Product Details

• Actors: Audra McDonald, Bobby McFerrin, Daniel Levitin
• Directors: Elena Mannes
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: PBS
• DVD Release Date: July 21, 2009
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0028X6KYW
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,624 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

The power of music: THE MUSIC INSTINCT: SCIENCE AND SONG provides a ground-breaking exploration into how and why the human organism and the whole ebb and flow of the cosmos is moved by the undeniable effect of music. This follows visionary researchers and accomplished musicians to the crossroads of science and culture in search of answers to music s deep mysteries. Featuring: Bobby McFerrin & Dr. Daniel Levitin, author of This is Your Brain on Music.  YoYo Ma also appears in the series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Those of us obsessed with Music, are not surprised by the brain science!, July 11, 2009

By 

operamarty - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Music Instinct: Science and Song (DVD)

I recorded this recently from PBS on my DVR and was spellbound from beginning to end. In summation, I wasn't too surprised at the science of the brain discovered in live MRI's of listening and performing music - because music is my air and I must have it in my life all the time. This is a comprehensive look at how the brain reacts in performance, just listening, atonal music, the sensory reactions from person to person, instrument, voices to others - the mic and camera into the uterus of a pregnant woman showing the baby smiling and hearing the music - all subjects confirming what we music makers have always believed - we are hardwired to appreciate and perform music with the cortex of the brain showing white hot light in the MRI - the brain on music. Very exciting program and all the more sad and depressing when it also shows the importance to our childrens' education in all subjects when they learn to play music before the age of 10 and we have cut music and art as non essential subjects. This should be seen by all educators and send a copy to your representative and senator and demand music education be returned to our schools. More important, if you have a young child, prekindergarten age - get them lessons to play an nstrument, sing and learn to read music. It will give them discipline and a distinct edge in their learning - throughout their lives. Music can heal and the images of the brain on music certainly shows its power.
This DVD belongs in any music lover's collection - it proves what we musicians have always known and wish others understood. Great production!!!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brainiac music video, June 10, 2010

By 

Carrie Starr "envirostarr" (Ganado, AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Music Instinct: Science and Song (DVD)

This is one meaty video! It's thankfully free of the 2-second sound bites, and in its 2 hrs (!) deals extensively with the science of music and the brain (lots of MRI images), and how music affects us. This DVD probably will be best used by the rarified group of musicians/listeners who think about music instead of just using it as aural wallpaper. One thing I particularly appreciated about it is that all of the excerpts of pieces that were featured in the main narrative were included in full in the special features section. This DVD functions well as a companion to Levitin's "The World in Six Songs", which is also highly recommended. I thought the lighting used for some of the music scientists' group discussions was a little over-dramatic, but who knows--maybe this subject is more important and deserving of dramatization than anybody knows!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!!!, July 14, 2009

By 

lifelearner - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Music Instinct: Science and Song (DVD)

I recently saw this on PBS and immediately started searching for the DVD. Very convincing neurobiological argument for the significance of music as inherent to humanity. The program demonstrates that in a real sense WE ARE MUSIC! I just got DVD in mail today and can't wait to watch it again! BUY IT!