Music Lovers in Standards

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  • 1.  Contemplating Music Tastes

    Posted 09-09-2022 12:36
    Hello All, 

    As we head into the weekend and the couple of days I tend to find myself at live shows or festivals, I have been contemplating the vast amount of types and genres of music and why certain music lights one person up and turns another person off. Is it a measurable brain chemistry thing? I am not sure there is a standards link here, but I am wondering if there is some "formula" (like guidelines in a standard) that could help determine why some people love one type of music and not another. Or is it completely subjective and influenced by environment/peers? 

    Just wondering...
    Cheryl

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    Cheryl Levey
    Communications Specialist
    National Institute of Standards and Technology
    https://www.standards.gov
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  • 2.  RE: Contemplating Music Tastes

    Posted 09-12-2022 05:02
    Cheryl,
    Apparently, the music you were listening too at age 13/14 has a lot to do with it. See https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/12/learning/do-you-believe-youve-already-forged-your-lifelong-taste-in-music.html.

    Many other factors doubtless apply. I moved to the US for a few years in my Forties and was exposed to a lot of music I'd really never heard before: Bluegrass, Old Time Appalachian, Shape Note Harmony Singing etc. They form a large part of my musical taste now and are on a par for me with the music I was listening to aged 13/14:-)

    Regards,
    Sean



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    Sean McGrath
    CIO
    Propylon
    +35-876731779
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Contemplating Music Tastes

    Posted 09-12-2022 10:51
    Hi Sean, 

    Very interesting article, but I must be an outlier! My preferences at 13-14 were Heart, Styx, Rush, and similar (and I do still love all of that music) but my preferences over the years have gotten heavier, and I do still adjust and adapt to new preferences. I always love being exposed to new sounds! But I also love revisiting familiar ones :)

    I'm curious as to yours and others? Preferences at certain ages? 

    Thank you so much for your response and for the article! 
    Cheryl



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    Cheryl Levey
    Communications Specialist
    National Institute of Standards and Technology
    https://www.standards.gov
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Contemplating Music Tastes

    Posted 09-25-2022 15:03
    Hi again Sean, 

    Funny how the universe gives us info when we ask for it. I just came across this article today: 
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2022/09/25/music-taste-personality-traits/

    As an outlier :)  I disagree with some of David Greenberg's findings, but found this also to be interesting reading. The article you sent and this one both agree that our tastes are formed in adolescence, though that was not the case for me either. From this article, there was a differentiation between what were called empathizers and systemizers. I personally believe I am both. So... I am just a different kind of bird I guess! 

    Cheryl




    ------------------------------
    Cheryl Levey
    Communications Specialist
    National Institute of Standards and Technology
    https://www.standards.gov
    ------------------------------

    Original Message