The playwright William Congreve famously observed that “music has charms to sooth a savage breast.” In fact, experts say, music may have much more than charms: There may be an actual scientific connection between music and its effect on the mind.

Vincent deLuise, a distinguished visiting scholar in medical humanities at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, addressed a Zoom audience in a recent Grand Rounds lecture titled “Music and the Mind: Linking Melody and the Mind.”

“We’ve been mapping the brain for decades,” said deLuise, who is also assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at Yale University School of Medicine. “We have an extraordinarily deep, profound and broad understanding of what’s going on in our brains. Music usually brings an uplifting nature with it, although music can certainly make us sad or even cry as much as it can make us laugh and be unbelievably joyful. This is your brain on music.”

DeLuise discussed muses in Greek mythology — the sisters Aoide, the muse of voice and song; Melete, the muse of thought and meditation; and Mneme, the muse of memory. Together, the sisters form the complete picture of the preconditions of poetic art.

“All cultures have music, all have the octave, and all sing,” said deLuise. “All cultures also have songs that they associate with certain meanings and certain emotions, and all children love to be sung to.

He said that babies preferentially turn their gaze to happy music and away from sad music.

“Music therapy is being used to teach patients with Parkinson disease how to walk again by teaching them how to dance,” said deLuise. “It’s used to teach patients with Alzheimer’s disease or post-ischemic stroke how to speak again by teaching them how to sing.

Melodic phrasing and rhythmic vocalization and rhythmic movement to music is very powerful and increases communication skills and neuromuscular control. This helps the cerebellum and improves a patient’s gait and balance. So teaching them mute melodic phrasing and dancing can actually help them walk better.”

DeLuise explained that music evokes emotions that recall memories pairing music with everyday activities — a useful treatment tool.

“Nothing activates the brain so extensively as music,” said deLuise. “Humans are hardwired to be musical. Music activates brain activities that are ancient and foundational. It’s a form of language. Music activates areas in our brains related to emotion. Music is therapeutic. Music feels.”

Read the full story: https://news.stonybrook.edu/featuredpost/grand-rounds-lecture-explores-relationship-between-mind-and-melody/

A Year Like No Other Comes To A Close

Not much more needs to be said about 2020. No one is sad to see it leave.

As we reflect on the many memorable moments of this year, we are mindful that the only

constant is change. We wish you and your family happy holidays, and look for a brighter 2021.

The Long Island Music Hall of Fame (LIMHOF) will present a “Best of the Awards Galas” TV special on Thursday, December 31, 2020.

The LIMHOF — founded in 2003 by Stony Brook University faculty member Norman Prusslin and music magazine publisher Rich L’Hommedieu — honors the rich history and important role Long Island has played in music history.

The TV special will be hosted by Randy Jackson of Zebra (photo courtesy LIMHOF)

Hosted by Zebra guitarist/vocalist Randy Jackson, the upcoming TV special will feature a mix of the best speeches, performances and special moments from past LIMHOF Induction galas from 2006 through 2018. The show is dedicated to Leslie West, guitarist for Mountain and native New Yorker, who passed away on December 23.

Some of the acts featured in the special include Joan Jett, Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, Jen Chapin, DMC, Chuck D, LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow, Dee Snider, David Johansen, Leslie West/Mountain, Billy Joel, Garland Jeffreys and more.

“We are thrilled to present many highlights from our past Induction Ceremonies in this 90-minute presentation, presented by Jovia Financial Credit Union, and benefiting the Long Island Music Hall of Fame’s educational and scholarship programs,” said Stony Brook alum Ernie Canadeo ’77, Long Island Music Hall of Fame Chairman. “It is a testament to Long Island’s diverse musical heritage with appearances and performances by so many world-renowned rock, folk, jazz, blues, hip-hop and classical artists. This New Year’s Eve presentation represents a finale to 2020 and a new beginning to live events in the new year.”

The special will raise money for the LIMHOF music scholarship program and other educational initiatives such as the mobile museum through an auction of various items as well as accepting donations during the program.

The show will air on Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 9 pm simultaneously on News 12 plus (optimum channel 61), Fios (Verizon channel 530) and stream on Facebook Live (facebook.com/news12li).

Note: The was taken from an article in American Songwriter magazine.

After caring for thousands of patients battling COVID-19, Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) has received the coronavirus vaccine and has begun vaccinating hospital workers at the highest risk of exposure. Kisa King, a resident in the Department of Emergency Medicine at SBUH, received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, administered by Ian Pak, a pharmacist at the Hospital.

“I am so excited and thankful to be a part of the solution,” said King. “Not only does this mean that I can continue delivering care to my patients, but it also means I am providing protection to my family, friends, and community.”

Based on guidance from the New York State Department of Health, more than 250 personnel working in emergency rooms, critical care units, and other high-risk hospital units are scheduled to receive the vaccine at SBUH by the end of the day. The vaccine administration will be staggered in such a way as to ensure staff has the ability to continue providing necessary patient care. Stony Brook Medicine expects to receive additional doses of vaccine in the coming weeks.

This major milestone comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the first emergency use authorization for a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 in individuals 16 years of age and older. The emergency use authorization allows the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed in the U.S. The vaccine has been found to be more than 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 after two doses.