANY classical piece... Can't remember and I'm too lazy to find the book ) can improve your learning abilities.

Moonlight Sonata.

music effects me,it effects how i feel,and i work like,a bajillion times better when i got music playing

LOL I reply to myself...
Anyway, I wanted to let you know that this thing is related mostly to Mozart's music, that's why it's called "Mozart effect" in psychology... More about it here...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart_effect

I heard of this... definitly gonna read up on it ! cool post!

I heard that classical when you play it to a baby in the crib, & at an early age confirms what your saying. So what happened was, after I heard that a few years ago - mmmmm back in '96, I started sleeping to it. I got alot smarter from time to time.

i think music makes you feel invinsible and badder than anyone else and this will escalate so much that you wont need music to feel badder than everone else, usually caused by rap, hip-hop, rock, and heavey metal, then weed and pot get accosiated.

Not all music.

I don't see how "Mozart", "Nat King Cole", or even "Bob Marley" can make you feel "badder" than others, persay.

EDIT: however, there is music, "DMX", or "Maralyn Manson" etc etc. that do shape ones image or mind state.

bob marley possibly. people think they're cool when they listen to him because he's stupid, and stupid = cool

im interested in how anti-music makes people feel....merzbow, anal ****, the berzerker, i love death metal, idm and noise....so most people hate my music....the music i make is kind of an anti-music techno i suppose, which can be found at www.myspace.com/supasonnikusutereooujou

shameless self promotion