IN THE LAST INSTALLMENT of "Mindful Voice," Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner's revolutionary Theory of Multiple Intelligences was examined as a paradigm shift in the history of education. In the years since the publication of Gardner's groundbreaking book Frames of Mind in 1983, the cognitive revolution continues to unfold at a rapid pace, and offers new insights about music in general and the art of singing in particular.

Cognitive scientists have long acknowledged the mystery of music, chiefly by noting its utter "uselessness" in the most basic biological sense, that is, the human striving for survival and reproduction.

Music is an enigma ... What benefit could there be to diverting time and energy to the making of plinking noises, or to feeling sad when no one has died? ... As far as biological cause and effect are concerned, music is useless. (1)

Two theories posited among evolutionary psychologists (those who study the evolution of the human brain) run counter to this argument. One theory is that music may have functioned as a type of mating call among early humans; (2) the other is that the voice of the mother crooning her baby to sleep, which morphed into the lullaby, in a small yet significant way may have helped ensure the survival of the species. (3)

MUSICAL GIFTEDNESS

Developmental psychologists agree that one of the earliest talents to emerge in the developing child is musical. Gardner noted that, except among children whose parents create musical opportunities for them via private lessons, for most children "there is little further musical development after the school years begin." (4) This may seem merely regrettable, but when contrasted with the development of language, should be deplored by all who are concerned with human development. (This article summary only, to get the full text please login or register and contact admin web).

Title: Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences: musical intelligence (MINDFUL VOICE)

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