Abstract
Music is an important element in life. Every person has the ability to listen to music and evaluate it based on his or her own personal tastes. This paper explains Aristotle's belief that measuring the worth of music based on personal likes and dislikes was the only appropriate way to determine music value. The paper also discusses Plato's view which differed from Aristotle's. Plato claimed that certain criteria had to be used to evaluate music. These criteria were necessary to alleviate subjective arguments and provide a universal system of measurement important in an ordered society. The paper then discusses the point that, while it is Aristotle's concept of music evaluation that was ultimately embraced by society, Plato's musical evaluation process can still be attributed to the manner in which some people believe that the value of music should be measured. Plato believed that music had the power to alter human emotion.

Tags:music, plato, philosophy

Abstract
This paper examines the different ways humans perceive music. The paper asserts that music may mean something different to everyone. It discusses the factors that influence how an individual perceives music such as biology and musical training. It also examines emotions evoked by music, and its therapeutic effects. The paper concludes that research the links between melody and the mind indicates that listening to and playing music can actually alter how our brains and our bodies function.

Outline:
Biology of Hearing
Musical Training
Musical Therapy

From the Paper
"Since music can affect our emotions, we have found ways to benefit from this such as music therapy. There are plenty of uses of music such as stress and anxiety relief, and also an intervention for pain perception (Richards , Johnson, Sparks, & Emerson, 2007)(Labbe, Schmidt, Babin, & Pharr, 2007). Studies have shown that listening to classical or self-selected relaxing music results in reductions of anxiety, anger, and sympathetic nervous system arousal and increased relaxation compared to those who sit in silence or listen to heavy metal music (Labbe et al.). On the contrary, it has been reported that 60% of adolescents who listen to heavy metal reported an improvement in their moods (Gross. 2006). This shows it may not matter the type of music one listens to as long as the individual enjoys it."

Tags:music, therapy

Abstract
The paper shows that today, without computers, we would be unable to listen to music videos and the radio, play musical instruments, listen to musicians perform, or attend a concert or movie. The paper investigates the major role computers have in the music industry and discusses dialogue, sound effects, and music post production.

From the Paper
"In addition to being able to create synthesized effects, preprogrammed sound from libraries designed for specific synthesizer brands and models are available. These collections may be grouped by type of sound effect, such as screams, thunder, punches, or by instrument category, such as drum, string, brass, and keyboard sounds. These libraries come in various formats, such as floppy and hard disk and plug-in memory cartridge."

Tags:canned, copyright, customized, generated, library, sampling, synthesized

Abstract
The paper explains how music works to change moods or emotions and is therefore therapeutic for people with special needs. The paper describes how music helps with the learning processes of people with a lack of attention, autism and pervasive developmental disorder and also helps in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The paper emphasizes how music helps us relax our minds and concentrate better.

From the Paper
"Music is an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner. Common elements of music are: pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture. The tempo of a piece of music roughly equates with the heartbeat associated with the corresponding physical state. It moves in time and suggests movement, and we tend to associate music unconsciously with movements made by our bodies while talking, walking, running, dancing, and riding. Pitch on its own can affect how we perceive sounds and music, providing a basic scale from "high = light, happy, carefree" to "low = dark, sad, ominous". So, pitch on its own affects our perceptions."

Tags:therapy, special, needs, brain, emotions

Abstract
This paper briefly traces the origins of music from the ancient idea of listening to music for purely "emotional pleasure" to the more recent purpose which serves to elevate the listener to a "higher plane" of cosmic awareness. The remainder of the essay discusses the many health benefits of listening to music (e.g. lowers blood pressure and heart rate).

From the Paper
"And so it was for most of Western history. Music accrued a great power and great purpose: to elevate the listener to this 'higher plane' of cosmic awareness and connection. This purpose would be called 'spiritual' today, or perhaps, more clinically, psycho-emotional. But to the ancients, there was no other purpose worthy of attainment. Music that was listened to for purely 'emotional pleasure', or that elicited mere sensual reverie, was viewed as the basest form of musical experience, and was, until the ascendance of 'Romanticism', disdained.
"Though today the issue of music's ability to "heal" is both fervently supported and contested, Pythagorus, were he present to witness this debate, would no doubt be surprised that such a purpose could ever be questioned. Sickness in his day was always a spiritual matter--or more accurately, a 'metaphysical' matter. To be 'sick' was to be out of harmony with the Universe. The proper music was obviously a means of restoring the ailing psyche to resonance with the Musica Cosmologica."

Tags:Pythagoras healing psychoacoustics, alternative therapy, the music of the spheres

Abstract
This paper describes the author's experience of attending a classical music concert and the emotions that were felt from listening to the music. The author gives a background of the orchestra that played, then explores the impact and influence of music on its listeners and its therapeutic effects as well. The paper concludes with a discusison of how classical music appreciation is becoming more widespread.

From the Paper
"The concept of music as therapy is a very mainstream idea, however, very few people really understand the nuances of musical therapy. People tend to think that any type of background music will cause them to become calm and focused, receiving the therapeutic effects of music. Quite to the contrary Dr. Oliver Sacks, a neurologist writes that there is a strong difference between recreational music and therapeutic music. He explains, "the power of music to integrate and cure is quite fundamental. It is the profoundest non-chemical medication" (Sacks, npg). The beauty of music in general is that music is very easily absorbed by our minds. Since it is such an easy integrating method with our brains, we can achieve a sense of greater peace and tranquility when fully concentrating on music. At the core level, classical music is one of the strongest therapeutic musical mediums. This is because the therapeutic affect of music can be strongly attributed to the natural phenomenon of entrainment through rhythm. The concept of entrainment is to synchronize with something or someone, in both positive and negative ways. The effect of classical music as therapy is multifold, it is both psychological as well as physical. Sound is a physical force and part of the affect of classical music is to use the combination of mental and physical sensations caused by the music. As a result, classical music such Mozart's no. 23 Concerto affect not only the mind, but also how the immune system reacts. Music is entrenched in such a way that it becomes catalysts for emotional and mood adjuster, precisely because it uses physical sensation as a trigger for emotions and thoughts."

Tags:University, of, Michigan, Life, Sciences, Orchestra, classical, music, appreciation

Abstract
The paper discusses how everyone listens to music and responds in some way, though people tend to respond differently to different types of music. The paper looks at studies that have been conducted on how music affects thinking in different situations and on the more general issue of how the brain is affected by music whenever music is heard.

From the Paper
"Everyone listens to music and responds in some way, though people tend to respond differently to different types of music. Even though there are individual differences in how people respond to any given piece of music, there are clearly certain cognitive processes involved in the way the brain hears the music and then reacts. Studies have been conducted on how music affects thinking in different situations and on the more general issue of how the brain is affected by music whenever music is heard. Bruner discusses studies of the behavioral effects of music and finds that music has an effect on consumers in marketing-related contexts as an important stimulus. Music has been shown to be an important component in..."

Tags:music, brain, activity

Abstract
To understand the question as to whether or not music has an effect upon performance in the workplace one must understand that music can and does have an effect (both positive and negative) upon the performance of anyone in any environment. Many studies have been completed that highlight the effects of music production upon the long-term educational process, of music listening and the types of music listened to on laboratory animals, adults, children, and even agricultural crops and house-plants. These studies have provided for a general consensus that music, the right music at the right volume, can help people relax, focus more intently upon their tasks, absorb material and information at a higher rate, and be, in general, more productive. The problem is, however, that what is and what is not conducive to work environments depends wholly upon the type of work being done, the personalities of the workers, and the level of flexibility offered by the employer in relation to the playing / listening to and of music while at work. What we can derive from these studies is that most businesses that do not require their workers to be in a constant state of intense communication that requires full attention for give and take in the conversation (i.e. phone service-related employees) that do provide for music in the workplace will find that workers are more prone to be productive. But, there is a caveat as stated previously - it depends upon the music itself and the relative receptiveness of the audience as to whether or not mass-music is appropriate or if individualized (i.e. headphones or speakers playing quietly at a desk) music playing is better. The wrong music / personality combination can result in negative results, greater levels of frustration and irritation, and lower levels of productivity.

Abstract
The paper explains that music is not only similar to mathematics, but listening and practicing music results in an increase in mathematical ability and improves performance in all academic fields. The paper looks at the evidence suggested by a study of babies, that shows how the mathematical structures upon which music is built are recognized by functions of the brain, which then are improved by listening to music.

Outline:
Math and Music
Mathematics, Music, and Intellect
The Math of Music in Action
Music, Math, and Education
The Universal Mathematical Appeal of Music

From the Paper
"The relationship between math and music has been well established, in that the basic foundations of music lie in the production of balanced sounds, which when boiled down, equates to mathematics. Simply defined, music is an ordered pattern of sounds. While the music in and of itself may be quite complex, it may be analyzed in terms of three primary musical structures, those being melody, harmony and rhythm. Each of these structures possesses its own types of patterns which are of course mathematical in nature. (Shaw et. al. 54) Music occurs in time, and the inherently temporal or time-related aspects of musical patterns is of particular interest when considering the function of music in relation to higher brain functions, as well be discussed further in a later section. In music there is a succession of musical sounds, characterized by pitch and time, replete with relationships and devoid of obvious connotations, which are the characteristics which often give music its deep and almost universal appeal (Van de Water 172) These characteristics of music are what create the mathematical structure upon which pleasing sounds are built."

Tags:melody, harmony, rhythm, brain, patterns, academics

Abstract
This paper explains that music therapy, a fairly new form of treatment, is a viable, effective and financially responsible means of aiding a diverse population. The paper further relates that this therapy arose out of the theory that in listening to music not only is it heard and appreciated in the conscious state but also the beat, tempo and tones have subconscious effects. The paper emphasizes the successful application of music therapy to the treatment of autism. An annotated bibliography is included in the paper.

From the Paper
"The publication of Thomas' not only proved that a connection between music and brain performance truly does exist, but that it can improve spatial and mathematical skills, not simply creative skills. Fueled by new factual research and an interested public, many official figures began to suggest the use of classical music early in the education system. Not long after the study was released, Governor Zell Miller proposed that his state of Georgia would sanction $105,000 of the budget every year to provide every child of Georgia with a CD or Tape recordings of classical music."

Tags:interventions mozart alzheimer's, attention capacity, verbalization