Enhance Life with Music

Whether we realize it or not, intervals inform our perception of the everyday sounds of our lives. It is an interval that makes our national anthem unique, lets you know you're in trouble with your mother, and gets your attention through a train whistle or siren. And then there's that interval that was banned during the Renaissance… Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://m...

Dalcroze education has been around for over 100 years, and its principles are experiencing a resurgence in interest and application outside of the music education arena (including therapeutic uses for the aging). We discuss what this holistic learning method IS, why it began, and its innovative uses today. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/e...

Learn how schools are organically integrating STEAM education while differentiating their innovative offerings… and within their budget parameters. We discuss the benefits of bringing music production & songwriting into the classroom; why it's such a hit with students, parents, and teachers alike; and resources to get started in your school. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at...

Our very first social interactions are musical, and the singing of lullabies to babies is universal across cultures. We discuss the common elements of lullabies, benefits of live-sung lullabies to both baby and caregiver, and just how long those benefits extend. Bonus: We answer the age-old mystery of why the most enduring lullabies have such dark lyrics (think rock-a-bye baby)! Links and notes re...

Implementing the arts in healthcare allows patients to heal holistically: body, mind, and soul. Healthcare institutions are increasingly embracing design, visual arts, and performing arts strategies to improve the patient experience, mitigate staff burnout, and increase financial efficiencies. We discuss the state of the field of arts in health, and recent efforts to equip and professionalize the...

Music is a powerful tool to unlock memories. Games provide an opportunity to disconnect from work and reconnect with the people in our lives. Song Saga gamifies storytelling and listening to music in a way that fosters real human connection. Get ready to learn new things about your friends and discover new music every time you play! Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://m...

"The pioneers carried only the clothes on their backs and the bare necessities in their wagons, yet they experienced a rich musical life in the wilderness… Each group wove their own thread of music into the colorful and diverse musical tapestry of the American West." So begins Laura Dean's historical account of the integral role music played in the Westward Expansion. Her new book explores the dip...

There are generations of kids who first became familiar with classical music through cartoons. What were considered the "golden years" of cartoon music, and why was classical music heavily used in cartoons during this time? How has classical music's role in cartoons changed throughout the decades? Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode133...

What exactly IS a recording studio engineer, and what do they do? We discuss the "golden era" of sound engineering (1955-1975), the dual roles engineers played during this time, how the role has changed in recent decades, and why today's engineers have a renewed interest in the processes of that era. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode...

Are people who study a musical instrument better able to process and learn foreign languages? What similarities underlie speech and music? Bonus: Discover a fun and simple test to measure a person's adeptness at learning a foreign language! Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode131 Connect with us: Newsletter: https://mpetersonmusic.com/s...

We discuss this new model that combines elements from music therapy and psychotherapy; the act of bravery and recorded session that captured my attention; and resources for learning more. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode130 Connect with us: Newsletter: https://mpetersonmusic.com/subscribe Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLi...

Musicians Without Borders brings music's power for peacebuilding and social change to people and places affected by war, armed conflict, and displacement. Its founder, Laura Hassler, says, "Music is the ultimate expression of human connectivity." Hear powerful personal stories of music literally opening borders! Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/pod...

The research space at the intersection of music and mental wellness is a new and rapidly growing frontier. We discuss ways to utilize music to move one step closer, from wherever one may be, to a state of greater joy and thriving mental health. Join us for personal stories, topic trends, and resources for some spring cleaning of the brain! Links and notes related to this episode can be found at ht...

Medical doctor and musicologist Patricia Caicedo authored the new book, We Are What We Listen To: The impact of Music on Individual and Social Health. She explains how music can impact our homeostasis or equilibrium, that optimum state of physical and psychological health. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode127 Connect with us: Newslet...

Band directors very often are the ONLY teachers of music many kids will ever have access to. Without them, many of our country's kids would have no musical experience. Get a glimpse of a day-in-the-life of these teachers, why they do what they do, and myths about their vocation. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode126 Connect with us: N...

Nicole Porter directed child therapy in the days following the Sandy Hook School tragedy. The processes and tools developed with the Newtown families inspired her to establish a mental health organization and art therapy trauma response team. We discuss how art and music are used therapeutically for childhood crises, and why children of ALL ages will benefit from Nicole's brand new album that is h...

Music can be strategically used to calm a dog's nervous system, affecting their behavior, longevity, and health. Music can be used to treat and prevent behavior challenges and anxieties – and works symbiotically for those on both ends of the leash! Enhance life – for you and your dog together – with music! Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/e...

The Jerusalem Youth Chorus is a choral and dialogue program for Palestinian and Israeli youth in Jerusalem. Through the co-creation of music and the sharing of stories, young people meet those from "the other side," gain an understanding of the perspectives of one another, and become forces for peace, justice, inclusion, and equality. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https:/...

Universal life skills, like problem-solving, discipline, and creativity, are inherent in the study of music. But how automatic is it for students to transfer these lessons to non-music areas of their lives? This cross-training can be intentionally taught and learned, resulting in elevated musical performance AND greater life success. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://...

Music is a powerful tool for creating an emotional connection between consumers and a product or service. In an audio age of ever-decreasing attention spans and fierce competition, a sonic logo can give a marketing strategy the winning edge – and it's not just for the big brands. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode121 Connect with us:...

As a middle school band teacher, Julie Duty had a passion for creating an inclusive classroom where students of all abilities and disabilities learned together. She also experienced firsthand the lack of training, support, and resources available to teachers wanting to make this happen. She created a solution, United Sound, which utilizes peer mentors to create student led music clubs within schoo...

Most adults wish they could play a musical instrument, and want to give that gift to their children. The most important component – more important than the instrument itself – is the music TEACHER! But how do you find a teacher who will be a great fit for your child and situation, so that the experience is a positive one with the results you're looking for? Learn the most important question to ask...

It has become cliché to talk about the power of music to change the world. Today's episode is a case study of someone whose music really has changed the world, and that is Bob Dylan. How did Dylan's music change the world? And what did his hometown have to do with it? Bob Dylan was born in 1941, so 2021 is his 80 th year, so this seems a very appropriate topic for our closing episode of 2021. Link...

The Twin Cities is the unofficial capital of Norwegian America, and our own Dr. Melissa Holm-Johansen, native of Halden, Norway, highlights the unique role music plays in Norwegian culture. We discuss what she misses most about Norway's music traditions, what sets it apart from the music of other cultures, and the aspects of everyday life that it permeates. Links and notes related to this episode...

Get the creative gifting wheels turning with specific ideas on gifting music to others – or yourself – this Christmas or for any occasion. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode116 Connect with us: Newsletter: https://mpetersonmusic.com/subscribe Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLifeMusic/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enh...