As soon as you hear a proposition, the creative brain in humans assumes for the moment that it's true, and starts trying to find evidence. It's what computer scientists in the old days used to call 'Fifo:' first in, first out. The first piece of information that gets in has a privileged position, even if it's misinformation.
There's an ancient connection between movement and music. Most languages don't make a distinction between the words 'music' and 'dance.' And we can see that in the brain. When people are lying perfectly still but listening to music, the neurons in the motor cortex are firing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the intrinsic link between music and movement, suggesting they are deeply interconnected in human experience.
Daniel Levitin's quote emphasizes the profound relationship between music and movement, indicating that the two forms of expression are intertwined. He points out that many languages treat 'music' and 'dance' as one, reflecting their unity in culture. Furthermore, the scientific observation that the brain's motor cortex activates even when one is at rest while listening to music underscores how deeply music can influence our physical responses, suggesting that rhythm and melody inherently promote an instinctive movement in humans.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could inspire a dance workshop to show how music influences movement.
More from Daniel Levitin
All quotes →What music is better able to do than language is to represent the complexity of human emotional states.
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