Music Information

If Seals Can Sing, Why Cant You?


It sounds like a side show, doesn't it? It does to me. But it's true; researchers have discovered that some varieties of seals really do sing. Indeed, male leopard seals have been heard singing complex melodies in their lonely search for a mate. Likewise, male Weddell seals, which are a very social creature, lure their mate by improvising original melodies the way a master musician would in front of an audience.

Hearing that seals sing really shouldn't surprise any of us. Music is a central element of life. Walk through the forest at night in the eastern part of the United States and you can't help but be moved by the symphony of sound that is created when each woodland creature sings its part.

Music moves us, often in ways that we don't understand. For example who hasn't been calmed by the sound of quiet singing such as a lullaby? But more than that, who can explain why cows produce more milk and chickens lay more eggs when listening to certain songs like The Blue Danube? I've seen many studies that verify that these observations are true, but none that I've seen fully explain why.

Fortunately, we don't really have to understand why singing and music in general is so central to the world we live in to benefit from it. I doubt that Mozart or Beethoven understood it, but we have all benefited from the works of these two masters, both of whom seem to have benefited from listening to the birds sing. As a matter of fact, many people believe that Beethoven actually stole the opening to his Violin Concerto in D, Opus 61 from the song of the European Blackbird! Maybe, maybe not. But we know from Mozart's own notebooks that he played the last movement of his Piano Concerto in G Major to his pet starling who then sang the passage back to Mozart with revisions that impressed the master. Now that's singing worth noting!

So sing already! Join all of God's creatures in singing and making melody. In the animal kingdom that singing comes in all forms so there's no reason that any of us can't join in. We might as well, the more we learn of the world around us, the more we learn that singing and making music is central to life.

If seals can sing, so can you!

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. His book-CD-DVD course titled "How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano!" has sold over 100,000 copies around the world. He holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. He is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" with over 58,300 current subscribers.


MORE RESOURCES:

Music Review Beethoven Moving on, Challenging Tradition
New York Times, United States - 6 hours ago
On Wednesday at Mannes College the New School for Music, the Orion Quartet — the brothers Daniel and Todd Phillips, the cellist Timothy Eddy and the violist ...
Music : Who Is the Greatest Composer Ever? Prudent Press Agency (press release)
Review: Unified, visionary quartet brings Beethoven to life Salt Lake Tribune
What's it all about, Beethoven? WMUB
all 20 news articles


Telegraph.co.uk

Pop stars demand control over music
The Press Association - 6 hours ago
Robbie Williams, Radiohead and Kate Nash are among Britain's top pop and rock acts who are demanding more control over their music. Dozens of the music ...
UK Artists Form Coalition To Protect Rights Billboard
Radiohead, Billy Bragg, Others Join to Demand Fair Treatment Wired News
The Music Industry Reacts To Online Music All About Symbian
Exclaim! - NME.com
all 368 news articles


Universal Music Group (UMG) Partners With Dada Entertainment
MarketWatch - 20 hours ago
Starting today, tracks from Universal Music Group's catalogue will be available for Dada.net users to download as DRM-free full-track MP3s and ringtones. ...
Sony’s expands 66-cent-per-song music attack at Apple TG Daily
Sony Selling DRM-free Songs On Dada.net for 66 Cents Sony Insider
Universal commits to Dada.net download store Mobile Entertainment
MarketWatch
all 20 news articles


MLive.com

Taj Mahal celebrates 40 years in music with 'Maestro'
MLive.com, MI - 12 hours ago
But, it was a portly, old grandpa with just his guitar and his foot-a-stomping that stole the show at the 2008 ROTHBURY music festival held this past summer ...
With 40 years behind him, Taj Mahal has 'tons more stuff to do' Malaysia Star
Mahal's 'Maestro' worth the wait Salt Lake Tribune
all 3 news articles


Red Herring

The Case for Wii Music
Red Herring, CA - 12 hours ago
by Michael Lee After spending some time with Nintendo’s upcoming music “non-game” Wii Music at last week’s Nintendo Media Summit in San Francisco, ...


New York Times

Music Review | American Symphony Orchestra
New York Times, United States - 6 hours ago
... Symphony Orchestra’s chief concern, but Leon Botstein, its music director, has often turned his attention to neglected corners of the repertory. ...


The Associated Press

Jimmy Kimmel returns as American Music Awards host
The Associated Press - Oct 6, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Kimmel is coming back to provide more laughs for the American Music Awards. The comedian and talk show host is slated to host the ...


Review: Zune music player catching up to iPod
CNN - 16 hours ago
New menu items for Games and Marketplace have been added alongside existing selections for Music, Videos, Pictures, Social, Radio, Podcasts, and Settings. ...
Zune Marketplace (October 2008) Wi-Fi Hi-Fi PC Magazine
PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY: YouTube habit won't get you in trouble Cherry Hill Courier Post
Zune Marketplace (October 2008) PC Magazine
all 4 news articles


Reuters

NKorean defector gives piano recital
The Associated Press - 13 hours ago
Kim, the son of a prominent North Korean and former first pianist of the State Symphony Orchestra, said the North severely restricts the music people can ...
Dissident North Korean plays "Amazing Grace" in US Reuters
NK Defector Performs at US State Dept. KBS
all 96 news articles


BBC News

Coldplay win two top Q music awards
Reuters India, India - 20 hours ago
British band Coldplay won two top prizes at the Q music magazine awards on Monday, taking the Best Album title for chart-topper "Viva La Vida or Death and ...
Coldplay Heats Up Q Awards E! Online
Double win for Coldplay at Q Awards Times Online
Grace Jones steals the show at the Q Awards Telegraph.co.uk
BBC News - The Press Association
all 189 news articles

Music - Google News

home | site map
© 2006