Big Cats Love Pumpkins! Who knew??

Notice how much the music adds to the mood of this video! It's wonderful! Enjoy!

Meet my new baby Papillon, Jolie

You may remember that a little over a year ago, my Papillon Jack went on to the Great Doggie Heaven in the Sky. I grieved for a long, long time because his death was really quite unexpected. Yes, he was almost 14 and was rapidly losing his sight and hearing, but we just didn't expect him to die! After putting all of his many toys, blankets, beds and feeding bowls away we questioned whether or not we even wanted to get another dog and go through this again one day.

Then we heard about Jolie. For her privacy, I won't go into all the details, but this beautiful little Papillon had just arrived in Louisville and was not able to stay with her family. I went over to take a peek and it was love at first sight! You'll be hearing a lot about her in the days and weeks ahead. Does she love music? Well, I sang her to sleep her first night here and she slept through the night! She prefers singing to piano or violin so far but time will tell!

IT'S AMAZING HOW STRONG MOTHERHOOD IS - OFTEN IN SOME CASES STRONGER IN OUR ANIMALS THAN US HUMANS.
In a zoo in California , a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth. The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve. After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only 'orphans' that could be found quickly, were a litter of weanling pigs. The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger. Would they become cubs or pork chops?? Take a look... Now, please tell me one more time ........? Why can't the rest of the world get along??

A Preemie Deer...would lullabies help?

In my work as a clinical musicologist and a therapist I emphasize the use of singing lullabies to preemies as one of the best things a mother can do to stabilize her baby, get her gaining weight, and create a lifelong bond. But what if the preemie is a deer? This little fellow was delivered by Cesearian when his mother was hit by a car. Read on about his amazing early days:

Little Rupert, who is so small he can fit in an adult'shand, was born after vets failed in their battle to save his mother.
At just six inches tall and weighing just over a pound, he is now in an incubator in the intensive care unit at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire. He has only recently opened his eyes. Les Stocker, founder of Tiggywinkles, said: Rupert's mother had very severe injuries. We brought him out and got him breathing and then he went into an incubator on oxygen. He is now being fed by a tube.

Puppies Lullaby---Amazing!

We all know that some dogs like to sing along, but who knew they could be put to sleep with a human lullaby?? This is beautiful!

Great video about animals that heal!

Enjoy!

"The Lioness and her cubs were interested from the first, though when the violinist approached the cage the mother gave a hiss, and the cubs hid behind her. At the playing of a lively jig, the cubs stood up on their hind legs and peeped over at the player. When the musician retreated from the cage, the animals came to the front of it and did not move back when he gradually drew so near as almost to touch the great paws which were thrust through the bars. When playing 'Home, Sweet Home,' the entire family seemed very attentive, and were motionless except that the cubs turned their heads from side to side. Then another jig was played and the cubs pranced about.""The Coyotes in a den, squatted in a semicircle, and sat silently while the music continued. When it ceased, they ran up and pawed at the player through the bars. He began afresh, and they again formed in a silent semicircle. This experiment was tried several times with the same results."

Stay close to your Mama

Today is a day to celebrate all mothers, human and animal! The unique sound that each mother animal makes is unique to that species and is definitely music to the ears of its offspring. These babies are staying close to mama for warmth, safety and to have their physical and all other needs met. It's good for both babies and for Mama! Don't forget your Mama today! Gift for Mama here.

A Seeing-eye cat??

If you can't read this, allow me to enlarge:
Cashew, a 14 y.o.yellow lab, is blind and deaf. Her best friend is Libby, 7 y.o., her seeing-eye cat. Libby steers Cashew away from obstacles and leads her to her food. Every night she sleeps next to her. The only time they're apart is when we take Cashew out for a walk. Without this cat, we know Cashew would be loast and very, very, lonely indeed. This is one animal who knows what needs to be done and does is day in and day out for her friend.

Nora, piano-playing Meoow-zart sequel!

I have gotten so many responses to the first Nora video that I knew you'd want to see the sequel. One friend suggested today that the kitty might be a little deaf and really enjoys the vibrations that she creates with her paws. What do you think??

Practice Makes Purrrrrr-fect!

Nora loves playing the piano! It may not be music to our ears but Nora keeps getting up there and doing it. She's obviously fascinated with the sounds and/or vibrations. Who knows what it means to her or another cat??

Music for Dogs??

Freckles is an attentive boy, a beagle-mix rescued from sure death on Sixth Street some five years ago. He retains a strong food motive from his days of wandering the urban wilderness. So, Freckles was, as usual, at hand when my husband and I put a CD in the player and sat down on the designated doggie couch in our dog/media room.
The CD was "Songs To Make Dogs Happy," billed as "the first musical CD for dogs, approved by dogs."
Canine focus groups, selected from 250 dogs nationwide, were assembled and questioned by animal communicator Kim Ogden of Chicago on their music and lyric preferences.
This study guided a further two-year test of the CD, which indicates that canines detest the Rolling Stones, think Johnny Cash is depressing and would always opt for a samba.
The happy-dogs CD, released in 2003, includes the hit song, "Squeaky Deakey" and 11 other tracks said to help reduce separation anxiety, calm shelter animals and speed surgical recovery.
Our goal was to see if the doggie CD lived up to its claims.
I pushed play.
Now, Freckles is vocally talented. He does an eerie imitation of an ambulance siren. We were not surprised that he tipped his head and grinned with "Squeaky Deakey." Nor were we surprised that our second dog, Nick, was nowhere to be seen.
Nick, a phlegmatic mutt whose idea of heaven is a nap, was (he thought) secretly napping on the absolutely off-limits couch two rooms away.
However, "Squeaky Deakey" galvanized Nick to stroll 50 feet to see what was happening. We took this massive expenditure of energy as a definite endorsement of the efficacy of the CD.
Both of them enjoyed and actively listened to the repetitive ballad "You're a Good Dog." They seemed pleased with the soothing "I'll Be Back." Even Freckles closed his eyes.
The upbeat blues tune "Scratch My Back" had a certain sensual appeal and started a four-for-all paws-on session. It begins: "Scratching. Oooo, yeah …"
The relentlessly cheerful "Hap, Hap, Happy" was a paws-down.
But keep "Songs to Make Dogs Happy" handy. If an evening comes when you are grumpy, depressed, overwhelmed, too tired to make dinner or feed the dogs, just push play.

The complete story, by Diane Heilenman, appeared in today's Louisville Courier-Journal. Check it out!!

Have you heard about the elephants that can paint??!!

This is an amazing video that has been verified through snopes.com! Not sure where music fits in but it would be interesting to see if the elephants paint differetly to different music. What do you think??

My Mama's kitty, Penny

This week-end I went to S.C. to visit my mother. She's living in a beautiful assisted living community and can't have her cat there so my sister is keeping Penny at her home, along with her kitty, Mo (short for pianissimo!). I stayed with my sister this week-end and so had lots of quality time with Penny and Mo. My sister plays piano and violin so her cats love music and purr contentedly while she plays beautiful, healing, music for them.
Are you playing music for your pets??

Dog Show in Louisville is a Huge Hit!

Yesterday I went to the AKC Dogshow at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. I had watched these shows on TV before but never attended on live. It was wonderful! I guess I really didn't realize that so many different breeds exist and so many thousands of people love dogs like I do! Of course my favorite was the little 11-month old papillon that I met while he was waiting to go and show his stuff! He did beautifully but did not win or place. I was a little surprised that there was no music to be heard anywhere! I'd be interested to know if there's a reason for that or if it's just an oversight. Anybody know??

An amusing video showing animals and great music!

This is an adorable and hilarious video, all done to "Can-Can." Enjoy!

A Dog named Tympani?

Sometimes I have to do a little scrounging to find a topic about music and animals and especially music healing and animals, but today I think I found one! Adopting pets is always a good thing to do right? Well, my baby sister is a very sweet person and has a real soft spot in her heart for pets. Recently her beloved dog of many, many years died and she's been grieving Sadie for some time. Last week-end, after much soul-searching she adopted a new doggie named Tympani! Now how's that for a musical tie-in?? With a musical name and a musical family (my sister is a conductor) and a brand-new home, that little doggie can't help but heal from its past traumas. Congrats to everyone!

Love your pets on Valentine's Day

Special Valentine's Offer CLICK HERE for a sweet deal on healing music!!

I just read a fascinating article on the healing power of music for animals. According to Live Science, a handful of harpists throughout the country are using their music on animals.

Harpist Alianna Boone states, “The structure of the harp is considered to be the most healing instrument next to the human voice”. She produced a CD for ill pets called “Harp Music to Soothe the Savage Beast”. Boone conducted one of the few actual studies of harp music’s effect on animals, rather than just relying on anecdotal reports.

In 2000 she performed for hospitalized dogs at a Florida veterinary clinic, and the hour-long sessions were shown to lower heart rates, anxiety and respiration in many cases.

Dogs, however, aren’t the only animals that respond to music. Cassie is a cow who came to live in a sanctuary farm in Massachusetts after she scaled a 7-foot-high fence fleeing from a slaughterhouse. After she arrived at the farm, she exhibited some anxiety-related behavioral problems. She snorted and stomped her hooves, making some of the volunteer workers at the farm fear for their safety around the 1,500 pound beast. Then one of the volunteers decided to play Alianna Boone’s CD of harp music for the angry, stomping bovine. Within 20 minutes, the cow calmed down and drifted off to sleep.

At the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, a group of gorillas were treated to a live harp performance, and appreciated it so much that the youngest gorilla blew the musician a kiss before falling asleep.

While not all animals respond to it, for the animals on which it works, it works extremely well. Humans respond to harp music as well. Some harpists have found that certain harp vibrations resonate with a patient’s own cellular rhythms to help release tense muscle tissue, calm anxieties, induce restful sleep, and increase endorphins for pain management, aiding the body’s own efforts to heal itself.

This story got me to wondering why we love music so much. Why does music give us chills? The drawing of emotion from music is classic. Music has been with us as long as we can remember; musical instruments have been found dating back tens of thousands of years. Nobody really knows for sure why we all love music, or what function it serves, but there’s no denying that most everyone has some sort of reaction to music.

Scientists have yet to find a music center in our brains, but a 2001 study at McGill College using brain scans showed that while listening to music, the brain structures that were activated are the same ones linked to euphoric stimulation, such as food, sex and drugs. Blood flow in the brain rises and falls to swells of music in areas associated with reward, emotion and arousal.

In humans, music has been found to ease labor pain, reduce the need for sedation during surgery, evoke strong memories, and lessen depression. So it’s obvious that music has some kind of interpretive effect on a subconscious level, suggesting this could be an evolutionary side effect. In the near future, scientists intend to further study the central nervous system’s reactions to music.

So the next time your kitty or puppy seem anxious or upset, play them some music and see what happens. You might both relax.
(from Kran's Crackers)

More healing music for pets

Music has a multitude of healing properties which have been well documented in people for many years. Now a handful of harpists throughout the country are harnessing that power for pets.
The structure of the harp is considered to be the most healing instrument, second only to the human voice.
Hospitalized dogs at a Florida veterinary clinic enjoyed a variety of hour-long harp sessions which were reported to immediately reduce heart rates and slow breathing. In addition, many of the dogs appeared to be calmer and less stressed.
Cows enjoy music
Dogs aren’t the only animals benefiting from the harp’s good vibrations; cows enjoy the music as well.
Cassie, a black and white cow, lives at the Maple Farm Sanctuary in Mendon, Mass. She arrived there last year after jumping a 7-foot-high fence to escape from a slaughter house.
Even though Cassie is now living the good life, she has suffered from anxiety-related behavioral issues. One morning, for example, her caretaker, Russell walked into the barn to find the 1,500 pound Holstein snorting and stomping. “I was little bit afraid for my safety, I have to say, for the first time,” said Russell. Although not sure what upset Cassie, Russell decided to try calming her by playing a CD of harp songs. Within 20 minutes, Russell said, Cassie dozed off.
Gorillas love the harp At the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, a gorilla group appreciated a live harp performance a few years ago. The youngest member, named Little Joe, even blew the harpist a kiss before falling asleep. It’s not a magic pill, but for certain animals it works very well.
Certain harp vibrations can be used to resonate with, cellular rhythms, which help to reduce muscle tension, calm anxiety, improve digestion, induce restful sleep, and increase the body’s natural pain killers, called endorphins, which help the body to heal itself.
This holds true for a variety of people and pets.
Pet CD "Harp of Hope," is a collection of 17 songs, which was originally recorded for people but last year an animal edition was released after owners reported it helped their arthritic dogs fall asleep and calmed their agitated cats.
Veterinarian, Dr. Carol Osborne also acknowledges the CD’s success in soothing nervous pets and their owners. Most pets start to relax after listening for a few minutes. Playing the music before and/or during a stressful situation promotes a calm environment for all.
It is interesting to note that every detail of the harp, including the tempos, rhythms, keys, note intervals, chord structures and plucking techniques, are carefully arranged to promote progressive peace and relaxation.
“Music is a low cost calming alternative for people, pets and veterinary offices that’s definitely worth a try,” says Osborne.

Music and Animals: An 1898 Accounting

I love the thought of animals responding to music, whether it's the way we respond or a totally different way. While poking around online last night I came across a fascinating historic (1898) account of how music affects numerous different species! Enjoy!
ANIMALS AND MUSIC.
ONE of our poets is authority for the statement that "music hath power to sooth the savage breast," but experiments have recently been made in Lincoln Park, Chicago, The American Naturalist tells us, to determine with scientific accuracy the effects of violin playing on certain animals."Music which was slow and sweet, like 'Home, Sweet Home' or 'Annie Laurie,' pleased the Panthers, a jaguar, and a Lioness with her cubs. The Panthers became nervous and twitched their tails when a lively jig, 'The Irish Washerwoman,' was played to them, and relapsed into their former quiet when the music again became soothing.""The Jaguar was so nervous during the jig music that he jumped from a shelf to the floor of his cage and back again. When the player ceased playing and walked away, the Jaguar reached out his paw to him as far as he could. His claws were drawn back."

"The Lioness and her cubs were interested from the first, though when the violinist approached the cage the mother gave a hiss, and the cubs hid behind her. At the playing of a lively jig, the cubs stood up on their hind legs and peeped over at the player. When the musician retreated from the cage, the animals came to the front of it and did not move back when he gradually drew so near as almost to touch the great paws which were thrust through the bars. When playing 'Home, Sweet Home,' the entire family seemed very attentive, and were motionless except that the cubs turned their heads from side to side. Then another jig was played and the cubs pranced about.""The Coyotes in a den, squatted in a semicircle, and sat silently while the music continued. When it ceased, they ran up and pawed at the player through the bars. He began afresh, and they again formed in a silent semicircle. This experiment was tried several times with the same results."
Of late years the Sea Gulls have found it so much to their interest to come up to the Thames in our midst that their graceful evolutions around the crowded bridges in ever growing flocks has almost ceased to excite notice. But this year, as never before, they have descended upon the water of St. James Park in such great numbers that their presence must considerably exercise the minds of those responsible for the welfare of the other wild fowl there. They may be seen sometimes resting upon the surface of the eastern half of the lake in sufficient number almost to hide the water.

And at the luncheon hour, when released workers throng bank and bridge, bestowing upon the water the scanty fragments of their frugal meals, the gulls, on ready wing, with an agility born of long practice over stormy seas, give the clumsier Ducks and Geese hard work to obtain even a small share of what is going. Not so long ago a piece of plain bread might often float uneaten until it sank waterlogged for the benefit of the fish. It is so no longer. No crumb now goes a-begging or is scouted by any of the old habitues as beneath their notice. — London Paper.

Doggies like Christmas Music Too!

This is the cutest video! Sorry it's a little late, but I just found it tonight and wanted to share it with you! Stay warm!

Sick Dogs and Cats Treated by Harpists

This article appeared Monday on MSNBC.com...enjoy!

The healing power of music has long been established in people. Now a handful of harpists throughout the country are harnessing that power for animals.
Alianna Boone is one of those musicians.
“The structure of the harp is considered to be the most healing instruments next to human voice,” said Boone, an Oregonian who plays for ill family pets and produced a CD "Harp Music to Soothe the Savage Beast."

While anecdotal reports abound, Boone conducted one of the few studies on harp music’s effect on animals. In 2000, she performed for recently hospitalized canines at a Florida veterinary clinic. The hour-long sessions immediately began to lower heart rate, anxiety, and respiration in many cases, she said.
Cow control

Dogs aren’t the only animals benefiting from the good vibrations. Cassie, a black and white cow, lives at the Maple Farm Sanctuary in Mendon, Mass., with about 80 other unwanted livestock. She arrived there last year after jumping a 7-foot-high fence to escape from a slaughter house, said volunteer Tracie Russell. Even though the cow is now living the good life, it has demonstrated anxiety-related behavior issues. On a recent morning, for example, Russell walked into the barn to find the 1,500 pound Holstein snorting and stomping. “I was little bit afraid for my safety, I have to say, for the first time,” said Russell. She’s not sure what upset Cassie but decided to try calming her by playing a CD of harp songs. Within 20 minutes, Russell said, the bovine dozed off.
Rave gorilla reviews At the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, a gorilla group appreciated Sue Raimond’s live harp performance a few years ago. The youngest member, named Little Joe, even blew her a kiss before falling asleep.

Both wild and domestic animals can benefit from music therapy but not all of them respond to it. “It’s not a magic bullet,” cautions Diane Schneider, who produced "Harp of Hope: Animal Therapy Edition," the music that lulled Cassie. “But for animals for which it works, it works incredibly well.”
Schneider trained at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Later, as a pastoral theologian and hospital chaplain, she began to use the harp with hospitalized human patients.
"I use certain harp vibrations to resonate with, or entrain, a patient's own cellular rhythms to help release tense muscle tissue, calm anxiety, improve digestion, induce restful sleep, increase endorphins for pain management — to aid the body's own efforts to heal itself," Schneider said.
The same holds true for animals, she said.
Animal CD "Harp of Hope," a collection of 17 songs, was originally recorded for people but Schneider decided to release an animal edition last year after owners reported it helped their arthritic dogs fall asleep and calmed their agitated cats. Veterinary hospitals also acknowledged the CD's success in soothing nervous pets — and their owners. She said every detail of the instrumentals — the tempos, rhythms, keys, note intervals, chord structures and plucking techniques — are carefully arranged to promote progressive peace and relaxation.
Animals usually begin to relax after listening for just a few minutes.
Schneider recommends playing the music on an as-needed basis or before a stressful situation, such as a veterinary or grooming appointment.
“I’m hopeful that there will be a great increase in the use of this benevolent therapy,” said Schneider. “It is a very cost-effective, beneficial, soothing, calming intervention for animals and the people who love animals.”

Happy New Year to all creatures great and small

We are really missing Jack but also accepting that life goes on and Jack's precious little life has ended. He did have a good life but he was going downhill so fast. I don't know whether music ever really helped Jack, but it has helped me accept his passing this holiday season and and provided as much comfort to me as anything possibly could.

I know that I'd like to get another dog, maybe in June or July when I can take hime outside easily for housebreakin purposes.

In the meantime, I'll offer you this humorous little gift of a Hooter's Calendar for 2008. Just click on it and it will be large anough for you to print it out. Enjoy!