Live Q&A with Daniel Levitin co-host of The Music Instinct | Music Instinct

June 23rd, 2009

Interview with Daniel Levitin
Live Q&A with Daniel Levitin co-host of The Music Instinct

Download A transcript of the Twitter-based Q&A (PDF | RTF)

During the broadcast premiere of The Music Instinct: Science & Song on June 24th at 9pm (ET), Dr. Daniel Levitin, co-host of The Music Instinct and author of the best-selling books This Is Your Brain On Music and The World In Six Songs took your questions about the show live via Twitter. Daniel Levitin’s Twitter account can be viewed and followed here.

Dr. Levitin can be asked questions directly through Twitter by including “@danlevitin” in your tweets (as Twitter messages are known), and we ask that tweets about the show include the hashtag #musicinstinct.

Twitter is a free, real-time short messaging service that allows individuals to post messages of up to 140 characters in length. Conversation is filtered through the use of descriptive words known as “tags” that allow anyone on Twitter interested in a particular subject or conversation to see only those messages (i.e. “tweets”) pertaining to that topic. During the live Q&A, viewers can view the online conversation in real-time by going to the following web URL: http:://search.twitter.com and typing in the tag: #musicinstinct into the search box.

In addition to the use of tags, conversation on Twitter can be directed to particular users of the service by using the @ symbol in connection with their Twitter ID. Dr. Levitin’s Twitter ID is danlevitin. Any questions for Dr. Levitin about the Music Instinct should be directed to Dr. Levitin by including @danlevitin in that Twitter message.

Tags: Daniel Levitin, live interview, science, Twitter

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17 comments

M. E. Nordstrom -- June 23rd, 2009 at 10:09 pm

Well, I am too old to Twitter, but thanks for putting a comment box here. I am fascinated, because I have been looking at the future implications as in the Music of the Spheres, impressed by Pythagoras measurements within the universe as related to musical concepts. I am sure that rather than Green Pastures, in a future dimension we will establish some kind of universal harmony.People can already be treated with healing sounds (Jonathan Goldman’s book “Healing Sounds”.)Learning is facilitated by the support of classical music listening(”A Well-Tempered Mind” by Peter Perret and Janet Fox reviewed at http://www.cvNewEng.org by Marvin J. Ward, Ph.D.)Etcetera.
My own blood pressure is lowered when I practice contemplative organ music at the keyboard. I hope I don’t forget to watch these 3 programs on PBS, but alas, I probably will, so I hope you will repeat them regularly and advertise them well.

Johnny-O -- June 24th, 2009 at 9:10 pm

What is it that makes a style of music – Southern Rock for example – move me and impact me in a profound way, but rap or opera not move me in the same way?

Joe Patti -- June 24th, 2009 at 9:12 pm

All of what I see so far has been discussed, researched and taught by music researchers since the 1960s. Nothing new.

Joe Patti -- June 24th, 2009 at 9:15 pm

I read your book and said, this has been taught in university courses since the 1960s. The research is old. Conduct a broader search of the research literature.

joe Patti -- June 24th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

Galvonic skin response research is VERY OLD. Check the research lit.

Dr. Kris Setzekorn -- June 24th, 2009 at 11:03 pm

I differ with Mr. Patti. I did not study music in college, nor have I researched music. Tonight’s program was fascinating for me. I appreciate this high quality information and would like to know when it will be re-run so I can suggest that my family and friends watch it.
Thanks very much!

Eric W. -- June 24th, 2009 at 11:11 pm

I also disagree with Mr Patti. What you saw may be decades old but I am confident you didn’t watch the whole program. There was a lot related to neurobiology that is very recent. Heaping scorn without fully reviewing content does not make you seem smart.

Eric W. -- June 24th, 2009 at 11:16 pm

I would like to take issue with poll on the home page. It really doesn’t do justice to the production as a whole and seems like something tacked on thoughtlessly by disinterested web lackeys. (sp?) What I got from the information conveyed was that there is a third option: That language and music may overlap in some ways physiologically but are for the most part very distinct.

Kyle G -- June 24th, 2009 at 11:31 pm

One thing that is new about this program, the scientists have the benefit of laptop computers with audio and video capability that did not exist in the 60s or 70s. In several of the clips the computer analyses or graphics were instrumental to showing the scientific phenemenon behind the discussion.

C Stovall -- June 24th, 2009 at 11:38 pm

Are emotional responses to music strictly a matter of musical context? I often think so, however it is storming outside and the sounds are so pleasing. Why do the sounds FEEL good?
Thank you for your work!!!

Stephanie K -- June 25th, 2009 at 12:32 am

What is the total name of tonight’s session (6-24) and how can I get a DVD to show my students. I am a music teacher in Vancouver WA.
Thanks.

Margaret -- June 25th, 2009 at 1:12 am

How intriguing to see the positive effects of musical training on the brain; what a strong statement that music education should be part of the education and how sad to think that music education is on the chopping block all over the state of CA.

PBS’s Interview with Dan Levitin (”The Music Instinct”) | Music Therapy Maven -- June 25th, 2009 at 1:51 am

[...] My assistant texted me about this. I recorded the last half of it. I read about it on Twitter (where Dan Levitin gave a live Q& A). [...]

Frederick G. Rodgers -- June 25th, 2009 at 5:55 am

Music of all types is not only universal and varies from plainchant (no instrument) to the “king of instruments,” the pipe organ but communicates in curious and elusive ways! I agree that good music is a cure for either the silence forced upon some or the racket pummeling large urban areas here and abroad. Program was one of best PBS has offered in 2009;it should spawn similar in- depth, premium programs.

ken paul -- June 27th, 2009 at 12:06 pm

Perhaps all of this will never be completely put to rest. The relation of spoken language to music remains intriguing. Some languages are “pitch-sensitive” (”sing-songy” to outsiders), plus research has suggested that people with perfect pitch are much more common in those cultures. Is it mainly acculturation which separates speaking from singing? What does this imply regarding
thought itself, which is mostly language-dependent? Is everybody born with perfect musical pitch, but most lose it because they do not use it? Fun to ponder.

Veronica O'Grady -- July 3rd, 2009 at 12:33 am

Music is ancient…it was here BEFORE we were. It is the pulse of Creation running rhythmically through form. Our brain is the purest, finest and truest of all instruments that take the harmonics of Creation and bring them to form on this level of reality. Thank you Daniel for creating such an amazing plethora of research, input, expertise and passion! Its already touched so many live and has begun a new era in healing. Much gratitude for all you do!

Irfan Samad -- October 16th, 2009 at 10:48 pm

Yay! Neuroscience + music rocks!

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