Just watched this documentary last night. Sting and some Jazz cats volunteered to be brain scanned.

Some interesting points.
- There is a notion of the wonderful special feeling that musician feels when completely immersed in music. Scientists found out that non-musicians and amateur musicians use right side of brain to feel the music melody and left for the notes and rhythm. Professional musicians show under the brain scan that both halves of the brain are engaged equally in all aspects of music.
(If you still not feeling that don't worry it will happen keep practicing).

- Humans are the only species that when in group/band can grove to the same rhythm. Monkeys, elephants and some other animals can make rhythm individually but never grouped.
(Makes me wonder about some people )

- Anytime during the day you are not sure how you feel, just hum/sing some melody the first thing that comes from your brain. If it sounds happy you are happy if it sounds sad you are sad.
(sometimes you might feel down and be really happy, don't fret the small things. Apply major or minor chord progression and some words = you got a pop tune )

Hope you enjoyed

For a fascinating book on this subject, check out This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin.

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

Interesting insights on how our brain works, proof to what we've all known forever that us musicians are a "different" breed.

Thanx for the book reference, sounds interesting.

Very interesting. Thanks.

Here is a lecture Mr.Levitin gave:

http://content.digitalwell.washington.e ... ecture.htm

There was a newspapers' headline hanging on the wall, in the studio where Toto were recording their 1995 album Tambu (you might want to check it out), that said: "Musicians' brain built differently". So, I kind of knew this was coming.

PS Oh yeah, I saw it in a 1995 short documentary about Toto.

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"If you're on a path that's beaten, it's not your path." Joseph Campbell

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

"All that is impossible remains to be achieved."
Jules Verne

www.stratcollector.com

We're not in Kansas anymore.

Music is such a powerful tool that it is scary. I was reading a great piece with Frank Gambale one time and it was about the modes and he broke it down on how they use the formulas for film scoring. Like if a scene was dreamy you would use Lydian or romantic the natural minor and it was really fascinating how he showed how each is used to relate with feelings and emotion.

Then we all know the stories of people who have come out of comas while listening to there favorite music. In fact that is encouraged medical therapy as it has been proven to work . So music and the brain have some deep connection.

It's cool that there is some science behind that because I've had theories about musicians as well. It's always seemed to me that, in our case, great guitar players were on a different level with their playing and their thoughts about music. I always assumed that it was just years of being immersed in both practice and music that got them to the levels that they were at but there is a difference between someone who's been playing for 20 years who is technically sound and a good player and a real musician. A good player can play music but a musician makes music. When you look at the greats their thoughts on music are usually very different than the average player. Hendrix played colors for example and music flowed from him.

You're assuming all musicians have brains.

+1

Makes you think of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. I have been fascinated by that piece from an early age cos you can easily tell what season it is from music only. I love it.

CC

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