The Evolution of Music

Dr Fancourt, Head of Psychology along with the psychology A-level students and Music Scholars were delighted to welcome Professor Pamela Heaton from Goldsmiths University of London. Prof. Heaton gave a lecture on ‘The Evolution of Music’, providing a fascinating insight into the link between psychology and music throughout the decades.

Prof. Heaton started by speaking about the origin of music and proposing the question “What is music and where does it come from?”, showing students the earliest evidence of a musical instrument. Humans have been making music for a very long time with the earliest examples including a flute-like instrument made from bird bone, mammoth ivory and carbon which dates back to 42,000 years ago and the Seikilos epitaph, the oldest surviving complete musical composition, which was excavated in Turkey and is thought to be around 2000 years old. Music has always been an important aspect of culture, likely to of been used during functions and rituals.

Prof. Heaton explained how Charles Darwin would observe his children’s reaction and response to their mother playing the piano. It is known that all humans have a biological interest in music, which is evident in newborns and infants, where melodious song is more effective than speech, when comforting a child. Students also learned how Neanderthals used a proto-music language to communicate. With all this in mind, it was clear that music is deeply rooted in our past and continues to be important, music is international and has the ability to bring people together.

Dr Fancourt commented,

It was wonderful to welcome Professor Heaton to Queen Anne’s and for our students to have the opportunity to engage in discussion with an expert in the field of Music Psychology about the role that music plays in all of our lives and in societies throughout the world.