Music Healing and Animals

Keyboard Cat: one amazing kitty!

2010-03-16T22:53:00.000-04:00

It may take a lot of training, but cats CAN play the piano!

Birds on the Wires Music

2009-12-01T23:42:00.002-05:00

Reading a newspaper, I saw a picture of birds on the electric wires. I cut out the photo and decided to make a song, using the exact location of the birds as notes (no Photoshop edit). I knew it wasn't the most original idea in the universe. I was just curious to hear what melody the birds were creating.

I sent the music to the photographer, Paulo Pinto, who I Googled on the internet. He told his editor, who told a reporter and the story ended up as an interview in the very same newspaper.

Here I've posted a short video made with the photo, the music and the score (composed by the birds).

Music made with Logic.
Video made with After Effects.

The newspaper story about my work (O Estado de São Paulo): www.tinyurl.com/l4qdbg

Jarbas Agnelli

Stanley and Gabriel

2009-11-12T23:56:00.001-05:00

This is the sweetest thing! Be sure to watch it all the way to the end!

Three Very Talented Kitties

2009-10-31T22:25:00.000-04:00

Impressive, no??

Are your animals musical?

2009-10-04T14:07:00.005-04:00

I know this is a little unusual for this blog but I came across this beautiful YouTube video with Chinese flute music and ancient paintings of Chinese animals and flowers. Hope you enjoy it! This is definitely healing music for many people, but remember, there is no one type of healing music. This is the kind of music that you'll often hear in a massage therapists office!

Relaxing Chinese flute music with ancient paintings of animals from the East. Featuring art from the Tang & Song Dynasty in China.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=796_uk88d90

Have you seen the "CatCerto"?

2009-08-06T10:17:00.004-04:00

Have you seen the "CatCerto." This is pretty cool! Someone has stitched together brief snippets of a cat pawing at the keyboard and written a piece of music to go behind it! This obviously took a lot of work and effort but I'd say it paid off! What do you think??

Singing/Talking Cats!

2009-07-24T13:38:00.001-04:00

Wow! This is kind of amazing! Do you think these sounds have been altered?

The Little Chihuahua that Could Sing!

2009-05-29T22:04:00.002-04:00

Chihuahua sings @ Yahoo! Video

I think when your pet joins in singing with you, it is very affirming and therefore healing!

Do Gorillas Like Music?

2009-05-25T20:38:00.003-04:00

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.

The Little Dog that Could

2009-03-23T12:38:00.011-04:00

This is 'Faith'This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 3 legs - 2 healthy hind legs and 1 abnormal front leg which need to be amputated. He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.

His first owner also did not think that he could survive. Therefore, he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'.By this time, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him.She was determined to teach and train this dog to walk by himself. Therefore , she named him 'Faith'.

In life , there are always undesirable things. Perhaps one will feel better if one changes the point of view from another direction. I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone can appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day that follows. Faith is the continual demonstration of the Strength of Life

How are you demonstrating your faith today?

Love Your Pets

2009-02-27T11:12:00.002-05:00

Drum Roll and bugles please:

The K9 above is Brutus, a military K9 at McChord. He's huge - part Boxer and part British Bull Mastiff and tops the scales at 200 lbs. His handler took the picture. Brutus is running toward me because he knows I have some Milk Bone treats, so he's slobbering away! I had to duck around a tree just before he got to me in case he couldn't stop, but he did. Brutus won the Congressional Medal of Honor last year from his tour in Iraq . His handler and four other soldiers were taken hostage by insurgents. Brutus and his handler communicate by sign language and he gave Brutus the signal that meant 'go away but come back and find me'. The Iraqis paid no attention to Brutus. He came back later and quietly tore the throat out of one guard at one door and another guard at another door. He then jumped against one of the doors repeatedly (the guys were being held in an old warehouse) until it opened. He went in and untied his handler and they all escaped. He's the first K9 to receive this honor. If he knows you're ok, he's a big old lug and wants to sit in your lap. Enjoys the company of cats.K-9 Congressional Medal of Honor WinnerThought you'd find this interesting. Talk about animal intelligence and bonding with humans!Remember that they can't do a lot of things for themselves and that they depend on you to make their life a quality life!A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS......... 1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so. ~Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God's critters~Now please pass this on to other pet owners. We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!

Why can't Humans be more like animals?

2009-02-15T20:28:00.002-05:00

Animals and music

2009-01-22T20:24:00.004-05:00

There is so much that we do not know about animals. Probably individual animals are as different as individual humans, although I do know that each breed has some very consistent traits. I believe that the same vibes that cause animals to know when another animal or human is mad, sad, glad, or scared is the same sort of vibration that makes animals and humans know the mood or intent of specific music. Studies have shown repeatedly that animals and humans respond positively to Mozart. We don't really know why.

Here an interesting story of a papillon that adopted a baby squirrel.

Debby Cantlon, who plans to release Finnegan, the young squirrel, back into the wild, bottle-fed the infant squirrel after it was brought to her house.
When Cantlon took in the tiny creature and began caring for him,
She found herself with an unlikely nurse's aide: her pregnant
Papillion, Mademoiselle Giselle.
Finnegan was resting in a nest in a cage just days before Giselle
Was due to deliver her puppies.
Cantlon and her husband watched as the dog dragged the squirrel's
Cage twice to her own bedside before she gave birth.
Cantlon was concerned, yet ultimately decided to allow the
Squirrel out and the inter-species bonding began.
Finnegan rides a puppy mosh pit of sorts, burrowing in for warmth
After feeding, eventually working his way beneath his new litter mates.
Two days after giving birth, mama dog Giselle allowed Finnegan
To nurse; family photos and a videotape show her encouraging
Him to suckle alongside her litter of five pups.
Now, Finnegan mostly uses a bottle, but still snuggles with his
'siblings' in a mosh pit of puppies, rolling atop their bodies
And sinking in deeply for a nap.
Finnegan and his new litter mates, five Papillion puppies,
Get along together as if they were meant to.
Finnegan naps after feeding.
Finnegan makes himself at home with his new litter mates,
Nuzzling nose-to-nose for a nap after feeding.
Send this along to brighten someone's day!
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all get along
Like Finnegan and the gang?
MORAL OF THE STORY: Keep loving everyone . . . Even the squirrelly ones!

"White Christmas" from the "Jingle Cats"

2009-01-01T17:34:00.001-05:00

The "Jingle Cats" are amazing and entertaining! Hope you've had a great holiday! Happy New Year!

Big Cats Love Pumpkins! Who knew??

2008-12-11T21:23:00.004-05:00

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

Meet my new baby Papillon, Jolie

2008-11-25T09:15:00.004-05:00

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!

2008-11-22T08:25:00.005-05:00

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?

2008-10-14T20:24:00.006-04:00

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!

2008-09-09T21:00:00.002-04:00

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!

2008-07-12T22:32:00.001-04:00

Enjoy!

2008-05-30T18:49:00.001-04:00

"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

2008-05-11T17:04:00.002-04:00

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??

2008-04-21T10:46:00.003-04:00

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!

2008-04-14T22:53:00.003-04:00

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!

2008-04-12T20:51:00.002-04:00

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??

2008-04-11T18:38:00.003-04:00

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??!!

2008-04-05T15:50:00.001-04:00

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

2008-03-31T23:00:00.003-04:00

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!

2008-03-17T00:26:00.004-04:00

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!

2008-03-11T21:38:00.003-04:00

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

A Dog named Tympani?

2008-02-27T11:34:00.005-05:00

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

2008-02-14T12:55:00.005-05:00

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

2008-01-26T23:46:00.000-05:00

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

2008-01-24T08:59:00.000-05:00

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!

2008-01-18T22:28:00.000-05:00

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

2008-01-10T23:12:00.000-05:00

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

2008-01-03T22:08:00.000-05:00

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!

Pets for Christmas: Probably Not

2007-12-17T21:08:00.000-05:00

Holiday music is in the air, proclaiming peace on Earth and love for all God's creatures, including pets! It is very tempting to rush out and buy your child or your parent or your lonely friend a pet...don't do it!!! Having a pet is a tremendous responsibility and one that should not be taken lightly. Having a pet is a serious commitment of both time and money. No one loves all God's creatures more than I do and I sincerely believe that they are worth the effort and that they give back far more than they get from their owners but you cannot just give a puppy or a kitten or a parakeet like you would a stuffed animal. Pets have needs and they have feelings. Unfortunately, many are taken to shelters during January and February when their human's realize that, athough they a cute and lovable, they do not take care of themselves. Don't be swept up by all the cute puppies in the paper this Christmas. Get a pet when you're ready for a serious commitment and then give them all the love and care that you have! Merry Christmas!

Can a cat and a crow be friends?

2007-11-19T22:08:00.000-05:00

Can animals of different species be friends? This little video certainly makes a case for it. Who knows whether the sounds they make help that along or even have any influence on it. No one really knows why or how cats purr (do they?). Anyway, it's an interesting and amusing video. Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone who wrote in about Jack's death

2007-11-11T20:58:00.000-05:00

The past almost three weeks have been really hard for us. Jack's death seemed so sudden even though we knew he was getting older and was blind in one eye and beginning to lose his hearing. Still, he could go lickity-split up the steps and loved to go to the office with me and sit in on of my therapy chairs looking like a wise old sage, which he was. Jack had such wisdom about people and such love for people. He really was a little wizard covered in fur!

Now, when I come home at night there's still a little part of me that hope maybe he'll be right inside the door, waiting to see me and that it was all a bad dream. Very slowly I'm beginning to accep that I'll never see him again, not in this life anyway. A dear friend sent me this bit of wisdom:

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all.It's the best deal man has ever made.

Jack gave us his all and we'll never forget him!

In Memorium: Jack Sahner Cash

2007-10-23T22:57:00.000-04:00

This afternoon about 4:30, Jack Sahner-Cash passed through the gates of Doggie Heaven. Many of you knew and loved Jack as Crystal and I did. For us, Jack was the perfect dog. He was so loving, so smart and so unbelievably empathic. He did wonderful therapy with many of my clients. If someone was sad or depressed he would curl up beside them and they would pet him and feel the love he had to offer. He was trained to be a lap dog and loved to be as close as possible to whatever human was around him. He remembered everyone he ever met and would lick them all over if they would let him.

In the end, Jack contracted a deadly case of salmonella that two solid weeks of fluids and medication of all kinds could not knock out. This afternoon he began bleeding and having seizures. He went to sleep peacefully at 4:30 PM and is now surrounded by loving parents and siblings in Papillon Heaven. He will be cremated and a memorial service will be announced in the next few days. Jack would have been 14 in January.

Update on Jack

2007-10-21T23:53:00.000-04:00

So many people have written to me privately and called me to ask about Jack and how he's doing. He's had a very difficult week and has hardly been able to keep anything down. The vet has decided that he got a very bad case of salmonella, probably from eating chicken that was too old! We feel awful about this but had no idea that the chicken might hurt him because it still seemed fresh to us. Anyway, Jack has been to the animal hospital every day for 8 days now to have iv fluids.
We really didn't think he'd make it through the day today, but since we got him home he's actually been doing a little better and has kept the fluids down and been able to take two of his heart pills.
We thank everyone for your healing prayers and thoughts for Jack and will continue to keep you posted via this blog. BTW, this is an old picture of Jack. We have not been making him dress up for Halloween at all this year!

Can music help Jack?

2007-10-15T22:20:00.000-04:00

My dog Jack has been sick for nearly a week now. He's had to go to the animal hospital three different days to get fluids and finally today the vet decided that he probably has salmonella. Poor little doggie has had not appetite and has also been throwing up and has diarrhea. I've had soft instrumental music playing in the background for several days as well as a natural soy candle that is called "warm pears." Tonight he seems a little better but still must go back tomorrow to get fluids and antibiotics again. Tomorrow I will suggest to the vet that he play soft instrumental music for Jack.

Should baby gators swim to the oldies?

2007-09-27T16:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was playing miniature golf while on vacation in Sarasota. To my great surprise, the course also houses a baby alligator farm! I was told that these alligators are "moved" when they get to be four feet long. was fascinated to watch these little critters and even more so in person. What amazed me even more was that they had "oldies" playing quite loudly. My sense was that the little gators didn't like it one bit! See what you think!

Traditional Chinese Medicine Helps Pets

2007-09-02T23:07:00.000-04:00

Enjoy this story from Pantagraph.com:

Kobi's thick tail wagged, then slowed, as a dozen acupuncture needles were tapped along his spine.The yellow Labrador stood still, with a little encouragement, as Dr. Daniel King knelt beside him with spa-like music playing softly in the background.As a needle was inserted in his hind leg, the dog jumped."That's a good sign," the Tolono veterinarian said. "You know you're in the right place."Kobi was getting his fifth treatment for a painful bone growth at the end of his spine. About 45 minutes later, he was prancing out of the room, tail wagging.A week later, he was still feeling the benefits, said owner Kathy Whorrall, who said the 45-minute treatment relaxed him, relieving his pain and giving him more energy. The monthly treatments cost her about $100.She drove to Chicago for treatment before she found Dr. King, who used to work at Highland Pet Hospital and Wellness Center in Bloomington.He makes monthly visits to see patients at Dogs in Suds, a Bloomington grooming business Whorrall co-owns.Veterinary acupuncture and chiropractic treatment isn't mainstream, but it's not as rare as it used to be.At the annual American Veterinary Medicine Association convention a month ago, sessions on non-traditional medicine that might have been nearly empty a decade ago filled more than a month ahead."Absolutely, there is a lot more interest in it," said Dr. Stuart Price, who teaches anesthesia and pain management at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Champaign. But he adds there need to be more controlled studies to determine what types of pain the therapy can best alleviate."It looks promising, but I don't think we have all the answers yet," he said.Pet owners are the ones driving the non-traditional treatment, he added."People experience it maybe for themselves and have beneficial effects and think about it for their pets as well."About 15 years ago King, who also has an equine practice, started looking at chiropractic care as another way to manage pain and disease.As he studied for his certification by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, he kept hearing about the benefits of acupuncture. That led him to Florida's CHI Institute of Chinese Medicine, which offers veterinarians a master's degree in traditional Chinese veterinary medicine and herbal therapy.King blends it into his practice, using acupuncture and chiropractic treatments to treat diseases, injuries, allergies, even incontinence and storm phobias.What impresses him about Chinese medicine is its 4,000-year medical record."It's a phenomenal amount of medical history and they've been refining their techniques through this whole time. Western medicine is maybe 200 years old and it's not safe. Virtually one-third of all new drugs are off the market in five years because of adverse side effects."It's not that he's against Western medicine."I use it in my practice, where appropriate. I like to use what works and what's best for the patient."Using alternative medicine, he can pick up on a failing organ or a disease earlier."Things will start changing in the body way earlier than blood work will show it," he said.Chinese medicine is based on neurology, how energy flows along "meridians" or energy pathways throughout the body. If the flow is disrupted, it can cause problems."What happens with aging or an injury is the nerve flow drops, causing symptoms," he said. "Acupuncture restores the nerve flow."And he restores it, usually, without tranquilizing the animal. Even cats sit still for it. And horses respond particularly well to chiropractic care because of their sensitivity and phenomenal nervous and musculoskeletal systems, he said, estimating 70 percent of equine veterinary practices use it."Their bodies are prime to respond," he said.Tobey, a 2-year-old Bichon Frise, is one of those animals that needs a short-acting tranquilizer prior to being treated for severe allergies. Owner Mike Miller of Normal took the dog to a local veterinarian, who recommended steroid treatments."We really didn't want to go that route," he said, stroking the dog's neck while he rested next to him on a loveseat in the treatment room.This was Tobey's fourth treatment, designed to strengthen his immune system. The first time, he didn't itch for almost three weeks, but subsequent treatments weren't as long-lasting because of the pollen in the air. With diet therapy and herbal medicine, he's moving in the right direction, Miller said.Acupuncture treatments aren't painful, King said. The sensation feels more like heat, which quickly dissipates. Sometimes electrical stimulation is added; spaghetti-thin wires attached to the disposable needles. Electrical current aids in healing and pain relief.What the veterinarian doesn't use are cold, stainless steel tables. He works on the floor on his knees, with the animal in front of him. That makes them more comfortable, he said, although the work is harder on him."I wear pants out like crazy."

Do animals enjoy lullabies?

2007-08-27T22:44:00.000-04:00

We all know that human babies like lullabies and to have their mother's sing to them. Is the cat's purr or the dog mother's soft whining or moaning comforting to their newborn. Mother's birds sing to their young and nearly every species seems to have some way of communicating with their young. It's an interesting thought isn't it? Let me know what YOU think! Alice

Do Animals Have Rhythm?

2007-07-05T08:48:00.000-04:00

In all honesty, I don't know the answer to that but my gut says "some do and some don't!" Brilliant! It seems that I have seen birds such as large parrots and macaws that bob up and down in rhythm with music. I have a feeling that, as huge as the animal kingdom is, there is a wide range with some animals being more overtly rhythmic than others. What comes to mind immediately is circus elephants with circus music blaring and elephants "marching" in a circle around the ring. Whether or not they are actually marching in rhythm is questionable I'd say.

An article in the April 2001 issue of Scientific American reviews a book by primatologist Frans de Waal..."Science, and the tried-and-true scientific method, is supposed to be free of bias. But as de Waal explains in The Ape and the Sushi Master, science, like all human endeavors, is warped by cultural ideology. Nowhere is this more in evidence than in the field of animal behavior and particularly in discussions of whether animals have culture. "We cannot discuss animal culture without seriously reflecting on our own culture and the possible blind spots it creates," de Waal writes.

What do you think?

The Moozart Effect?

2007-06-08T13:10:00.000-04:00

What will they think of next?! Farmers in Spain have now discovered that playing specific pieces of music by Mozart greatly increases the amount of milk his dairy cows produce as well as enhances the taste by making it sweeter! Here's what the ABC site had to say:

"On Hans Pieter Sieber's Priegola dairy farm in Villanueva del Pardillo, Spain, the secret to success is not some newfangled technology or machine. Nor is it a time-tested technique or process handed down from generation to generation. Rather it is the dulcet, layered tones of classical music.
And not just any music. Sieber exposes his herd of approximately 700 heifers to the famous chords, crescendos and cadences of Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Once just normal, run-of-the-mill dairy cows, these Friesians now receive the rock star treatment -- listening to soothing music, sleeping on water beds, taking relaxing showers, and even enjoying sessions with an animal psychologist.
Believe it or not, since sending Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp in D Major soaring through their stalls at milking time, Sieber has seen a dramatic shift in the temperament and production of his Daisys and Besses.
Now his herd quietly lines up to be milked, seeming not to mind the poking and prodding that comes with being a dairy cow, and, most notably, producing anywhere from 1 to 6 more liters of milk per day than their non-Mozart listening counterparts.
"It is relaxing music for them, but at the same time it is dynamic, it keeps the cows active. The trick is not to have music too relaxing," said Sieber's son, Nicolas Sieber, the head of marketing for the Priegola farm. But Sieber believes it's simpler than that. "If you give the cows comfort they are more disposed to help out," he said. " Fascinating!

2007-05-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Anxious to save two injured wayward whales, a team of marine rescuers on Thursday played recorded humpback songs, hoping to lure the stranded mammals from the Sacramento River back to the sea.
The humpbacks, believed to be an adult female and her calf, were first spotted in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta on Sunday and have since meandered almost 90 miles upriver from their natural habitat in the Pacific Ocean along Northern California.

This has been on the news quite a bit lately but last I heard, the whales have still not been returned to the sea.

Dog nurses abandoned baby tigers

2007-05-18T22:18:00.000-04:00

An amazing story came across the news wires yesterday: In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, a dog feeds tiger triplets and her own puppy, right, at the Paomaling Zoo in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Wednesday, May 16, 2007. The tiger triplets were rejected by their mother shortly after their birth. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Lu Chuanquan). Wonder what kind of music inspired this kind of altruism??

Music brings an unusual animal to visit

2007-05-06T22:13:00.000-04:00

At the moment I'm on vacation in Sarasota, FL. Earlier today I was just home from the beach and was sitting at a friend's computer reading some email. I was softly humming to myself when suddenly my friend called me quietly to tip-toe over to the window. When I did, there was the most beautiful, snowy-white egret standing on the porch just looking around. Here is his picture. We were concerned at first that we would accidentally scare him away but then we started moving around and he just stood there looking at us. Did the music draw him in? He never made a sound but he sure seemed to be listening to something. What do you think?

Avian Rap: How do birds learn to sing?

2007-04-12T22:23:00.000-04:00

Our country has hundreds of varieties of birds, maybe thousands. Does each bird have his own unique song? Does each variety have its own song? No to the first one, yes to the second. But how to they learn their own song?

Here is some interesting info I found online tonight about that question:

SOME birds are just born knowing how to sing the special songs and calls of their own species. In fact, ducklings actually make cheeping noises a few days before they hatch!!
Birds like chickens, turkeys, and pigeons - even when prevented from hearing the calls of their own species - nevertheless develop perfectly normal calls as they grow up.
OTHER birds, such as Canaries and Song Sparrows and those birds we know as "Songbirds", either do not learn to sing their own song or do so only poorly if they are raised where they are not able to hear the singing of their own species.
Baby birds that are raised by "foster" parents may learn to sing the foster parents' song instead of their own.
For instance, Bullfinches raised by a canary grew up to sing a canary-like song.
Baby birds may be more influenced by their own father's song than by the song of other birds even of their own kind.
The offspring of one of the Bullfinches raised by a Canary learned their father's canary-song even though there were other Bullfinches around singing "normally"!
Young birds "practice" until they get it right!
Baby birds while still in the nest make warbling noises known as "sub-song". Only baby birds that learn their song by hearing do this. Song Sparrows begin this warbling at about 13 days of age. Over the next winter, this warbling stops but resumes again the next spring. Finally, by the time the bird is old enough to look for a mate, it will have its song perfected!
By the way, does THIS remind you of anyone YOU know --
Baby birds get their parents to feed them by making "begging calls" - the louder they beg, the harder the parents work in order to satisfy them!
The information on this page came from : (1) Watching Birds, an Introduction to Ornithology by Roger F. Pasquier

A new blog from my friend Melissa

2007-03-26T15:49:00.000-04:00

My friend Melissa Scott has created a new blog dedicated to all animals but especially hers. Melissa is the proud owner of 17 cats, 1 dog, and 1 bunny! How she has the time to care for them is unknown to me but I know that she gives her all to them. She and her Mom also make animal beds that they sell online, at craft fairs and to friends and family in the Louisville, KY area. They also mail them out of town and our of the country if need be.

Please consider going to her blog and ordering one of these adorable beds for your pet. They come in three sizes and different patterns and are reasonably priced. The picture is shows one of the pet beds. Get one today and make your pet happy and comfortable!

Does Your Pet Enjoy the Holidays

2007-03-17T18:44:00.000-04:00

I was surprised to find out that you can now get St. Paddy's Day costumes for your pet! Although this picture is obviously not a real dog, I did see some dogs in my neighborhood dressed up in a similar fashion. I know that this is for the benefit of the pet owner and not the pet but I do think there are animals that probably enjoy the Irish music we celebrate and enjoy on St. Paddy's Day...especially an Irish Setter! What do you think?? Please enjoy my healing music special offer

http://www.healingmusicenterprises.com/listmailings/StPatricksDay.htm

Animals Sighted in Las Vegas

2007-03-04T23:32:00.000-05:00

You probably know that I visited Las Vegas this weekend and was very unimpressed with the healing music available. I also was not thrilled with the few animals I saw there. The lions at the MGM hotel were so lethargic looking that I wondered if they had been given something to keep them calm. Understandable. If lived just a few feet from a packed casino with slot machines dinging and blinging I'd want to be tranquilized probably, but with some soothing music.

Just thought you might like to see my favorite animal pictures from Las Vegas. Enjoy!

Can animals appreciate healing music?

2007-02-19T12:16:00.000-05:00

Do you play music around your home or work space with your pet in mind? Those of us who are tuned in to our animal friends often think about whether or not the music we're playing will be pleasing to our pets. When I'm home I think about what will be calming, soothing and centering to both Jack and to myself. When I'm gone for long periods of time I try to leave soothing, peaceful music on for Jack or sometimes I just leave the television on tuned softly to the animal planet channel. More than once I have returned home to find him looking at it with seeming interest.

It can make all the difference to the animal's well being. I recommend the beautiful angelic harp music of Erik Berglund because his music is so ethereal and angelic. I believe that animals and angels have a close affinity, ministering to us as they both do so unconditionally and with such great love. Clients often comment enthusiastically on their animal's reaction to Erik's healing harp music and beautiful soothing voice. Animals particularly like Harp of the Healing Waters and Angel Beauty.

What are you getting your pet for Valentine's Day?

2007-02-08T21:11:00.000-05:00

Most pet lovers are rabidly fond of their pets. It's not surprising, therefore, that the pet gift business is booming, especially around Valentine's day. I'd like to cast a vote for buying your pet some beautiful, romantic music for them to snooze by. I know that my little Papillon Jack does not have a sweetheart this year and I don't want him to feel less than the man he is, therefore, if I surround him with beautiful romantic music, maybe he can dream of happier days when the little girl Papillons were after him at every turn and life was full of romping and playing. He's 13 now...in his 90's in human years the vet says. Let him dream again! Happy Valentine's Day!!

Lullabies for Animals??

2007-01-29T13:03:00.000-05:00

Recently I came across a fascinating article on the BBC website about playing Bach to soothe animals. We all know that our beloved pets can get upset and agitated when there is chaos an confusion around them or when they've been alone for too long or when they're tired from being played with too much! There are times we'd like to soothe our pets without giving them something unhealthy or even dangerous. Here's what the site reported:

An RSCPA rescue centre has installed a £2,000 sound system to play soothing classical music to stressed dogs.
Staff at the kennels in West Hatch, near Taunton, Somerset, said they now hear Bach rather than barks.
The animals are said to respond well to the strains of Beethoven and Mozart, but are not fans of pop or dance music.
Deputy manager Anita Clarke said: "It's a very stressful environment for the dogs to be in here, so anything that can help is worth a go."

Give it a try next time your pet is fussy or cranky!

Happy New Year to you and Your Pets!

2007-01-11T16:34:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to your and your pets. Hope you both did some healthy celebrating and are now happily into your New Year. Jack (my Papillon) spend most of New Year's Eve curled up on the couch in his little bed, listening to Oldies. He seems to really prefer oldies to classical or rap or reggae. Does your pet have a favorite type of music? If so, I'd love to hear about it. Just click where it says "respond" and share what your pet likes. Catcha later! Alice and Jack

What are your resolutions about your pets?

2006-12-31T14:00:00.000-05:00

Many of us have treasured, beloved pets. But how much time do you spend with yours? Oftentimes, pets are home alone all day long waiting for their beloved humans to return home and play with them. Is this you? Not that you don't love your pet dearly but you returm home from a long day and you're exhausted. You know you should spend some quality time with your pet, but you think, "let me just sit down for a minute and rest." We all do this with the best of intentions but your pet is totally dependent on you for food, water, love, entertainment and exercise. One of things I've started doing for Jack is to leave the radio, TV or a CD on for him. Many animals do seem to enjoy this and Jack is one of them. At least give it a try! Your pet may thank you!

Do dogs and cats like holiday music?

2006-12-14T19:51:00.000-05:00

I never cease to be amazed by the new holiday music every year. Several years ago and version of "Jingle Bells," barked by dogs was taking over the radio waves. This year I've now heard the same "Jingle Bells" meowed by cats! I suppose it's clever but do you think dogs and cats get much out of it? My high school psychology professor cautioned us against anthropormorphizing, but I doubt the animals are impressed or amused! What do you think?

Want to get your pet some healing music?

2006-12-04T22:51:00.000-05:00

Perry Wood has proven himself as a tremendous musician with his unusual debut album ANIMAL HEALING. Musically similar to the calming sounds of Steven Halpern and Kevin Kendle, Wood's delicate melodies shimmer with healing power, reducing stress and removing tension from one's animal companion. Working with Margit Coates, a respected animal healer, Wood's music is composed to touch the soul of the animal and its loving guardian in order to strengthen the bond and enhance their understanding and appreciation of each other. This hour-long recording has two extended tracks that take listeners on a journey to a soothing, calm place where animals and humans can find comfort. ANIMAL HEALING is great for jumpy cats or dogs that suffer from separation anxiety. According to the album's extensive liner notes written by Coates, this music will help open the listeners heart chakra and assist in greater intuitive communication between animal and guardian.

Research on Music and Animals

2006-11-26T00:05:00.000-05:00

In Boston, David Schwartz has been studying the relationship of music and language for a long time. Recently, his study was published in the Journal of Neuroscience. Schwartz's study also casts light on the long-running question of whether animals understand or appreciate music. Despite the apparent abundance of "music" in the natural world -- birdsong, whalesong, wolf howls, synchronized chimpanzee hooting -- previous studies have found that many laboratory animals don't show a great affinity for the human variety of music making.
Marc Hauser and Josh McDermott of Harvard argued in the July issue of Nature Neuroscience that animals don't create or perceive music the way we do. The fact that laboratory monkeys can show recognition of human tunes is evidence, they say, of shared general features of the auditory system, not any specific chimpanzee musical ability. As for birds, those most musical beasts, they generally recognize their own tunes -- a narrow repertoire -- but don't generate novel melodies like we do. There are no avian Mozarts.
But what's been played to the animals, Schwartz notes, is human music. If animals evolve preferences for sound as we do -- based upon the soundscape in which they live -- then their "music" would be fundamentally different from ours. In the same way our scales derive from human utterances, a cat's idea of a good tune would derive from yowls and meows. To demonstrate that animals don't appreciate sounds the way we do, we'd need evidence that they don't respond to "music" constructed from their own sound environment.

My Sister's cat, Mo

2006-11-11T14:53:00.000-05:00

I'm visiting my sister in Spartanburg, S.C. right now and she is the proud mother of a beautiful white kitty named "Mo." Her real name is Pianissimo because she is very, very soft. We think that Mo is a music lover because one of her favorite resting places is my sister's violin case! I will post a picture of this later.

Do you have any pictures of animals with musical instruments or anecdotes about animals and music? If so, please send them to me and I will post them.

Sweet Music for Milking

2006-10-17T22:57:00.000-04:00

Researchers tell us that dairy cows produce more milk when listening to relaxing music. They believe farmers could get an extra pint from their charges by playing classical music or smoochy numbers in the cowshed.Not too surprising is it? As a former nursing mother, I can say that being relaxed helps humans produce more milk too. Psychologists at the University of Leicester, UK, played music of different tempos to herds of Friesian cattle.
Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony and Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water were a big hit in the milking shed. But when rowdy numbers, like Mud's Tigerfeet and Size of a Cow by Wonderstuff, were played, there was no increase in milk yield.
"Calming music can improve milk yield, probably because it reduces stress," said Dr Adrian North, who carried out the study with colleague Liam MacKenzie.
Some farmers already play music to chickens, as there is anecdotal evidence that it reduces stress.
"A lot of farmers seem to think it works," Dr North told BBC News Online. "In essence, we're following their lead."

Why do some dogs sing?

2006-10-08T22:28:00.000-04:00

Many times throughout my life, I've wondered why some dogs try to sing along with music they hear and others seem to be fairly oblivious to it. I've never really gotten a good answer to it, but here's what I did find out the other day:

Singing: some dogs "sing" very easily especially if they hear high tones. Some dogs can be trained to make different kinds of weird noises, especially the more vocal breeds/individuals. In Finland there is a famous dog call Gizmo who performs with a symphony orchestra. He sits on the owner's lap and sings along with their music! Dawn Carla Speer wrote: I could get Heike going for a couple of minutes straight ... I would make different sounds -- sort of like the range of sounds you could get from a wah-wah pedal for a guitar -- and she would imitate them really closely. If I told her "Be indignant!" she would make lower pitched noises, and if I said "Shhhh..." she would just make the mouth movements with no sound at all. This came from: http://users.tkk.fi/~mtt/belg_tricks.html Enjoy!

More on Music and Elephants

2006-09-11T11:25:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I received a very interesting letter from a Dr. in India. He wanted to let me know vis-a-vis the article I posted on the depressed, anxious elephant who was healed with Mozart and other classics, about another instance of music with animals!

He said that there are many ancient sources in Indian literature which speak to just this sort of thing and especially to the power of strings, i.e., harp, violins, sitar, to calm and soothe angry elephants. It's hard to imagine a much worse situation than an angry elephant! Keep some soothing music on you Ipod!

Alice

Cricket Chorus and other sounds of Nature

2006-08-15T21:40:00.000-04:00

This just passed by my desktop.I hadn't heard this particular correlation of all the sounds listed, though often wondered about it...of course, we know of the Cricket Chorus....reminds me of early information on the pentatonic/minor nature of many animal sounds and correlation to indigenous scales....Did not find this on Jeffrey Thompson's site, as indicated, but felt worthy of passing on...pehaps one of you know....Sounds of LifeScientists have discovered an amazing fact about the sounds of the ebb and flow of ocean tides, people's voices, dolphin cries, and bird and cricket chirps. They sound the same! When researchers slow down voice recordings of people, they discover the people's voices sound like the ebb and flow of ocean tides.Then when researchers speed up the recordings, people's voices sound like dolphin cries. Speeded up more, like bird chirps. Even more like crickets. And guess what crickets chirps sound like slowed down? Yep. First like birds. Then dolphins. Then people.But wait! There's more. While examining the recordings of spacecrafts Voyager I and II at the California Institute for Human Science, scientists discover the same sounds! NASA recordings from outer space sound remarkably like ocean sounds, choirs of voices singing, dolphins, birds and crickets.Additionally, sounds produced by the rings of Uranus are virtually identical to those produced by Tibetan bowls.Researchers believe that this similarity is no coincidence. Scientific medical studies are discovering that the sound vibrations of dolphins, Tibetan bowls and choirs have a profound healing effect.Could this be the "collective unconscious" that Carl Jung refers to? A living "collective library" that contains all the knowledge of theUniverse? Stay tuned!- Center for Neuroacoustic Research and The California Institute for Human Science

Has there been an "Avian Mozart"?

2006-08-01T17:23:00.000-04:00

An interesting study came out in 2003. The gist of it as far as animals go is this:

Schwartz's study casts light on the long-running question of whether animals understand or appreciate music. Despite the apparent abundance of "music" in the natural world -- birdsong, whalesong, wolf howls, synchronized chimpanzee hooting -- previous studies have found that many laboratory animals don't show a great affinity for the human variety of music making.

Marc Hauser and Josh McDermott of Harvard argued in the July issue of Nature Neuroscience that animals don't create or perceive music the way we do. The fact that laboratory monkeys can show recognition of human tunes is evidence, they say, of shared general features of the auditory system, not any specific chimpanzee musical ability. As for birds, those most musical beasts, they generally recognize their own tunes -- a narrow repertoire -- but don't generate novel melodies like we do. There are no avian Mozarts.

But what's been played to the animals, Schwartz notes, is human music. If animals evolve preferences for sound as we do -- based upon the soundscape in which they live -- then their "music" would be fundamentally different from ours. In the same way our scales derive from human utterances, a cat's idea of a good tune would derive from yowls and meows. To demonstrate that animals don't appreciate sounds the way we do, we'd need evidence that they don't respond to "music" constructed from their own sound environment.

For more information on this, CLICK HERE
Comments? Thoughts? Ideas?

Music healing with animals in the news!

2006-07-28T13:59:00.000-04:00

Hi Friends,

This is a brand-new blog of mine, created because of yet another article in the news that I saw. I am a huge animal lover and currently belong to a Papillon named Jack. I'll try to get his picture on the site!

Meanwhile, here is the article I saw:

Media expert Dr. Alice H. Cash, has been deluged with questions about how the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart "healed" a clinically depressed elephant.

Yesterday, July 12, a story emerged in media outlets around the world about a a 45-year-old elephant and long-time resident of the Zagreb Zoo,being inconsolable after her pachyderm partner of tens years died of cancer. By coincidence the zoo had organized a concert of classical chamber music right across from Suma's dwelling. At first Suma was anxious and unhappy about the musicians setting up so close to her but once the music started, Suma closed her eyes, leaned against the fence and was motionless throughout the concert. Now the zoo has set up a stereo in her area and she is beginning to feel better and emerge from her depression, thanks to Mozart, Bach and Pachelbel.

Not surprisingly, the animal-loving public wants to understand better how music affects their pets as well as zoo animals and animals in the wild. Dr. Cash is available for interviews on this particular area of music medicine as well as many others.

Please contact her at 502-419-1698 to set up at interview.