[Dixielandjazz] Sex and Music

[Stephen G Barbone]

A few days ago, I postulated that if the band was not having fun at  
swing dances, then they weren't doing it right, and drew an analogy to  
sex. The sex part came about many years ago when a young colleague who  
worked for me confided that his wife was not having a good time in  
bed. I passed on some advice about technique etc., which essentially  
said if she is not enjoying it, then you aren't doing it right. I  
realize there may be other reasons so spare me the cards and letters  
etc.... VBG.

The music part came about because of a study that took place at McGill  
University in Toronto. The results were published a year ago. Here are  
the basics of what it said:

MUSIC affects people in the same way that SEX does. Music that "moves"  
you causes your brain to release dopamine which is a chemical involved  
in both motivation and addiction. In fact, even the anticipation of a  
musical passage with which you are familiar and like, can cause your  
brain to release dopamine. Sex or the anticipation of sex causes the  
same release of dopamine. . . .

"You're following these tunes and anticipating what's going to come  
next and whether it's going to confirm or surprise you, and all of  
these little cognitive nuances are what's giving you amazing pleasure.  
The reinforcement or reward happens almost entirely because of  
dopamine."  - Vaklorie Salimpoor, a neuroscientist at McGill  
University's Montreal Neurological Institute.

All of the above explains why music is so significant in all human  
societies, even though it has no obvious survival value.

Be that as it may, no wonder OKOM fans like to hear the same passages  
over and over again. Like the Picou High Society clarinet obbligato.  
They, and the clarinet players, are all sex addicts. VBG

And by the same token, listening to music you hate, causes the  
unpleasant release of adrenaline which activates the amygdala, the  
brain's fight or flight center. Are you listening Marek Boym and Bill  
Haesler?

All sorts of possibilities here eh? But the central theme remains the  
same. If you ain't enjoying it, you ain't  doin'  it right. VBG	

BTW, in another study, it was shown that nicotine via a cigarette also  
induces the release of dopamine but triggers the remembrance of things  
past.  No wonder those of us who smoke, or used to smoke, enjoyed a  
cigarette after music, or sex. VBG.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband