Long, long, before MRIs and EEGs, nursery rhymes and music were known to be soothing and developmental for infants. Newborn Infants Detect The Beat In Music tells that a study by the University of Amsterdam reveals that two to three day old infants can detect rhythm in music. It is unknown whether our DNA is wired with this predilection for music, or whether the infant learns while still in the womb. (The infant's auditory capability has developed three months prior to birth.)
The university study wired infants with scalp electrodes and measured their neural responses to rhythm. Curiously when the beat of the music was interrupted, the infants would respond to even a single missing downbeat.
Baby Music explains that 6-month old infants are able to easily adjust to non-western rhythms, whereas adults have much more difficulty in perceiving the music. By 12 months, the young children have become accustomed to western music and do not respond as well to alternative culture music. When conditioned to the foreign music for two weeks, they respond much better than adults with similar conditioning.
For those that have a little Gershwin in them - I've got music, I've got rhythm, Microsoft has a new product named Songsmith. For complete novices, all is needed is for you to sing and Songsmith will automatically generate the background arrangement for you. This first product will not threaten the craft of songwriting, but it can be used by musicians for idea capturing and experimentation. For a good description of the new muse, see Music Creation for the Masses.
Me - I need voice alteration software.
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