Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/music-as-biology
Have you ever wondered why certain melodies make you feel elated, while others send shivers down your spine? Or perhaps you’ve pondered the universal appeal of specific musical scales across diverse cultures? The Coursera course, ‘Music as Biology: What We Like to Hear and Why,’ dives deep into these fascinating questions, offering a compelling biological framework for understanding our innate connection to music.
This course brilliantly bridges the gap between the art of music and the science of biology. It meticulously explores the tonal combinations we perceive as consonant or dissonant, the underlying reasons for our preference for certain scales, and the profound emotional responses music elicits. The syllabus provides a clear roadmap, starting with an introduction to the very concept of music as a biological phenomenon. We then journey through the intricacies of the human auditory system, understanding how sound signals are transformed into the stimuli that shape our auditory experiences. The course delves into the perception of sound, explaining the qualities we experience and how they differ from raw acoustic information.
A particularly insightful section focuses on vocalization and vocal tones, highlighting their biological significance and their crucial role in deciphering musical preferences. The course tackles the fundamental question of defining music and explores various theories attempting to explain why we like what we hear. It offers a biological explanation for the prevalence of a limited number of musical scales globally, a puzzle that has long intrigued musicologists. Finally, the course examines the powerful link between music, emotion, and cultural differences, demonstrating how vocal similarities in music transcend cultural boundaries and how speech patterns influence musical composition.
‘Music as Biology’ is more than just an academic exploration; it’s an enlightening experience that enriches your appreciation for music. The additional resources, including demonstrations and commentaries by Ruby Froom, along with a helpful glossary and bibliography, further enhance the learning journey. I highly recommend this course to anyone curious about the biological underpinnings of our musical tastes, from casual listeners to aspiring musicians and scientists alike. It’s a truly eye-opening (or rather, ear-opening!) course that will change the way you listen to music forever.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/music-as-biology