Articles tagged with Musical Instruments
A new study suggests that musical scales may have evolved to accommodate the variability of the human voice, rather than the perfect tuning of instruments. This theory has implications for understanding the development of singing and speech production in tone languages.
A £1m grant will explore the link between cultural pursuits and health wellbeing, gathering new data from 3 years. Researchers will study how joining a choir, attending art classes or going to museums affects society's health.
A new study published in Brain and Cognition found that musicians have faster reaction times to sensory stimuli than non-musicians. The research suggests that long-term musical training can reduce simple non-musical auditory, tactile, and multisensory reaction times.
The Journal of Creative Music Systems features research on artificial intelligence in music, including harmonisation and vocal synthesis. The first issue has received an overwhelming response from contributors worldwide.
Researchers from Autodesk and Dartmouth College developed Printone, an interactive design tool that allows users to create functional 3-D printed wind instruments with interactive sound simulation feedback. Users can transform shapes into instruments and play favorite melodies.
A study by Eriko Aiba found that professional musicians' brains process musical information differently, depending on their prioritization strategy. Some prioritize sight and others rely on auditory memory to learn music, leading to the development of efficient learning methods tailored to individual brain strategies.
Research confirms spider webs are superbly tuned instruments for vibration transmission, with web tension and stiffness controlling information sent. Spiders use web vibrations to detect prey and predators, with their 'view' relying almost exclusively on this sensory input.
Doctors identify bagpipe lung as a potential hazard for wind instrument players due to fungal growth in moist interiors. A case report reveals a man's death from hypersensitivity pneumonitis linked to playing the bagpipes, highlighting the risk of contamination.
A study found that patients who listened to relaxing music before cataracts surgery experienced significantly reduced anxiety and required less sedation. Music-induced relaxation lasts for approximately 60 minutes after the music stops, making it a potential non-pharmacological method to reduce pre-operative anxiety.
Researchers are studying the lowest vocal register, called vocal fry, to better understand its emotional properties and how it affects listeners. The technique has become popular in pop and country music, with female singers' use of vocal fry rating them as more expressive.
Researchers found that varnish increases damping throughout the wood surface, leading to a more isotropic sound radiation. The type of varnish used can also affect the sound, with German master violin makers' varnishes producing a louder tone.
Researchers at KAIST developed K-Glass 3, a smart glasses device with a low-power multicore processor enabling convenient typing and screen pointing. The device features stereo vision and deep-learning algorithms, allowing users to enjoy enhanced AR experiences.
Researchers at Columbia University are reengineering and simplifying music to make it more enjoyable for listeners with cochlear implants. By analyzing which parts of music are most important for listener enjoyment, they aim to develop software that can take original pieces and reconfigure them or allow users to engineer their own music.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a wearable robotic limb that allows drummers to play with three arms. The smart arm responds to human gestures and music, enabling a more sophisticated and creative experience. The technology has the potential to be applied in various fields, including medicine and engineering.
A Northwestern University class estimated the costs and benefits of securing water heaters against earthquake damage. The study concluded that investing in water heater protection would yield a low return on investment compared to buying lottery tickets with high jackpots.
African Music, Power, and Being in Colonial Zimbabwe explores how British colonists suppressed and co-opted African music and dance, while Chikowero argues that indigenous people used music as a form of resistance. The book reveals the role of music in the subjugation and liberation of African culture during colonial times.
The University of Huddersfield has made a significant recording of the ancient Celtic instrument carnyx, featuring John Kenny's compositions and improvisations. The project, part of the European Music Archaeology Project (EMAP), aims to recreate prehistoric music and showcase its importance in understanding European heritage.
Scientists have found a method to mitigate Edge Localized Modes (ELMs) in tokamaks by using magnetic fields to produce a specific note, reducing the risk of damage to the vessel's walls. This new technique could be crucial for the success of ITER.
A group of undergraduate researchers experimentally investigated the Himalayan singing bowl and discovered how it produces 'chatter', a rapid knocking sound. The study found that the puja's motion excites the vibration of the bowl, causing a unique deflection shape.
Research finds that Hanoks' earthen walls, paper windows, and wooden floors create a resonance effect, amplifying sound clarity and reverberation time. The unique acoustics of these traditional Korean houses make them suitable for playing classic instruments like zithers.
Computer scientists at Columbia Engineering and Harvard have developed an algorithm to 3D print vibrational sounds by optimizing the shape of objects. The 'zoolophone' is a metallophone with keys in the shape of zoo animals that produces professional-sounding notes.
British parents prioritize family ties over musical achievement, unlike American parents who associate music with educational success. UK parents view playing an instrument as a way to forge family cohesion and value music as a family tradition.
A new study from the University of Cambridge found that personality trait Openness is a key predictor of musical ability and sophistication. People with high levels of Openness are more imaginative and open to new ways of thinking, which can lead to better musical performance.
Research suggests that playing music in operating theaters can increase tensions due to ineffective communication and may impact patient safety. The study of 20 operations in the UK found repeated requests were 5 times more likely with music present than without.
Researchers developed an augmented reality display to improve audience understanding of electronic musicians' engagement during performances. The technology uses 3D virtual content and mixed-reality displays to enhance the audience experience.
Researchers at University of Chicago have trained some adults to develop absolute pitch through music training, and the effects last for months. The study suggests that auditory working memory capacity predicts success in acquiring this skill.
Scientists at Toyohashi University of Technology used supercomputers to model air-reed instrument flow and sound. The study reveals the relationship between shape/material changes and tone generation, paving the way for new musical instrument designs.
A new study at MIT reveals the secret to the iconic Cremonese violins' powerful sound: elongated f-holes and thicker back plates. Researchers found that makers may have inadvertently crafted these features, as small errors in craftsmanship led to evolutionary changes.
Researchers found that music playing alters motor areas of the brain, influencing executive functioning, working memory, and emotional processing. A child's musical background also correlates with cortical thickness in behavior-regulating areas.
A plant scientist has applied morphometric analysis to violin design, revealing parallels between leaf shapes and instrument design. The study found that specific shape attributes differentiate instruments and correlate with historical time, demonstrating the influence of history, imitation, and genetics on violin evolution.
A study analyzing violin shapes from 400 years of history reveals that imitative designs cluster together, with specific features reflecting familial origins. The analysis highlights the role of genetic lineages and human relation in shaping violin architecture.
Physicist Dr David Robert Grimes has derived equations to explain how guitar techniques manipulate pitch, shedding light on string bending, vibrato, and whammy bars. His research provides insights into the physics behind iconic guitarists' sounds.
Researchers decipher how cells translate signals from surroundings into internal signals using calcium ions. They discovered a pattern in the variation of intensity and frequency of calcium impulses to convey meaningful responses inside the cell.
A team of researchers developed the EyeMusic, a sensory substitution device that enables blind individuals to recognize basic shapes and colors through pleasant auditory representations. Users were able to correctly identify shapes and colors after minimal training, indicating potential for widespread use.
Brazilian researchers assessed caxirola sound levels and found them comparable to a normal conversation, with only slight differences from vuvuzela noise. They also analyzed instrument vibrations, finding variations in frequency and intensity over time.
Researchers warn of the dangers of neglecting to clean reed instruments, which can lead to Saxophone Lung, an allergic pulmonary disease caused by specific fungi. Proper diagnosis is crucial, as corticosteroids alone are insufficient in treating this condition.
A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that older adults who took music lessons as children have a faster brain response to a speech sound than those who never played an instrument. The study suggests that early musical training has a lasting, positive effect on how the brain processes sound.
Researchers found that piano players' hand muscle contractions differ depending on the sequence of notes played, indicating coarticulation. This phenomenon is similar to coarticulation in speech and American Sign Language, suggesting a complex neural connection between finger movements and keystrokes.
A £3.5 million project aims to reconstruct primitive musical instruments and reach conclusions about the type of music played on them using archaeological evidence and specialist performers.
Researchers discovered that people with absolute pitch can be misled by gradual changes in pitch while listening to music. The study, led by Stephen Hedger and Howard Nusbaum, found that exposure to detuned music affects how individuals identify notes as being in or out of tune.
The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission team successfully assembled the fourth and final observatory for NASA's MMS mission. This achievement marks a new challenge in engineering, as the team built four identical spacecraft simultaneously, a feat rarely accomplished even by experienced professionals.
Researchers found that speaking tonal languages improves how the brain hears music, with Cantonese speakers showing similar performance to musicians on auditory measures. The study suggests that language experience can have bi-directional benefits for learning music.
Research confirms that professional string players typically possess independent FDS function in their small fingers. This suggests that proper instruction or specialized training may be beneficial for young students to address potential technique issues, rather than simply advising them to practice more.
A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology uses a computer model to accurately mimic how the brain processes musical timbre, allowing for better instrument recognition. The researchers found that wind and percussive instruments tend to be most different from each other, with strings and winds being closer together.
Research suggests that perfect pitch is associated with a large memory span for speech sounds, facilitating early associations between pitches and spoken languages. Musically trained individuals from non-tonal languages can acquire absolute pitch, but it remains a rare talent.
The fungi treatment process modifies the acoustic properties of the instrument, making it sound indistinguishably similar to a Stradivarius. The research could soon make high-quality wood available for violin making.
NJIT designer creates a chair to reduce back pain and promote good playing posture among professional musicians. The chair features adjustable seat height, backrests, and a lightweight carbon fiber frame to support individual preferences and body characteristics.
Engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are integrating instruments on the first of four MMS spacecraft decks in a newly fabricated cleanroom. The mission aims to investigate magnetic reconnection, a fundamental process affecting space weather and modern technological systems.
A new study analyzes B.F. Skinner's traits, revealing a highly conscientious and open individual who scored high in neuroticism and extroversion. Contrary to his radical behaviorist views, the researchers found that Skinner was charming, funny, and creative.
Researchers have developed a method using quantum computing to measure magnetic fields accurately, enabling the creation of nanoscale MRI instruments. This breakthrough could lead to non-invasive studies of molecules and living cells without destroying them.
Researchers at Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have developed a method to treat wood with a white-rot fungus, resulting in instruments with tonal qualities comparable to Stradivarius. The goal is to standardize the process to mass-produce violins with guaranteed quality.
A team of experts used CT imaging and computer-aided machinery to create a reproduction of a 1704 Stradivarius violin. The process involved scanning the original instrument and converting images into stereolithographic files, which were then carved and assembled by hand.
Research shows that pianists can accurately assess temporal synchrony between piano movements and sounds, while non-musicians struggle. The study suggests that music training refines brain circuitries responsible for integrating multiple sensory stimuli.
Three teams from Ben-Gurion University won the second annual Israeli Mobile Challenge, developing an Android-based application that enables users to simulcast music to nearby WiFi devices. The winning application, "Mobile Party," was developed by students from BGU's Department of Communications Systems Engineering.
Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine found that disease-causing germs survive on commonly shared wind instruments for one to two days. To minimize germ growth, instrumentists should have their own instruments and use proper cleaning methods.
Researchers at the Boys Town National Research Hospital found that noisy classrooms significantly affect young students' ability to learn. Meanwhile, a new study on deaf infants with cochlear implants shows they don't automatically know how to listen when people speak. Cognitive psychologists also explored the power of single words in ...
A study found that older individuals who played a musical instrument throughout life performed better on cognitive tests than non-musicians. The study suggests that musical activity may serve as a challenging cognitive exercise, making the brain fitter and more capable of accommodating aging challenges.
A study found that childhood musical experience can provide lifelong cognitive benefits, with musicians outperforming non-musicians on tests of visuospatial memory and cognitive flexibility. The research suggests that the duration of musical practice is more important than continued playing at an advanced age.
Research found that used woodwind and brass instruments are heavily contaminated with bacteria and fungi, including species of Staphylococcus and molds. Proper sanitation and regular cleaning are crucial to prevent the spread of illness and infection in children who play these instruments.
A study found that pianists' ability to sight-read music is linked to their working memory capacity, not just practice time. Working memory plays a crucial role in musicians' performance, with even significant amounts of practice unable to compensate for poor cognitive abilities.