The hills are alive... with curiosity! Why do instruments "sound" different from one another, and how do we respond to the different sounds we hear?To explore these questions, Bey and Kirsten speak with music perception researcher Dr. Stephen McAdams, going in depth about timbre, orchestration, and the ways we perceive tone qualities. Then, the two sit down with electronic musician and educator Ben Runyan to learn about the history and technology behind synthesizers, including a live jam session!Links for today's episode:<ul><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/mpcl/members/current-members/stephen-mcadams" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dr. McAdams</a> and his work with the <a href="https://www.actorproject.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ACTOR Project</a></li><li>Check out a video of<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7IZmRnAo6s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Snowball the cockatoo dancing</a> to the Backstreet Boys!</li><li>Learn more about <a href="http://benrunyan.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ben Runyan</a>, and check out his recording project, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0zDlTobqQUmmde3pC4amnR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">City Rain</a></li><li>Want to try your own hand at synthesizers? Check out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SynthHackerTV/videos" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SynthHacker's Youtube tutorials</a>, along with this <a href="https://www.gsn-lib.org/apps/cardboardsynth/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">free online synth!</a></li></ul>

Sound Medicine: Music and Mental Health

The Franklin Institute's So Curious! podcast is back with a bang, and this time exploring the captivating world of music through the lens of science. We all know the feeling of being moved by a song, but have you ever wondered why? Season 4 promises to get to the bottom of this mystery, interviewing experts in neuroscience, acoustics, biology, and musicology. From the connection between rhythm and dance to the link between memories and music, we'll leave no stone unturned in our quest to understand the why behind music. But it's not all serious - we're also here to entertain! Join host Bey and Kirsten for an exciting journey this summer as we discover the intricacies of music and technology, including the question of whether the next big pop star will be A.I. Get ready to dance, hum, and maybe even shed a tear - this season of So Curious! is going to be music to your ears.