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.
This article takes a look at musicians' injuries. For an... Read More
Mp3 music is audio that has been digitally encoded and... Read More
They're everywhere, and not only are they everywhere, they look... Read More
Are you confused by the various types of music file... Read More
You've probably heard the saying "practice makes perfect" and it... Read More
It is believed that the custom of dining in began... Read More
Here's a method I use that works. First, sit down... Read More
We all know, if only instinctively, that music has a... Read More
"In human life, art may arise from almost any activity,... Read More
Way back in November I found myself at the Casby... Read More
So it has come to this... what we see overrides... Read More
We all want to be in the moment. That's where... Read More
President Harry S. Truman, the man in the White House... Read More
Your best music will always come when you are in... Read More
Music licensing can be a very confusing subject. My... Read More
Guitar chords, (chords played specifically on a guitar,) differ only... Read More
How would you like to spend 4 years in a... Read More
The Russian Composer Igor Stravinsky once said: " A good... Read More
Have you ever started learning a lick or exercise and... Read More
I wish you could have seen me play the piano... Read More
Probably the most enigmatic Singer and Guitarist of the twentieth... Read More
So you want to be more creative when playing piano.... Read More
Every once in a while a band comes along that... Read More
Change is good. Just ask the millions of unsigned artists... Read More
Ostinato means "repeating pattern" and is used frequently in all... Read More
When most people hear the word composer, they automatically think... Read More
For the Creative Artist -- Good Health Insurance is Truly... Read More
Like starting with any instrument, beginning clarinet is a process... Read More
I was thinking today about THE most dangerous enemy of... Read More
I was listening to NPR the other day when they... Read More
A student wrote me an email about the lesson "Ocean... Read More
Congratulations! Your singing has become amazing, and it's time the... Read More
On July 28, 2004, French Internet access providers and music... Read More
Recently, I had a student ask me to offer some... Read More
Today's technology for the recording musician has been getting better... Read More
Q. My children are very interested in playing music. Is... Read More
Most people these days would associate singing with the popular... Read More
The idea originated with singer Jon Bon Jovi. Jon kept... Read More
For the Creative Artist -- Good Health Insurance is Truly... Read More
OK, say you've got one thousand of your favorite MP3... Read More
If you're a digital music fan, you probably have problems... Read More
Rocket Piano is a very professionally done piano lesson package.... Read More
"The difference between success and failure is information," notes Ritch... Read More
The DJ industry is very competitive. There are many DJ's... Read More
1. Learn how to ImproviseLearning how to improvise is the... Read More
The gong is one of the oldest musical instruments in... Read More
If you or anyone you know wants to learn to... Read More
Playing the ModesWhen I used to use this pack with... Read More
Like starting with any instrument, beginning clarinet is a process... Read More
"I don't like to go into the studio with all... Read More
Pop/Rock Recording Artist Amber, who has scored seven #1 Billboard... Read More
Fan support for musicians is a two way street. You... Read More
When Akio Morita came up with the idea of the... Read More
Admit it... you were expecting a magic answer to this... Read More
Members of LAMN (founded in 1988) and NARIP (founded in... Read More
Chords. They're amazing. There's no doubt about it. Especially when... Read More
You don't 'need' to play guitar enough.If you desire to... Read More
Every once in a while a band comes along that... Read More
Let's face it. The world will not end if there... Read More
The music of Rush influences and inspires, at least that's... Read More
Probably the most enigmatic Singer and Guitarist of the twentieth... Read More
Some people think composing is this miraculous thing that only... Read More
We all know that music can be inspiring, entertaining, and... Read More
Music courses are a great way to learn about virtually... Read More
It is no secret that over the past couple decades... Read More
Mistake #1 - Thinking about what you're going to playA... Read More
Music & MP3 |