Daniel J. Levitin: This is Your Brain on Music, The Science of a Human Obsession

Notes on the chapters:Notes on the chapters:

1 – 9.1 – 9.

Chapter 1: What Is MusicChapter 1: What Is MusicFrom Pitch to Timbre: key multiple attributes.From Pitch to Timbre: key multiple attributes.

Tone (sometimes thought of as a “note”Tone (sometimes thought of as a “note” Pitch (purely a psychological construct)Pitch (purely a psychological construct) Rhythm (repeating patterns, Rhythm (repeating patterns,

contrasts of silence and sound.contrasts of silence and sound.

– 2’s & 3’s, 2’s & 3’s,

Tempo (fast vs slow), speedTempo (fast vs slow), speed Contour (shape of a melody, ups & downs)Contour (shape of a melody, ups & downs) Timbre (different instruments)Timbre (different instruments) Loudness Loudness Spatial location: where sound comes fromSpatial location: where sound comes from Reverberation (like an ecco).Reverberation (like an ecco).

Chapter 1: What Is MusicChapter 1: What Is MusicFrom Pitch to Timbre: higher-order conceptsFrom Pitch to Timbre: higher-order concepts

MeterMeter KeyKey MelodyMelody HarmonyHarmony

Chapter 2: Foot TappingChapter 2: Foot TappingDiscerning Rhythm, Loudness, and HarmonyDiscerning Rhythm, Loudness, and Harmony RhythmRhythm

– TempoTempo– MeterMeter

Loudness (role of silence)Loudness (role of silence) HarmonyHarmony Note bottom of p. 73 where Gestalt psychologists Note bottom of p. 73 where Gestalt psychologists

Kohler, Koffka are mentioned. These are Lewin’s Kohler, Koffka are mentioned. These are Lewin’s teachers from Berlin days.teachers from Berlin days.

Gestalt Principles of Grouping (bottom p. 74)Gestalt Principles of Grouping (bottom p. 74) Also see D & P on page 115-117.Also see D & P on page 115-117.

Music listened to in class on Friday, February 12, 2010:

“Round Midnight”: two versionsFirst, by the composer Thelonious Sphere MonkSecond, by Miles Davis Quintet

Form and Structure were discussed:AABA form/pattern for the “Round Midnight” ballad

Chapter 3: Behind the CurtainChapter 3: Behind the CurtainMusic and the Mind MachineMusic and the Mind Machine

Cognitive Science / NeuroscienceCognitive Science / Neuroscience Functionalism: similar minds can arise from quite Functionalism: similar minds can arise from quite

different brains, brains are just the collection of different brains, brains are just the collection of wires and processing modules that instantiate wires and processing modules that instantiate thought.thought.

Common illusions: pp. 97-98 illusions like those in Common illusions: pp. 97-98 illusions like those in text and web-links Sherman provided.text and web-links Sherman provided.

Isomorphic structures.Isomorphic structures.

Chapter 3: Behind the CurtainChapter 3: Behind the CurtainMusic and the Mind MachineMusic and the Mind Machine

Note bottom of p. 89: “…Note bottom of p. 89: “…emotionsemotions (frontal lobes, (frontal lobes, cerebellum, the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens – cerebellum, the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens – part of a network of structures involved in feelings of part of a network of structures involved in feelings of pleasure and reward, whether it is through eating, having pleasure and reward, whether it is through eating, having sex, or listening to pleasurable music.sex, or listening to pleasurable music.

P. 106-7, Imprinting: “Our brains learn a kind of musical P. 106-7, Imprinting: “Our brains learn a kind of musical grammar that is specific to the music of our culture, just as grammar that is specific to the music of our culture, just as we learn to speak the language of our culture.” (Noam we learn to speak the language of our culture.” (Noam Chomsky and psycho-linguistics. Chomsky and psycho-linguistics.

Robert Plutchik’sRobert Plutchik’smodel of how emotions can be combined to yield blends that differ in model of how emotions can be combined to yield blends that differ in

intensity.intensity.

Allmusic link as an example of emotion classifications:

Pan’s Labyrinth (Movie) by Guillermo Del Toro with musical soundtrack by Javier Navarrete:“Mercedes Lullaby”

Herbie Hancock;s River: the joni lettersTitle tune, “River”

Chet Baker singing “My Funny Valentine”, aRogers & Hart 1937 song

Physiological Components of Physiological Components of EmotionEmotion

The Ear and the Brain.The Ear and the Brain.

Brain: 3 areas, Brain: 3 areas, Forebrain, Midbrain and HindbrainForebrain, Midbrain and Hindbrain

Brain locationsBrain locations

Brain LocationsBrain Locations

Chapter 4: AnticipationChapter 4: AnticipationWhat We Expect From Liszt (and Ludacris) What We Expect From Liszt (and Ludacris)

The Neural organization of music!The Neural organization of music!

All sound begins at the eardrum where sounds get segregated by “pitch”.All sound begins at the eardrum where sounds get segregated by “pitch”. Speech and music diverge into separate processing circuits.Speech and music diverge into separate processing circuits.

– Speech circuits decompose the signals in order to identify individual Speech circuits decompose the signals in order to identify individual phonemes.phonemes.

– Music circuits decompose the signals and separately analyze pitch, timbre, Music circuits decompose the signals and separately analyze pitch, timbre, contour and rhythm.contour and rhythm.

The output of the neurons performing these tasks connect to regions in the The output of the neurons performing these tasks connect to regions in the frontal lobe that put all of it together and try to figure out if there is any structure that put all of it together and try to figure out if there is any structure or order to the “or order to the “temporaltemporal” patterning of it all.” patterning of it all.

The frontal lobes access our The frontal lobes access our hippocampus and regions in the interior of the and regions in the interior of the temporal lobe and ask if there is anything in our memory banks that can help to and ask if there is anything in our memory banks that can help to understand this signal.understand this signal.

– Have I heard this “pattern” before?Have I heard this “pattern” before?

– If so when?If so when?

– Is it part of a larger sequence whose meaning is unfolding right now in front Is it part of a larger sequence whose meaning is unfolding right now in front of me?of me?

Chapter 5: You Know My Name, Look Up the Chapter 5: You Know My Name, Look Up the Number, How we Categorize Music.Number, How we Categorize Music.

The debate about the ‘nature’ and function of memory in humans.The debate about the ‘nature’ and function of memory in humans. Two theories: the Two theories: the Relational School Relational School (also called the Constructivist (also called the Constructivist

view) AND the view) AND the Record-keepingRecord-keeping theory. theory. Constructivist Theory = lacking sensory memory specifics, we Constructivist Theory = lacking sensory memory specifics, we

construct a memory representation of reality out of the relations (with construct a memory representation of reality out of the relations (with many details filled in or reconstructed on the spot.many details filled in or reconstructed on the spot.– EXAMPLE. Functional invariants (Piaget), p. 134, “…the memory system must be EXAMPLE. Functional invariants (Piaget), p. 134, “…the memory system must be

extracting some generalized, invariant information about songs and storing that. extracting some generalized, invariant information about songs and storing that.

Record Keeping Theory = memory is like a tape recorder or digital Record Keeping Theory = memory is like a tape recorder or digital video camera, preserving all or most of our experiences accurately, video camera, preserving all or most of our experiences accurately, and with near perfect fidelity.and with near perfect fidelity.– EXAMPLE. The recognition of hundreds, if not thousands, of voices.EXAMPLE. The recognition of hundreds, if not thousands, of voices.

Chapter 5: You Know My Name, Look Up the Chapter 5: You Know My Name, Look Up the Number, How we Categorize Music.Number, How we Categorize Music.

Eleanor Rosch’s conclusions and thoughts on “Category Eleanor Rosch’s conclusions and thoughts on “Category Formation”. (Levitin, 2007, p. 141)Formation”. (Levitin, 2007, p. 141)– (A) Categories are formed around prototypes.(A) Categories are formed around prototypes.– (B) These prototypes can have a biological or physiological (B) These prototypes can have a biological or physiological

foundation;foundation;– (C) Category membership can be thought of as a question of (C) Category membership can be thought of as a question of

degree, with some tokens being “better” examplars than others; degree, with some tokens being “better” examplars than others; – (D) New items are judged in relation to the prototypes, forming (D) New items are judged in relation to the prototypes, forming

gradients of category membership;gradients of category membership;– (D) There don’t need to be any attributes which all category (D) There don’t need to be any attributes which all category

members have in common, and boundaries don’t have to be members have in common, and boundaries don’t have to be definite.definite.

Chapter 5: You Know My Name, Look Up the Chapter 5: You Know My Name, Look Up the Number, How we Categorize Music.Number, How we Categorize Music.

Note some connections to our Davis & Note some connections to our Davis & Palladino (2007) text book and PowerPoint Palladino (2007) text book and PowerPoint Slides (ppt):Slides (ppt):– Chapter 9 ppt, slides 48-55 where the Chapter 9 ppt, slides 48-55 where the

developmental theories of Jean Piaget are developmental theories of Jean Piaget are discussed.discussed.

Chapter 6. After Dessert, Crick Was Still Four Chapter 6. After Dessert, Crick Was Still Four Seats Away from Me.Seats Away from Me.

Music, Emotion, and the Reptilian Brain.Music, Emotion, and the Reptilian Brain. Orchestration of brain regionsOrchestration of brain regions Precision choreography of neuro-chemical release Precision choreography of neuro-chemical release

(dopamine)(dopamine) Uptake between logical prediction systems and emotional Uptake between logical prediction systems and emotional

rewardsrewards When we ‘love’ a piece of music, it reminds us of other When we ‘love’ a piece of music, it reminds us of other

music we have heard and it activates memory traces of music we have heard and it activates memory traces of emotional times in our livesemotional times in our lives

The “Groove” is an ‘expectationThe “Groove” is an ‘expectation This is Piaget’s “assimilation” and “accommodation” This is Piaget’s “assimilation” and “accommodation”

processprocess

Music listened to in class this Music listened to in class this week: 3/26/2009week: 3/26/2009

Tirmakan/Eg Vippa MegTirmakan/Eg Vippa Meg, from the CD, “From Senegal to , from the CD, “From Senegal to Setesdal by Kirsten Braten Berg. Included the “Griot,” Solo Setesdal by Kirsten Braten Berg. Included the “Griot,” Solo Cissokho singing the Mandeng history of Tirmakan and Cissokho singing the Mandeng history of Tirmakan and Kirsten Braten Berg singing a Norwegian Lullaby (Eg Vippa Kirsten Braten Berg singing a Norwegian Lullaby (Eg Vippa Meg) at the same time.Meg) at the same time.

Soli Soli (lent & rapide). Music that accompanies the (lent & rapide). Music that accompanies the rite/initiation of circumcision in the Malinke tradition. rite/initiation of circumcision in the Malinke tradition.

Chapter 7. What Makes a Musician:Chapter 7. What Makes a Musician:Expertise Dissected.Expertise Dissected.

Many forms of musical expertiseMany forms of musical expertise Dexterity at playing an instrumentDexterity at playing an instrument Emotional communicationEmotional communication Creativity and the role of “naiveté” or lack of Creativity and the role of “naiveté” or lack of

formal training (Joni Mitchell). formal training (Joni Mitchell). Special mental structures for remembering Special mental structures for remembering

musicmusic Expert listening abilitiesExpert listening abilities

Music listened to on 4-2-2010Music listened to on 4-2-2010

Raga Jait, Performed by Hariprasad Chaurasia on Flute. India

“These are a few of my favorite things” Performed byJulie AndrewsJohn Coltrane

Several of Sherman’s Flutes.

Chapter 8. My Favorite Things,Chapter 8. My Favorite Things,Why do We Like the Music We Like?Why do We Like the Music We Like?

Chapter 9. The Music InstinctChapter 9. The Music InstinctEvolution #1 Hit.Evolution #1 Hit.

Back to Charles Darwin and the ‘evolution’ of music.Back to Charles Darwin and the ‘evolution’ of music. Steven Jay Gould and the “Spandrel”Steven Jay Gould and the “Spandrel” Steven Pinker, and “Music is Auditory cheesecake.”Steven Pinker, and “Music is Auditory cheesecake.” Music Music evolvedevolved out of “Language development” which is out of “Language development” which is

also auditory.also auditory. Multiple reinforcing cues of a good song: rhythm, melody, Multiple reinforcing cues of a good song: rhythm, melody,

contour – cause music to stick in our heads. Nostalgia! contour – cause music to stick in our heads. Nostalgia! Levitin’s last words: “As a tool for arousing feelings and Levitin’s last words: “As a tool for arousing feelings and

emotions, music is better than language. The combination emotions, music is better than language. The combination of the two – as best exemplified in a love song – is the best of the two – as best exemplified in a love song – is the best courtship display of all.”courtship display of all.”

The World in Six Songs: How the musical brain The World in Six Songs: How the musical brain created human naturecreated human nature. Functions of music. . Functions of music.

Darwinian evolution, natural selection etcDarwinian evolution, natural selection etc. .

Friendship (Social Functions)Friendship (Social Functions) Joy (Pleasures)Joy (Pleasures) Comfort: before there was ProzacComfort: before there was Prozac Knowledge (assists knowing and learning)Knowledge (assists knowing and learning) Religion (spiritual feelings and emotions)Religion (spiritual feelings and emotions) Love Love