Can Music Be Used To Communicate?

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I'd like your opinions. I'll explain why later.
  • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
    I absolutely believe that it can.

    I mean who doesn't have a strong emotional memory that is connected to a particular song and the memory brought to the forefront of the mind in hearing it??

    Lot's of couples and even close friends have a "song".


    Terra
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      A form of music is used for communication throughout the animal kingdom, obvious examples being whales and birds, but music can also prove effective in breaking down the communication barriers that illness or disability have caused in humans.

      In the UK, the music industry supports the Nordoff Robbins charity which has a long and distinguished reputation for using music to help communicate with sufferers of illnesses and disabilities. In countless cases, music therapy has been the key to opening a line of communication with these patients and has helped put them on the road to recovery, or at the very least provided them with a vital means of relief.

      You can read about their work here:

      Who can music therapy help? - Nordoff Robbins - Music Transforming Lives


      Frank
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      • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
        "Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable."
        Leonard Bernstein

        "Music is the universal language of mankind."
        Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Of course we can communicate through music. How else do you think we talk to aliens?

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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    Can oxygen be used to breathe?
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    Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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  • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
    The book of love has music in it
    In fact that's where music comes from
    Some of it's just transcendental
    Some of it's just really dumb


    But I
    I love it when you sing to me
    And you
    You can sing me anything
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    Music vocabulary:

    Confirming a joke:

    Impending doom:

    Go get em:

    You stink:



    this is fun... anyone have any more?
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Isn't that the purpose of music?
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    I'd like your opinions. I'll explain why later.
    Steven, is this song communicating anything to you?



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  • Profile picture of the author socialentry
    Banned
    Communicate what?
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Hmmm. Well this chick here (self) has a habit of singing when in areas there are wild animals and especially when I can see them. Something soft and melodious, like Moon Dance, which is a favorite tune of mine for getting out of the car in a canyon.

    Why? Because music conveys happiness and tranquility - and animals seem to see it as non-threatening communication. I've never experienced or seen an animal attack someone who is singing to it. Actually, a soft high noted, musical baby-talk does the same thing. It's hard to appear threatening when your sounds are soft and melodious.

    Incidentally - the deep voice of a man is probably why men are attacked by animals so much more often than women.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    Have you seen this? I was floored by their sample of Für Elise played in a major key.
    5 Ways Your Taste in Music is Scientifically Programmed | Cracked.com
    Does music communicate?
    Even people in a remote tribe in Cameroon, largely cut off from modern world influences, were able to identify modern tunes they'd never heard before as sad or happy. I've long thought the human mind is not a blank slate but more like a building full of light switches that are turned on or off by interactions with the environment. I feel that an intrinsic reaction to moods in music, irrespective of cultural background supports this idea.
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

      Have you seen this? I was floored by their sample of Für Elise played in a major key.
      5 Ways Your Taste in Music is Scientifically Programmed | Cracked.com
      Does music communicate?
      Even people in a remote tribe in Cameroon, largely cut off from modern world influences, were able to identify modern tunes they'd never heard before as sad or happy. I've long thought the human mind is not a blank slate but more like a building full of light switches that are turned on or off by interactions with the environment. I feel that an intrinsic reaction to moods in music, irrespective of cultural background supports this idea.
      I think I originally picked up this article here, LOL. I can't remember who I first got it from.
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      Project HERE.

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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Yeah it's still up...95,988 views as I post this.

    Cheers

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author onSubie
      Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

      Yeah it's still up...95,988 views as I post this.

      Cheers

      -don
      I still get "Video not available" with the :/ face.

      Maybe it is blocked outside the U.S. Sometimes content is blocked from Canada. Comedy Central, Hulu, often ESPN clips.

      I don't think I have seen a YouTube video with only regional viewability but I guess I wouldn't know because it doesn't give a "blocked for you region" message that other video sources show.

      But I have seen the movie so I know what's going on...
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    96,009 now...

    FWIW, I have seen videos on YT display a message something like "the uploader has not made this video available in your country" or "this video is not available in your country".

    Oh, well. No biggie!

    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author Corey Taylor
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    I'd like your opinions. I'll explain why later.
    Of course, it can.

    The artist/band communicates with his/her listeners and
    share almost the same feelings without even knowing each other. It's magic.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    In more ways than one:

    Nature has a New Instrument
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    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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  • Profile picture of the author Joel Young
    I've always told people, if you want to really know me, listen to my music.
    When my wife was 14 (she wasn't my wife then, of course) she wrote a song. One of the verses said:

    Singing's easier than talking,
    Talking tends to be hot or cold.
    But singing is warm and understanding.
    Things are felt before they're told.
    Other than thinking that's one of the best four lines I've ever heard, I think it aptly sums up the answer to the question.
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    • Profile picture of the author onSubie
      Originally Posted by Joel Young View Post

      I've always told people, if you want to really know me, listen to my music.
      When my wife was 14 (she wasn't my wife then, of course) she wrote a song. One of the verses said:

      Singing's easier than talking,
      Talking tends to be hot or cold.
      But singing is warm and understanding.
      Things are felt before they're told.


      Other than thinking that's one of the best four lines I've ever heard, I think it aptly sums up the answer to the question.
      Excellent- reminds me a bit of this quote:

      "Why are you sad?"

      "Because you speak to me in words, and I look at you with feelings."

      - Anna Karina, Pierrot le Fou (1965)
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  • Profile picture of the author ndee
    Absolutely!
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    nDee

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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    I'd like your opinions. I'll explain why later.


    .
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  • Profile picture of the author sukumar
    oviouly, why not. there is a proverb in bengali that who do not like music he can do any hermfull think.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    Well, it has been a week since I asked this question and promised I would explain why later. In order to do that, you need to painfully go through this thread at GearSlutz.

    https://www.gearslutz.com/board/elec...heory-edm.html

    TLDR - A particular person there (Grumphh) insists that music doesn't communicate and gives his reasons. In response, a number of musicians, myself included, try to explain to him why it does. I ultimately ended up getting an infraction during all of this because of my frustration with this person.

    It's a fascinating read for those with an hour or two to kill. The arguments for are incredibly complex, sighting many scientific studies.

    Still, I am baffled at how closed minded this person, a musician himself, can be.

    And ironically, the thread started out as music theory for EDM (Electronic Dance Music)

    See, the WF isn't the only place where people go off on wild tangents.
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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      TLDR - A particular person there (Grumphh) insists that music doesn't communicate and gives his reasons. In response, a number of musicians, myself included, try to explain to him why it does. I ultimately ended up getting an infraction during all of this because of my frustration with this person.
      I can't think of a single song, with words especially, that isn't trying to communicate something to me and anyone listening.
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      Wibble, bark, my old man's a mushroom etc...

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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Except for EDM, music communicates. LOL
    (Not a genre for me.)
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    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      Except for EDM, music communicates. LOL
      (Not a genre for me.)
      Fair point Biz, and Bieber whilst we're on.
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      • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
        Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

        Fair point Biz, and Bieber whilst we're on.
        Bieb's not music.
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        • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
          Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

          Bieb's not music.


          Now that is an excellent point.
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          Wibble, bark, my old man's a mushroom etc...

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