So, we’ve had our CD of special dog-calming music (Through a Dog’s Ear: Music to Calm Your Canine Companion) for a couple weeks now. It’s about an hour long, and I often put it on repeat while I work and the dogs hang out. I think it’s found a happy home in their brains because I can turn it on and see nearly instant results.
For example, Lilly often stands squarely at my side while I write/work and hums under her breath to try and get my attention. If I’m really concentrating, I don’t even hear it, but if I’m having a less-than-productive day, then it bugs me.
If she’s bugging me, and I don’t have time to play, I put on the music. Within the first 3 notes, she lays down. And, halfway through the first song, she’s usually asleep. That’s nice, but perhaps the most interesting development is that Lilly doesn’t pop up as often. Usually, if I move, she moves. If I need to file something, she pops up. If I walk to the printer to pick up a draft, she pops up. Move. Pop. Move. Pop. This is our daily dance.
Lucky for me, it’s merely soothing and not sleep inducing … but I think it helps. I had it on the other day while struggling with an iPod/computer drama, which would normally make my blood boil, and I didn’t get very upset at all.
(Here’s a link to my first post on the music, if you want to read about the science behind the psychoacoustics.)
There are a couple of selections on the CD that I do “notice.” The first and last pieces are classical pieces familiar to me, so my brain clicks on when I hear the first few notes. Also, the sixth song has some (for me) painfully low tones in it. Those super, super low notes bug me a bit, but they don’t last long.
Another interesting thing is that while I’ll sometimes listen to the CD 6-8 times in a single day, the music never gets stuck in my head — and I have a major problem with that. I’ve been known to dive across the living room for the mute button because certain commercial jingles can haunt my brain for weeks. Makes you wonder if they do that on purpose, using psychoacoustic ideas. Anyway, I have real trouble with music and other phrases getting stuck in my head. But, not this music. I’d have to ask the music people for sure, but my guess is that it’s because the music is designed to stimulate passive hearing, rather than active listening.
And, one more hmmmm thing … I’m a HUGE fan of the TV show LOST. HUGE. Love it. Love it. Love it. And, after a couple weeks of listening to my dog music CD, it struck me how much the show’s musical score sounds like psychoacoustic music. I don’t know if it is, but it sure sounds like it to me.
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