This is Your Brain on Music

Daniel Levitin (author of This Is Your Brain on Music) has a fascinating site for his lab at McGill University. Including, but not limited to, his research, and video and audio news programs on Williams Syndrome, papers on Perfect Pitch, and an archive of all of the videos of the news coverage of his lab's work (great to use to introduce a friend to the deeper intricacies of music's effect on the human spirit.)

Be sure to check out the links page to take a look into other research in the field.

Listen to the Music (Therapy)

Australian Science Podcast All In The Mind has an episode devoted entirely to the therapeutic powers of music. It discusses the work of a trio of Australian Musical Therapists, working in fields as diverse as neonatal care, cancer, and neurodisabilities, all who have found healing power in music.

A worthwhile listen, and if you follow the links at the bottom of the episode page, you will find a few more episodes on music related stories they have run in the past.

Suzanne Hanser, chair of the Music Therapy Department at Berklee , writes a compelling account of her experiences and reflections with Reva, a 14-year-old patient who is most responsive when her world is colored with music. At times succumbing, and at times overcoming labels attached to her by the school system, Music Therapy helps Reva achieve more than the world expects of her.

The article is accessible here, courtesy of FUSION Magazine.