Enhance Life with Music

Music clearly impacts us is through its role in TV and movies. The absence of music in trailers or the shows themselves would fundamentally change our viewing experience. But who matches the appropriate song to a scene in a TV show or film for full effect? Music supervisor Jody Friedman explains the music selection process, tips for those interested in the biz, and how the song he composed ended u...

Speech disorders affect 11% of children ages 3-6, and over 9% of children ages 7-10. That's a lot of kids! The majority of these speech disorders in young children have no known cause, and affect boys at significantly higher rates than girls. Laura Moorer, M.A., CCC-SLP, explains why and how music plays an important role in speech disorder treatment. Links and notes related to this episode can be...

We are never too old to take advantage of the cognitive and emotional benefits of learning a new skill. Treating learning as a lifetime sport can roll back the odometer of our brains, expand our horizons, and renew our sense of self and identity. New York Times best-selling author Tom Vanderbilt explains the magic of learning a new skill in his brand new book, Beginners: The Joy and Transformative...

Executives develop organizational and leadership skills through unscripted, interactive and unconventional orchestral performances. This innovative program has been utilized in over 20 countries and at hundreds of corporations and organizations, including Lockheed Martin, Harvard Business School, Pfizer, Unilever, Sony, and Google. As of 2020, the experience is also available virtually. Links and...

Musicality is all around us in nature! An understanding of the musicality of animals brings vibrance to the world around us in unexpected ways. Dr. David Rothenberg is a musician and naturalist, and has played his clarinet along with birds, whales, and singing insects. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at  https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode74 Facebook Page Instagram Link...

Philip Brunelle has notoriety around the world for his musical knowledge and expertise. He discusses the motto and drink that fuel his success; other factors contributing to his personal and professional longevity; and what makes the Twin Cities a unicorn in the choral music world. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at  https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode73   Facebook Page...

What's the big deal about community music orchestras, bands, and choirs? Under Marlene Pauley's direction, The Wayzata Symphony Orchestra's budget has quadrupled and audience attendance has increased 300%. Marlene explains the demand for community music groups, and what they mean to their members, audience, and communities. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at  https://mpeterson...

Giving gifts has been a part of cultures and celebrations throughout history, and, fortunately for us, a lot of research has been done on what makes a meaningful gift – meaningful for both the recipient AND the giver. We take a look at research-backed factors that contribute to meaningful gifts, and specific ways to gift  music to others, because music is THE gift that keeps on giving! Links and n...

The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study investigated the correlation between childhood trauma and life-long development, health, and well-being. The astounding results have led to trauma informed approaches to education and medicine, among other areas. David Knott explains why an ACE understanding can elevate our music instruction, and how music education be used as a c...

At Enhance Life with Music, we believe that music and music-making has value for all of us humans, regardless of age, or where we live in the world, or whether we will eventually be a professional musician or not. We also are aware of the fact that not everyone can afford a musical instrument AND arts education funding is not particularly stable and many schools are operating with very little, if...

Singer/songwriter Sara Groves describes how her Christian faith informs her advocacy for justice, community-building, and cultivation of creativity for the common good. Through nurturing a creative community of people who learn, grow, and create together, Sara believes good things result for us all – including our world's most vulnerable – and point people toward the same things that Jesus is inte...

Dr. Nolan Gasser was the chief architect of Pandora's Music Genome Project, and is author of the 2019 book, Why You Like It: The Science and Culture of Musical Taste. Dr. Gasser discusses his role in the Music Genome Project and the ethical component of its design. He then explains some of the most important factors that influence our individual musical tastes. Links and notes related to this epis...

Athletic anthems can be used to enhance motivation and performance in athletics, on the job, and in life. Author and trainer-to-Olympians Daniel Stewart discusses selecting the perfect song for your situation, the role of song lyrics, and converting your anthem to a mojo mantra. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at  https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode66   Facebook Page In...

We are hard-wired to learn through play, and to learn better in nature. Musical playgrounds utilize outdoor musical instruments and the science behind them to combine learning, nature, and play to promote community health and engagement. With no wrong notes, musical training is optional; and the resulting music is always as delightful as the sound of a windchime!  Bonus: Stay tuned for until the C...

There is a pretty universal saying that "Practice Makes… [and we all fill in the blank] Perfect." Ed Varner, Ed. D., argues that improvement, not perfection, should be the goal in the creation of art, in education, in work, and in everything that we do. He explains what he calls "The Practice" and how this approach is the application of his belief that music has value for EVERYone. Links and notes...

Piano tuners interact with a broad swath of people, including performing celebrities, stage crew, academics, and everyday families with kids taking lessons. They interact with people on stage, backstage, in their workplaces, and in their homes. Billy Sadler has been an Independent Piano Tuner & Technician since 1971. He shares some of his experiences with celebrities including Prince, Leon Fleishe...

One thing that we have all experienced, like never before, in this global pandemic and the quarantines that come with it, have been restrictions, limitations, and constraints – personally, professionally, and academically. This has led a lot of us to look back longingly at the status quo, and comment that we just want things to go back to normal, back to the way they always were. But what if these...

Intentional gate-keeping has taken place throughout history to keep classical music white. Afa Dworkin discusses the implications of the genre's color spectrum from a moral, artistic, and economic perspective. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at  https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode61   Facebook Page Instagram LinkedIn Twitter

Many life accomplishments depend less on academic learning than on social-emotional skills such as perseverance, impulse control, empathy, and a willingness to cooperate. Dr. Assal Habibi explains the effects of childhood music training on social development, and how social-emotional skills transfer to other, more consequential areas of life as children get older. Links and notes related to this e...

Dr. Anita Collins' new book,"The Music Advantage: How learning music helps your child's brain and wellbeing," was released September 1, 2020. Learn what research shows about the cognitive nutrient of sound, and about music learning's foundational relationship to other learning, including reading. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at  https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode59...

Rena Strober is a Broadway, film, and television actor (Disney's Liv & Maddie, VEEP, and Shameless ) is also an advocate for the blind. Her brand new album, "Imagine That! The Sesame Street Music of Joe Raposo & Jeff Moss," features an all-blind children's choir, as well as many famous guest artists. Rena tells us what makes this album so incredibly special. "What the world needs now, more than ev...

Our musical tastes provide remarkable insight into our personality traits. Dr. David Greenberg has combined science, music, and psychology to develop Musical Universe, "a 23andMe for music," whose data has been used by top research institutions. Take Musical Universe's free 15-minute test to discover what the music you listen to reflects about your "Big Five" personality traits. Links and notes re...

Royalties refer to the income artists earn when people or businesses use their music, including streams, radio play, album sales, musical toys(!), and more. We discuss the two most common royalties, performance and mechanical, and how these are distributed to artists, song writers, band members, and other rights holders. Bonus: Learn who gets unclaimed royalties! Links and notes related to this ep...

What is K-12 music education going to look like moving forward with a new, non-traditional "classroom?" Guest David Jewell says, "It is important to keep music at the forefront in the 'new normal.' …If you are not at the table, you are on the menu. One person can make a big difference. Take that step and be at the table." We discuss the "why" and "how" of keeping music at the forefront in whatever...

What if… there was a medical and educational assessment tool that could be used in person OR remotely; had the effect of lowering costs and reducing administrative burdens; was applicable across cultures, age groups, and physical & mental abilities; AND improved medical & educational outcomes? Point Motion has combined music, health, and technology to create this tool. Links and notes related to t...