What Says Jimi ?

On the 40th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix death Tom Robinson in this radio programme takes a look at  Hendrix's political  position during the late 1960's .

Along with Tom Robinson, this programme also features contributions from Eric Burton, Robert Wyatt, Hendrix's younger brother Leon Hendrix, Black Panther Party members of the period Aaron and Elmer Dixon and comments from the author Charles Sharr Murray.

"The programme culminates with Jimi's Woodstock Festival performance of 'The Star Spangled Banner', an eloquent (and wordless) statement against the Vietnam war......"  MORE

Those Musical Feelings That We Have

I suppose you do not need to be a neuroscientist to know the power of music and the physical and psychological effects it can have on human beings.  Nevertheless, it is good to know anyway that neuroscientists of this interesting study have taken the time and effort to confirm and explain why we feel these ‘physical and psychological effects’

Over the past decade or so, studies have shown that music stimulates numerous regions of the brain all at once, including those responsible for emotion, memory, motor control, timing and language. MORE

Are You A Good Listener ?

Listening is one those skills in communication which many of us overlook. If you are the one who does most of the talking in a conversation it probably means that you not listening or paying close attention to what the other person is saying. Often this can lead to a lot misunderstanding between the parties. So if you wish to be a better communicator try to talk less and listen more.  You may be surprise at the difference this might make, you might even improve your communication skills in the process!

In my journey toward better communication, here are 5 ways I’ve found to help reduce the distractions we face in communication: ............  MORE

Are Your Facial Expressions Innate Or Learnt ?

Human Facial Expressions are Inborn, Study Found

A research paper published  by the 'Journal of Personality and Social Psychology' says that our facial expressions have "strong connections with our genes". This study goes  on  to say that " facial expressions of our emotions are innate" and consequently are not acquired in "cultural learning". ........ MORE

The Musical World of Confucius

Confucius grew up in a world in which the Ancient Chinese believed that sound had a profound influence on the harmony of the universe. This importance is reflected in his own teachings in which music is featured very prominently.

Confucius considered music to be one of the two defining social and cultural structures that is attributed to a proper ordered society, along with correct observance of ritual. For him music encompassed learning, thinking, behaving, and governing.

Confucius felt that an individual education could not be completed without a musical education. As Confucius so eloquently put it "To educate someone, you should start with poems, emphasise of ceremonies, and finish with music".

Music and Its Origins

The Singing Neanderthals: The Origins of Music, Language, Mind and Body

A book written perhaps with the linguist Steven Pinker in mind who in 1997 stated that music in evolutionary terms was in fact "useless".  The author Steven Mithen challenges this assertion of Pinker and argues that ......." music has been neglected if not ignored.  Like language it is a universal feature of human culture, one that is a permanent fixture in our daily lives. " ........ MORE

Music And The Imagination

Music, The Brain, And Ecstasy: How Music Captures Our Imagination


An informative and an introduction to what is music and how and why it affects us..... Robert Jourdain explores these topics and others, ..... " from the essential nature of sound through composition, performance, and, finally, the nature of ecstasy "  ....... MORE