I recently read the book “This Is Your Brain On Music” by Daniel Levitin which I would thoroughly recommend to anyone interested in music production. Daniel Levitin is a neuroscientist who is particularly interested in the effects of music on the brain. One of the discussion parts of the book is why the brain loves anomalies in music, it’s what keeps the subconscious interested in listening to the music. You have probably experienced the same, where you can listen to certain music over and over again before getting bored, but with other tracks just a handful of plays later you are skipping to the next track. This book is really great at understanding why that happens, I would highly recommend!
“This Is Your Brain On Music” became an international bestseller, sparking a cultural conversation about the power of music. It inspired scientific research, challenged long-held beliefs abous musicality, and offered a deep appreciation for this universal human experience.
Some of the key themes explored in this book:
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Music’s Evolutionary Advantage: Levitin argues that music, even more than language, played a crucial role in human evolution, fostering social cohesion, aiding memory, and enhancing learning.
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The Building Blocks Of Melody: He breaks down the fundamental components of music like rhythm, pitch and harmony, explaining how our brain’s parse and respond to them.
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Musical Preferences: He unravels the mystery of personal taste, exploring why we gravitate towards certain genres and artists, often before we’re even born.
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The Neuroscience of Pleasure: Levitin delves into the brain’s reward system, showing how music triggers the release of dopamine and other pleasure chemicals, creating euphoria and emotional connection.
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Music’s Therapeutic Power: The book examines the potential of music therapy for various conditions, from depression and anxiety to Parkinson’s disease and stroke.
