Music for Non-Human Ears
Do animals enjoy music, or is it a uniquely human pleasure? Research reveals surprising answers.
Species-Specific Music
Psychologist Charles Snowdon created music tailored to animal hearing ranges and tempos:
- Cats: Prefer music with frequencies and tempos matching their vocalizations
- Tamarin monkeys: Respond to music matching their emotional calls
- Dogs: Show mixed responses to human music
What Research Shows
Dogs
- Generally indifferent to human music
- Classical music may reduce shelter stress
- Heavy metal increases anxiety
- Reggae and soft rock show calming effects
Cows
- Produce more milk with slow, calming music
- Prefer tempos under 100 BPM
- Stressed by fast or loud music
Elephants
- Can keep rhythmic beats
- Some play instruments
- Respond to classical music
Birds
- Some species have musical preferences
- Cockatoos can dance to a beat
- Songbirds share neural music-processing with humans
The Rhythm Question
Few animals can synchronize to a beat:
- Humans
- Some parrots
- Sea lions
- Possibly elephants
This ability (called "beat induction") may require vocal learning capabilities.
Whale Song
Humpback whales create complex songs with:
- Distinct phrases and themes
- Cultural transmission
- Annual evolution and change
Whether this is "music" remains debated.