About The Musical Brain
Music plays an important part in the lives of all human beings. It may give us pleasure, excite us, or make us sad in a happy kind of way. It may make us want to move and dance, help us to relax, help us to concentrate or work physically, even help us to sleep. It brings people together in a special kind of way – a special kind of human, emotional, physical, mental and social contact.
It is hugely exciting that in the last few years a revolution has occurred of tremendous importance to everyone who cares about music – simply, science has begun to catch up with music. There have been discoveries, particularly in the biological sciences, which offer irrefutable proof that music does indeed change people’s minds and bodies. Brain scanning has revealed not only the many parts of the brain involved in listening to and responding to music, but also that music “builds” the brain – certain areas of the brain critical to general human life and development are enlarged by musical experience.
Advances in neurophysiology and endocrinology have shown that music does indeed have a significant influence on our autonomic nervous systems, and on the hormones and neurotransmitters that affect the way we feel and experience emotion, and our capacities to act and react. New research in psychobiology has shown that musical communication is a vital part of human social development, and helps us both relate to others and learn. There is even a humble but important new role for music in medicine.
Why is this important? Because it helps give music its proper place in our lives and education; it empowers those who practise it, helps them to value properly what they do, and offers them new insights into their art and its potential to grow.
Nigel Osborne
Composer, Reid Professor of Music, Edinburgh University, Co-Director of the Institute for Music in Human and Social Development
Audience reaction to 'Why Music? Is Music Different from the Other Arts?'
2011 Conference - Friday 7th October at the Institute of Neurology, 33 Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
“The Musical Brain conference was a
remarkable event that brought together people from different backgrounds and
affiliations. The dynamic of the presentations and the strong individuality of
the speakers created an exciting atmosphere for interdisciplinary collaboration.
There was an engaging diversity of speakers including talks about contemporary
music, cave drawings and music in therapy.
A contemporary cultural relevance was evident in
such choice terms as: neuroaesthetics, neuromirroring, neuroplasticity,
evolutionary cheesecake, self realisation, neuroscepticism and neuromania.”
Nedyalka Karapetkova, Rose Pickles and Xiuyu Qiu, MA Art and Science students at Central
St. Martins.
“The videos of Nigel Osborne moved me to
tears. He clearly does fantastic work.” Louise Beer, MA Art and Science
student, Central St. Martins
“I loved the combination/variety of talks –
thank you.” Janet McDonald, Music Therapist
“All of the speakers were outstanding.” Tim
Morris
“I thought it an altogether brilliantly
organized and stimulating day.” Ann Mytton
[For me, the highlight of the day was] to
listen and mix with such a knowledgeable group of people who were each
inspirational in their own way.” Michael Palmer
“The talk in the afternoon was enlightening
and the concert a very fitting way to bring the day to a close.” James Risdon,
RNIB
“All of the talks and musical examples were
excellent and thought provoking.” Marie Saunders
“I really enjoyed it all…the idea of the
two opposing camps gave a focus and humour to the day.” Pemma Spencer Chapman,
Independent Music Therapist
“I really enjoyed the day. Each of the
seminars was informative and thought provoking.” Dr Anthony Smoker
“I enjoyed all the speakers. Very
engaging.” Anne Vernon
“Altogether a very stimulating day.” Andrew
Wilton
Audience reaction to Robert Schumann: The Man, the Mind, the Music
2010 Conference Programme
Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd October 2010
At St John's Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA
“I thought the whole thing was very worth while, and I learned a lot during the weekend.” Stephen Johnson
“The Musical Brain Conference was a very interesting and unique experience for us. I loved learning things from a scientific perspective. The lectures that we saw were very engaging. If only we could have gone to them all!” Hannah Dawson, violin, Sacconi Quartet
“The weekend was a fantastic chance for us to learn more about composers' minds and our own! It really felt like we delved further into the music and it was great to all share our ideas with others.” Cara Berridge, cello, Sacconi Quartet
“This was a wonderful weekend. It was a unique opportunity for us to learn a little about the science of how music affects the brain, and to share experiences and play to a very knowledgeable audience.” Ben Hancox, violin, Sacconi Quartet
“The fantastic individual elements of the conference – the workshops; the masterclasses – all formed together to make something really very special, which was felt by all.” Pippa Patterson
“…packed full of exquisite recitals and exciting talks. It was particularly special to hear about the humane aspects of music (Professor Osborne) and also to listen to the flowing musical language of Stephen Johnson” Shevaun Mendelsohn
“The presentations were so stimulating and the presenters so engaging that I came away feeling deeply satisfied. The richness of the material presented was really impressive and what a wonderful setting!” Patricia Murphy, British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
“The Musical Brain Conference was a superb and fascinating enterprise. Stephen Johnson’s talk, with accompanying illustrations by Ian Brown and Anna Tilbrook were indeed illuminating and it was of great interest to hear Nigel Osborne’s talk and film on the ‘Therapeutic effects of music’ with relation to trauma.” Veronica Franklin Gould, Director, Arts 4 Dementia
“The combination of concerts and lectures was fantastic. The illustrations provided by musicians were also particularly appreciated.” Fiona Costa
“The theme of the two days worked very well and the links between the talks and the concerts were brilliant. I particularly enjoyed the use of the musicians to illustrate the talks. Nigel Osborne was as always inspiring. Stephen Johnson combined a superb intellect with a humility and willingness to share his experiences which was inspirational.” Andrew Wilson
“I enjoyed it profoundly and took at least 30 pages of notes!” Anna Zienkowska, music student
“Stephen Johnson's contributions were thought-provoking and enlivening, making engagement with the music irresistible; and his insights into bipolar disorder were invaluable, both for the study of Schumann, and for dealing with today's world. The concerts I was able to attend were a welcome change of format / style / focus from the talks but also indirectly relevant, and very enjoyable. I was very interested in Stefan Koelsch on the analogy between musical and linguistic reception in the brain. Nigel Osborne was as always provocative, energising, and fascinating.” John MacAuslan
“…a marvelous weekend - and I do hope it will be repeated. I especially enjoyed the presentations from Cambridge and Edinburgh on the functional aspects of music perception and Stephen's masterly accounts of matters musical.” Ann Barrett, Professor Emeritus of Oncology in the University of East Anglia
Click here to view the pdf of the 2010 Conference.
