This morning on CBC Radio One I listened to The Current‘s 30-minute documentary on music and work. A lot of us listen to music when we read, do housework, or perform other tasks – the program gives some insights on how music – especially qualities of music like pitch and rhythm – have helped people perform physical work for centuries. For example, a heavy beat helps us to keep time, work together, and so on. Now that work is mostly nonphysical, music seems to serve other purposes such as creating mood or emotion. The use of personal devices such as ipods also allows us to experience music in a solitary way – a very different experience than the shared, collaborative function of music in the pre-industrial age. The program is available on podcast - have a listen.
For more on the neuroscience on the effects of music check out Dan Levitin’s book, This is your brain on music.
