Re: Music listening styles

[Leon van Noorden <leonvannoorden@xxxxxxx>]

Dear Lawrence,

I am not a neurologist, but through our work with patients with Parkinson's Disease (PPD) we know that this is an illness in which the basal ganglia do not work any more as they should. It is said that the basal ganglia are important for the control of  automatic movements, such as walking. But PPD can still execute the movements under full attentional control. External rhythmic cues such as metronomes and music with strong and regular beats can help them to execute these movements more fluent again. However, a double task, that takes the full attention away disrupts this control again. So as music making is full of double tasks I can understand your concern that your feeling of losing the control to stay on top of the music has to do with compromised basal ganglia.

Leon van Noorden
visiting professor Music and Movement
Institute for Psycho-acoustics and Electronic Music
Ghent University
www.ipem.ugent.be



On 27 Sep 2010, at 18:20, Borden, Lawrence wrote:

> Dear Listers,
> I've begun to lose tiny slices of time consciousness. This affects my ability to stay on top of the beat in the orchestra and leaves me almost unable to count measures and stay "in the moment" with the music.
> 
> Could compromised basal ganglia (associated with time perception) have anything to do with this? 
> 
> Any wisdom on time perception (especially as a constant flow) would be appreciated. This problem seems out of the realm of normal neuro problems, but is greatly affecting my ability to consistently perform.
> 
> 
> Lawrence Borden
> Associate Professor of Trombone
> Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University
> Principal Trombone, Nashville Symphony Orchestra
> O   (615) 322-7676
> H   (615) 255-4191
> C   (615) 397-1253
> E   Lawrence.Borden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> W  WWW.Vanderbilt.edu/trombonestudio
> 
> 
> <lawrence.borden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>