Questions for music teachers

[oyasumi]

Actually, anybody could answer these questions, I just wrote them with teachers in mind. I'm doing research on how humans learn music, languages, and the connection. So if anybody wants to take the time to answer them, I'd be overjoyed.

-At what age did you start studying music? Do you feel you could be where you are now if you started later in life? 
 
-Have you ever felt that there is a connection between how we learn music and how we learn language? In the way you teach, or in your own education?
 
-Words refer to emotions directly.  Can music do this? Is it up to the listener?
 
-Do you believe that, with program music, we can really associate music with something non-musical?

-If you know more than one language, did you experience any similar methods in learning music as you did your non-native language(s)?

[david johnson]

-At what age did you start studying music? ... around 2nd grade, more seriously about 5 years later
Do you feel you could be where you are now if you started later in life? ... no

-Have you ever felt that there is a connection between how we learn music and how we learn language? In the way you teach, or in your own education?... not a lot, but i believe speech rhythm and tone are close kin to how many of us grasp music

-Words refer to emotions directly.  Can music do this?... sometimes
  Is it up to the listener?... up to?  not completely.

-Do you believe that, with program music, we can really associate music with something non-musical?  of course

-If you know more than one language, did you experience any similar methods in learning music as you did your non-native language(s)?...  please see second response above

dj

[StephenC]

Actually, anybody could answer these questions, I just wrote them with music teachers in mind. I'm doing research on how humans learn music, languages, and the connection. So if anybody wants to take the time to answer them, I'd be overjoyed.

-At what age did you start studying music? Do you feel you could be where you are now if you started later in life?

-Have you ever felt that there is a connection between how we learn music and how we learn language? In the way you teach, or in your own education?

-Words refer to emotions directly.  Can music do this? Is it up to the listener?

-Do you believe that, with program music, we can really associate music with something non-musical?

-If you know more than one language, did you experience any similar methods in learning music as you did your non-native language(s)?

I'm not a music teacher but I somehow saw this thread and would want to answer some of your concerns
-At what age did you start studying music? Do you feel you could be where you are now if you started later in life?
Answer: I started studying music when I was enrolled by my parents in piano lessons that was around 7-8 years old. But I did stop and returned back to studying it when I was already in college. If I didn't stop, I could have been way better than I am now 
-Words refer to emotions directly.  Can music do this? Is it up to the listener?
Answer: Definitely! Music is an important part of anyone's life. And it can affect lives of listeners, regardless of what genre of music is being listened.

Well, those two questions are the one I can answer so yeah, hope it helps. 

[Szykneij]

-At what age did you start studying music? Do you feel you could be where you are now if you started later in life?

I started playing the violin at the age of 8. That was to be the defining moment of my life. Where I've been and where I am today is due to that pivotal decision I made when my first violin teacher demonstrated the instrument to my third grade class. Had I started to study music later, things would be drastically different.

-Have you ever felt that there is a connection between how we learn music and how we learn language? In the way you teach, or in your own education?

Absolutely. Music itself is a language. While I'm not a Suzuki teacher, that method of instruction is based on a "mother tongue" philosophy. Music speaks to me, as I'm sure it does to everyone else on this board.

-Words refer to emotions directly.  Can music do this?

Yes. If it wasn't for the emotional impact of music, I doubt most people would care much about it.

Is it up to the listener?

Just as words can affect people emotionally in different ways, so does music. I find major 7th chords incredibly pleasant and calming. The dorian mode fills me with melancholy. That may or may not be true for others.

-Do you believe that, with program music, we can really associate music with something non-musical?

Yes, but they are learned associations. Soundtrack composers know that specific types of music are universally associated with non-musical themes (Grieg's "Morning", the opening to Bonanza, a Spanish guitar, etc.) I associate the Soft Machine's Carol Ann with Montreal's Mont Royal, but that's another story.

-If you know more than one language, did you experience any similar methods in learning music as you did your non-native language(s)?

One of my greatest regrets is never having mastered a second language (but I'm not dead yet!)


I just noticed this thread wasn't new but was bumped up from a few years ago. Oyasumi, I hope you're still out there!

[canninator]

-Words refer to emotions directly.  Can music do this?

There's a lot of cognitive research surrounding many of the questions you ask. A lot. Here is an interesting recent paper that addresses an angle on this specific question.

http://www.purveslab.net/publications/bowling_purves_2009.pdf