The brain sounds kinda nice. Watch on YouTube: brainmusic: fmri into musical sound Hear what the brain scanner sees. Data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are converted to musical sound. (This is the short version; See the 6-part … [Read more...]
PBS NOVA: Musical Minds With Oliver Sacks
Oliver Sacks explores how the power of music can make the brain come alive. You need to watch this soon. It will only be available to watch for one week, from July 1-7, 2009, due to right restrictions. It features musical savants, music therapy, … [Read more...]
Weekend Links For Your Pleasure
I've been extremely light on the blogging front lately, but I have big plans to breathe new life into this site. I'll be shifting gears as I reexamine my time, attention, and creative work. In the mean time, here's a few links I've been meaning to … [Read more...]
“I Can Do That” Syndrome
You're listening to a piece of music and it sounds so simple and easy that you say to yourself, "I can do that." But can you really? And if you can, how come you haven't yet? Taking a first person perspective of someone else's perspective can be … [Read more...]
The Neuroscience Of Jazz Improvisation
Mind Hacks pointed me to an interesting study by science journal PLoS One on the cognitive neuroscience of Jazz. The scientists found that a region of the brain known as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a broad portion of the front of the brain … [Read more...]
Musicophilia: The Neurology Of Music
MindHacks pointed me to the just launched Musicophilia, the site and book by Oliver Sacks, a neurologist who has become quite popular publishing books about his patients and who also contributes to the advancement of music as a powerful tool for … [Read more...]
Absolute Pitch Ear Training Podcast 04-09-07
Topics covered: Singing what you hear, the body/mind connection in music, exercises to improve your musicianship, and more. Download: Absolute Pitch Ear Training Podcast 04-09-07 … [Read more...]
Why Singing What You Hear Is Important To Your Ear Training
Singing what you hear is an important part of improving your perception. Let's look at it from a body/mind perspective. Recognizing that C and F is a perfect fourth is a cognitive exercise. You have to think about it. Maybe only for a split-second, … [Read more...]
There Is Nothing Boring In Life. Only Boring People.
There is a common misconception that "things" can be boring. You may find doing your taxes boring. But some people find it riveting. Therefore, we can't say that doing taxes is boring. "It" is not boring. Then what part of that sentence or thought is … [Read more...]
Meditation Has A Measurable Effect On Alertness
Meditation is often credited with helping people feel more focused and energetic, but are the benefits measurable? When researchers tested the alertness of volunteers, they found that the practice proved more effective than naps, exercise or … [Read more...]