Year: 2020
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Ep. 27: Are musicians better able to pick up subtle emotional cues? with Dr. Nina Kraus
Brain research shows that musicians’ training increases their sensitivity to the emotion in all sounds – a highly useful skill in personal, business, and academic relationships. Dr. Kraus finds that “sound processing is biologically intertwined with listening and language skills,” and says, “Probably the healthiest thing we can do for our brains is to make…
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Ep. 26: Music’s Role in Video Games, with Dr. Ryan Thompson, MSU Game Design and Development Program
How does video game music communicate gameplay information, adrenalize us, and stimulate reward centers in our brains? Dr. Ryan Thompson takes us behind the scenes of MSU’s Game Design and Development Program, in a discussion about the role and evolution of music in video games. Bonus: Learn about a fantastic resource of free game music…
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Ep. 25: Role of Spirituals within African American Culture, with award-winning musician and educator Bruce Henry
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we take a look at the rich history and function of music and spirituals within African American culture, including its relationship to gospel music, ragtime, blues and jazz, soul, and hip hop/rap. Listeners will also hear about the incomparable Harry Belafonte, and the unique cultural preservation of…
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Ep. 24: Autism Interventions with Music, with Esther Thane, MTA, AVPT
Guided therapeutic music creation and experiences can help both children and adults on the autism spectrum with social, physical, emotional, verbal, and cognitive skill sets. Music engages one’s curiosity and inner motivation, resulting in increased attention span, social bonds, and deeper integration of skills. Interventions address crossing the midline, cathartic release of emotion, auditory defensiveness,…