Music Perception and Cognition

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The body
The conclusion
Works Cited:

Introduction

The importance of music

When speaking about my tastes in music, I would like to highlight the impact of music on my life. So, first of all, I would like to point out that music forms the emotional intelligence of a person. In other words, one is to keep in mind that the music a person listens to expresses the emotions a person feels. Thus, the psychologists can characterize a person’s traits of character as well as a kind of temperament taking into account his or her musical preferences. They say that “music can, at times, actually produce emotion in listeners. The distinction between perception and production is related to the distinction between cognitivism and emotivism proposed by philosophers in their analysis of emotion in music” (Scherer & Zentner 361).

The body

The history of my tastes in music

I suppose that the musical tastes of people determine the way cultural niches develop. I also believe that if a child grows up in a family where parents are fond of music, a child’s IQ will be high. Of course, one is to keep in mind that parents are to listen to the music of high quality, i.e. classical music (Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, etc.). Thus, a special investigation was made. “College students who listened to the first 10 min of Mozart Sonata K 448 scored higher on a spatial-temporal reasoning task than after they listened to relaxation instructions or silence” (Catterall & Rauscher 173).

When speaking about my family, I would like to point out that my parents have a music education. For instance, my father plays guitar and my mother plays the saxophone. As far as I know, my parents were fond of music from their early childhood. I suppose that their interest in classical music determined their life preferences as well as the mode of life. Moreover, I would like to draw the readers’ attention to the fact that it was music, which helped my parents become good friends.

When I was 5 years old, I was fond of Johann Sebastian Bach. Thus, my favorite musical composition was Prelude in C Major. However, it is also necessary to add that my music interests were rather ambiguous. For instance, I also liked The Beatles, although it may sound really strange. The children of my age did not understand my music preferences, and I was surprised at their ignorance at that time. My favorite song of the group was Hey Jude.

In my opinion, this group is considered to be the best and most influential band in the world. It seems that my cultural expectations about musical meaning started to be formed at that period too. I would like to add that my motivational state and concentration depended upon the music I listened to. Such consequences I explain by the fact that “segmental, suprasegmental, and performance cues can be associated with emotional content in an individual’s memory due to learned associations and conditioning” (Scherer & Zentner 364).

When I was 10 years old, my music preferences were extended. For instance, I started to listen to Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. In other words, I was fond of popular hits of the period. Generally, I think that the music I listened to when I was a child influenced my math and reading skills. On the other hand, I cannot neglect the fact that music helped me improve my social skills. It should be pointed out that when I was 12 years old, my moral believes were also changed; however, this fact cannot be regarded from the negative perspective, because I was a teen, so, my crazy preferences were obvious and reflected the emotions I felt.

When I was 15 years old, I revalue my music preferences. In other words, there was a period of reappraisal of values; so, classical music was recognized to be the best and the most important in my life. It became evident that from my early childhood music was the so-called social activity, which helped me feel the part of the society I lived within. In other words, I have understood that the main purpose of music was to set a mood. Now I am 21, and I cannot imagine my life without music. I believe that it contributes to a person’s development. When I play the piano, I feel that I am happy.

The conclusion

The power of music

Generally, one is to keep in mind that music helps develop numerous skills. It helps to learn new concepts. It allows people to express emotions and develop their social skills. Music discovers a person’s creativity and imagination; it allows us to improve balance and coordination (for instance, when people dance). When discussing a child’s development, it is necessary to state that “singing or chanting can help make routine activities and transitions, such as gathering children into a circle or group activity, smoother and more enjoyable” (Kaiser par. 4). So, the effect of music is everywhere.

Finally, there is a need to point out that music allows us to develop and improve our moral values. In other words, music polishes our perception of the word. However, one should not forget about the effects, which poor music can bring. Of course, I am speaking about the destructive effects. So, it depends upon people what music to listen to.

Works Cited:

Catterall, James, and Rauscher, Frances. Unpacking the Impact of Music on Intelligence, 2008. Web.

Kaiser, April. The Importance of Music and Movement, n.d. Web.

Scherer, Klaus, and Marcel, Zentner. Emotional Effects of Music: Production Rules, 2001. Web.

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