Enhance Life with Music

MediMusic, a British health tech start-up, uses scientific research to unlock music's transformative medical benefits. It's new device, MediBeat, uses artificial intelligence to prescribe music for anxiety and pain, reducing the reliance on drugs in a wide variety of applications, including treatment of dementia, chronic pain, dentistry, pre/post operation, and physical therapy & rehab. Links and...

The Star Spangled Banner is the nickname of our flag, but it's also the title of our national anthem. What should we know about how our national song came to be, and what makes it unique among national anthems around the world?   Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode101 Connect with us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLifeMusic...

Dawn Mitchell White says, "Musical emotions aren't understood the same way as regular emotions. They don't require complex facial expressions or a 'tone of voice,' which are particularly difficult for children with autism to recognize. Musical emotions are easier for children with autism spectrum disorder to grasp because they are less socially complex." Dawn unpacks music's superpower in developi...

Sport Psychologist, musician, and USA Boxing certified coach Adam Gallenberg takes us behind the curtain of the boxing ring walk. We discuss how entrance music is selected; the meaning it has for athletes; and its psychological implications. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at  https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode99   Connect with us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/En...

Whether you consider yourself a musician or not, music is all around us! We explore the holistic power of music in our everyday lives through the lens of science & health, sports & entertainment, business, and education. Unleash the power of music in your life! Host Mindy Peterson is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music. Connect with us: Website: https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/ Facebook: ht...

One in three women worldwide have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence. Most of this violence is intimate partner violence, and tends to be underreported (meaning actual statistics are most likely higher). This means one in three of the women in our families, neighborhoods, offices, and schools are assault survivors. Why are music and music therapy particularly effective in helping wo...

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are virtual original art, just as bitcoin is virtual currency. Musicians have made millions in recent NFT sales, and unlike most revenue streams, an artist's NFT sales potential is not necessarily tied to the size of their fan base. What exactly are these collectibles-of-the-future, and why should they matter to musicians and their fans? Links and notes related to this e...

Music is a bridge between the mind and body, and has unique abilities to bring holistic healing to the body, mind, and soul of those living with MS. Betsy Hartman, MT-BC, outlines how and why music therapy is successfully utilized as part of an interdisciplinary approach to address therapeutic goals, improve quality of life, and train the mind to help heal itself. Discover resources and support fo...

SIL is a global, faith-based nonprofit that works with local communities around the world to develop language solutions that expand possibilities for a better life. Art is a form of communication, and SIL & Wycliffe Bible Translators recognize the value of communicating in the ways most familiar to individual communities. They want people to comprehend the Bible and worship in the language that is...

Nashville is known for its incredible musical and songwriting talent. But few people have had direct access to working with that talent... until now. Songwriting University now provides a digital portal for anyone worldwide to learn from and work with top songwriters in the industry. Whether you want to create an original song for your wedding, are exploring a career in music, or are looking for a...

Musician and space enthusiast Laurie Orth discovered the answer to this question serendipitously! Following her own passions and her students' interests led Laurie to combine two STEAM disciplines, space exploration and music. The result produced learning greater than the sum of its parts, and blasted doors wide open to a new universe of connections and opportunities. Laurie shares some of her fav...

Dr. Alice Hammel, co-author of Teaching Music to Students with Autism , shares the story of her journey to a vocation in music education for students with learning differences. We discuss the content of the books she's authored, what music has to offer those with autism, and practical tips for parents and educators (both in classroom and private lesson settings). Links and notes related to this ep...

A sonic exploration of the Vatnajökull Glacier in Iceland resulted in a collection of glacial found sounds. These captured sounds were then used to create a musical tribute to glaciers, and have also been made available to others to use. Sonic explorer, composer, and audio engineer Charles Van Kirk says, "There is a huge sense of urgency to make some kind of artistic tribute to these glaciers, now...

Concerns over national budget cuts for the arts in public schools led to Give a Note's formation by Ryan Murphy, Glee, and 20th Century Fox. Give a Note (GAN) recognizes and boosts music educators utilizing especially innovative strategies to engage students and benefit their communities outside traditional music curriculum. GAN's initiatives advance programs that attract students not typically en...

Analysis of a song's mathematical structure has led to technology called Hit Song Science (HSS). This science makes it possible to predict a new song's hit potential – AND has revolutionized the opportunities available to musicians. We discuss music's structural components, and how songs' mathematical relationships can predict commercial potential, level the playing field for musicians, connect mu...

The phrase, "It hurts so good" perfectly describes that experience of music perpetuating our negative emotions while somehow making us feel better at the same time. We untangle some of the different factors and threads that are at play in this paradox. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode88 Connect with us: Facebook: https://www.faceboo...

While there are many different learning styles and preferences, scientific research does point to certain common denominators in successful learning, meaning learning that not only acquires knowledge, but also retains that knowledge and applies it to future problems and scenarios. The book Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning is written by cognitive scientists to clarify what those co...

The award-winning movie Alive Inside (2014) inspired a five-year research project that is documenting the effects of a personalized music intervention for those with dementia. Dr. Coryse St. Hillaire-Clarke of The National Institute on Aging (NIA) explains the project, which is funded by an NIA grant. We discuss other studies and developments in music interventions for dementia, including two exci...

You can make music with others anytime, anyplace, and with anyone (including Ed Sheeran and Disney's Maui the demigod!) thanks to an app that has a really unique way of bringing the world together thru the medium of music. Smule encourages people to create, not just consume, music -- and to create music together. Smule co-founder and CEO Jeff Smith explains how music is the original social network...

I can't think of a better purpose for harnessing the healing power of music than to re-humanize and reconcile people living in stressful and de-humanizing conditions. That is exactly what Arts Capacity is doing by bringing music's healing and hope to prisoners. Music is used to allow people to access their own emotions and develop tools to be successful in their future as free citizens. Links and...

The development of social emotional learning (SEL) skills is embedded and inherent in musical training. And yet there are many ways we as educators and parents can streamline this process through being intentional in how we integrate SEL and music. A global pandemic has made this integration exponentially vital, and has increased our awareness of social and emotional needs – and how they can affec...

As humans, we tend to be fascinated with certain groups of human outliers, like Olympians, the extremely wealthy, and, definitely, geniuses. Genius cannot be predicted by standardized tests, IQ, or prodigy. But there are some common denominators, or "enablers," of genius. We talk about what they are, and what we can learn from them and adapt to our own lives, habits, and behaviors. Bonus: Tips for...

Music has the unique ability to both preserve diverse cultures AND bring those diverse cultures together. I find that musicians have a highly developed understanding that our shared goal is not uniformity, but unity; and that there is strength in our diversity. The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix is a place that showcases this aspect of music in a powerful way. This jewel is ten years o...

Performing artists are often the ones with the big name and face recognition, like Rihanna; but if someone else wrote the songs they're singing, they're not earning publishing royalties from their own performances. So how do these artists get paid for their performances? We discuss performing artists' various revenue streams, and how they are evolving in a pandemic. Links and notes related to this...

Our everyday movements and habits affect both our overall wellness AND our musicianship. Athletic and musical performers have much in common, including a susceptibility to repetitive use injuries, and physical performances that are highly affected by what's going on between our ears – our mental and emotional states. Founder and CEO of The Functional Musician, Austin Pancner is passionate about em...