Biological Roots

Music Has Biological Roots in Humans

While music is often considered a product of our society and

culture, scientific findings show that many aspects of music are

part of our biological nature as humans. By studying people and

animals worldwide, researchers have found that basic musical

actions in humans are "known" and not "taught."

Through the following four categories we have clear evidence of

the relationship between music and human nature:

1) Other animals are musical.

Monkeys can follow patterns of musical pitches and determine the

fundamental pitch of a musical series.

2) Music is universal.

Across cultures and continents, people communicate with forms of

music. Perhaps the best demonstration of the universality of music

is the communication between parents and children using lullabies

and musical baby talk. This parent-child musical communication

takes place around the world.

3) Musical behaviors appear early in life.

Toddlers make up play songs and follow the beat of music. Infants

can discriminate between different pitches, remember the contour

of melodies, and comprehend rhythm.

4) The human brain is organized to process music.

The brain contains neurons (brain cells) that are specifically

sensitive to pure tone pitch, complex harmonic relationships,

rhythm, and melodic contour. When listening to a song, the right

hemisphere of the brain processes the melody while the left

hemisphere processes language. The brain treats the melody as a

separate set of "data."

Scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that humans are ready to

engage in musical activities from birth. Imagine the possible results

if parents and caregivers make an effort to sing and have musical

experiences with their young children to the same degree that they

work to develop language skills. What might happen if musical skills

were fostered in kindergarten and elementary school students with the

same rigor as other skills and abilities? After all, we are "wired"

for music.

Source: "The Music in Our Minds" by Norman M. Weinberger.

Published in Educational Leadership, Vol. 56, No. 3: November

1998.