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Animals' response to music
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Subject: Animals' response to music From: Marion Date: 28 Jun 99 - 02:12 PM The whale article got me thinking - just what do animals think of our music? My parents' cat is indifferent to the piano and acoustic guitar but looks with horror on the pennywhistle and leaves the room if I take out my fiddle. But someone once told me that when she plays pennywhistle her cat would jump into her lap and try to nuzzle the end of the whistle. I wonder if there are dogs that respond to particular lullabies, or birds that imitate melodies in their own song? Survey question: how do the animals in your life react to your music? |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Bert Date: 28 Jun 99 - 02:46 PM One cat just ignores it another promptly leaves the room The dog mostly ignores it but sometimes gives me a puzzled look. Used to have dog that howled. Bert. |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Mudjack Date: 28 Jun 99 - 04:33 PM Our yellow lab Maggie does appreciate my practice sessions, she'll come near me and flop and promptly take a nap. (is that complimentry?) Sometimes to give the Mrs. a break so she can read or watch TV, I'll take my practice outside on the sundeck. Last year we had a heard of cattle and to my surprize, they seem to be paying attention and did'nt stampede the place. Wild birds seem to come in close for a closer peek and listen. Now people are a different story...... Mudjack |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Bri Date: 28 Jun 99 - 06:09 PM My dog really likes "Candle on the Water" from Pete's Dragon...she actually looks up from whatever she is doing and listens...unless she's eating of course:o) But she's afraid of my guitar. My cat...he doesn't care in the least. |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: katlaughing Date: 28 Jun 99 - 06:38 PM Cats and dog love most music I play or listen to. My cockatiel, C-More, is really partial to Irish and Native American flute music, as is the zebra finch. Mudjack: why do you think cowboys sang to the cattle so much?***BIG GRIN*** I've definitely noticed certain pieces seem to calm them more than others; and others which really get some of them into a very frisky mood! I've an article I could post here, called Psychic Pets and Music, if anyone is interested. katlaughing |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Banjer Date: 28 Jun 99 - 06:51 PM My two dogs do seem to relax when I pick up my banjo. I don't know if it's "Oh good, he's playing the banjo for us" or "Quick let's see if we can get to sleep before that infernal caterwalling starts". But they usually never get up and leave, except for the one time a friend of mine brought his bagpipes to the house. First wail out of them and they ran over each other leaving the room. Woulda left the house if they'd found an open door! I have noticed that during thunderstorms which they both dislike intensely and start quivering, if I take up a harmonica and play it does go a long way towards soothing the both of them. As for the cat leaving the room when the fiddle comes out, that's probably just a show of respect for her ancestors that gave their all so YOU could play the fiddle. |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: campfire Date: 28 Jun 99 - 06:54 PM I used to have a parakeet that would "sing along" (in his own way), but only if I was fingerpicking - never did a thing for strumming. Several of the cats that have graced my life have seemed to come running to listen to me play my guitar. Then someone pointed out that what they really were enjoying was curling up in my furry-lined guitar case, while the guitar was out of it. None of the dogs have seemed to give a hoot one way or the other, although they are an ever-adoring audience. campfire |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Barbara Date: 28 Jun 99 - 07:23 PM Had a friend with a concertina and a cat named MacCavity; whenever she started playing concertina MacCavity would pace and yowl, and sometimes he'd come and claw her leg and arm. Not sure if he objected, was singing and playing along, or if he heard it as a proposition and was responding in kind. Blessings, Barbara |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Jo Taylor Date: 28 Jun 99 - 08:23 PM Cats get very offended at higher end of whistly things, one tries to sit on my head & knock it out of my mouth. Dog (aged yellow labrador) is rather deaf so doesn't mind at all, another dog we had would sing beautifully to clarinet accompaniment (howl??). The geese love flute music, waddle over and sit at my feet with their heads on one side staring with one beady eye. The goat remains indifferent... Jo |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: gargoyle Date: 28 Jun 99 - 09:31 PM PitBull - 3 years old
Saddels up parallel to the piano
Nose BUTTS Forcefully at right hand left continues, moves & BUTTS right continues, moves & BUTTS
Some declare him a music critic
Throw the ball till the tongue hangs back Then one can play Ballin' the Jack
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Ted from Australia Date: 28 Jun 99 - 09:51 PM When my friend (acomplished fiddle player) plays oue cat used to curl up on his lap and "knit"( cat people will know about that) When my wife (beginner) merely made a move to get out her fiddle he would leave the room at a rate of knots (sailor talk) I think he did more damage to her resolve to learn than any other factor. (she gave up in the end and took up mandolin (to which the cat did not object)
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Ted from Australia Date: 28 Jun 99 - 09:54 PM Oh I forgot to say that the cat (now deceased) was called Muddy, so I guess that (coincidently)made him a Mudcat. Regards, Ted |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: katlaughing Date: 29 Jun 99 - 12:23 AM Ted, my friend in New England calls it "making biscuits". I like the knitting bit, too. Wow! Maybe he was the first real, live Muddy-Mudcat?! katlaughing |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: SeanM Date: 29 Jun 99 - 03:11 AM We have a cockatiel in house that adores pennywhistles. Whenever I rehearse, he joins in to the best of his ability... always makes it fun when I'm just noodling along and he starts throwing dissonance in. M |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Steve Parkes Date: 29 Jun 99 - 03:29 AM I had a dog years ago named Lassie, a mini border collie. I discovered that if I sang "Will ye go Lassie go", she'd behave for all the world like an embarassed adolescent! She'd fidget about with a silly grin (I kid you not!) on her face, wag her tail, shake her ears, and generally go all soppy; if she'd blushed it wouldn't have surprised me! Thanks for bringing back that memory, Marion, Steve |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Philippa Date: 29 Jun 99 - 08:41 AM I met a couple of dogs who sang along to my fiddling |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: hank Date: 29 Jun 99 - 09:04 AM My cat likes it when I bring the mandolin upstairs and sit on the rug. To her having me sit on the living room rug is heaven, and it doesn't matter what I'm doing. Well, sometimes it matters, when she wants to be petted, but normally just having me on the rug is enough. |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: WyoWoman Date: 29 Jun 99 - 10:35 AM I had a cockatiel I taught to whistle "Louie, Louie," the first part of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," and the Lone Ranger part of the "William Tell" overture. He liked to shower with me and would do them all, with his own birdie riffs, in a medley as he showered exuberantly. I didn't know birds could be so full of personality and show such unabashed joy. My dogs sing along with the blues harp. The cat leaves the room the second I even reach for my guitar. My dogs don't like it but they stick around 'cause, well, they're dogs. But I"ve taken to leaving the guitar on the sofa, which keeps the dogs off the furniture in my absence. kc |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: MMario Date: 29 Jun 99 - 11:32 AM We have two cats, two horses and a dog, who all exhibit various likes and dislikes dependent on the tune....I test original music out on them, and if I find something all five of them like, then I try it out on the humans around the place...(I do a lot of practicing in the barn) MMario |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Mudjack Date: 29 Jun 99 - 02:15 PM This is my second contribution to this thread, but I just have to tell all a true story. When I first took an interest in trying to do music ,I got an electronic keyboard that had all the rhythms and drums etc. Our Siamese cat "Beau"(Bo) would often leave the room when I tried to play anything on it. About 3 or 4 mos. later I went to turn it on and it made the worst sounds anyone ever heard without me touching it. I then unplugged it. picked it up and heard this sloshing noise. Mmm....Stuck my nose to it and discovered Beau had obnoxiously pissed into it.I never left it uncovered since.Yeah, Beau lived to a ripe old age, I just never could appreciate his music taste. It was obviously better than mine. Like Jo Taylor says,cats have sensitivity to high pitches and electronic frequencies pester the piss out them. Mudjack |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Peter T. Date: 29 Jun 99 - 05:41 PM What a great thread. It makes you want to go and buy a farm, and get big easy chairs, and have big dogs and cats and everything. Being allergic to virtually all animals (except fish, and they do nothing for me, except whales, and it would be cruel to stuff one into one of those house aquaria) makes it impossible for me, but I can dream! What a great thread. Yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Bob Landry Date: 29 Jun 99 - 06:59 PM I think my son's hamster is deaf. The poor little critter had to suffer through endless hours of listening to a teenager trying to learn to play his electric guitar (at full volume when I wasn't at home.) Yesterday I transported 3 cats by car from Calgary to Edmonton, a three-hour trip. The two-year-old was miserable and howled most of the way .... until I tuned the radio to a teeny-bopper station which played the likes of the Backstreet Boys and Manson. Did it lull the cat to sleep? ... or was it simply the last straw in a series of terrifying experience and noises that made the cat catatonic? I'll never know. Bob |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Art Thieme Date: 30 Jun 99 - 12:38 PM Alas, good people, our cockroaches seem totally indifferent to any music at all. All they respond to is when we turn on the light after coming home late. Then you can watch the wallpaper change over and over and over. I thought it was a new kind of screen saver. Art Thieme (Thanks to artist and songwriter, HARRY WALLER. See his grand song "Cockroaches On Parade". I seem to think it's in the database.) |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Bert Date: 30 Jun 99 - 12:50 PM Legend has it that THE OLD SOW SONG from the West Country of England was sung to pigs at farrowing time. The sound effects were intended to make the sow feel at home and among friends while she was popping out them little piglets.
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Art Thieme Date: 30 Jun 99 - 12:51 PM I've, on many occasions, had an entire gym filled with 500 kids/students turn into a huge cage of gerbils during one of my presentations of folksongs. (The teachers never noticed as they were all taking the assembly time to mark papers. Either that or they were in the lounge downing Twinkies.) The music would, generally, quiet the gerbils down very nicely. They even sang along on Bill Stains' "All Gods Children Got A Place In The Choir". Sometimes the kids wouldn't quiet down at all and I'd need to pass around bottles of Scotch so the little darlings could sedate themselves. After that (and if they didn't snore) the show would go quite well... Art (again) |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Margo Date: 30 Jun 99 - 03:21 PM As I understand it, cows give more milk to Mozart. Someone did an experiment and found it to be true. Margarita |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Bert Date: 30 Jun 99 - 04:27 PM They also use loud rock music to scare birds away from orchards. |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Fadac Date: 30 Jun 99 - 04:39 PM Ok, 2nd time. 1st didn't make it. Somebody played music for a corn crop. (maze) They reported that it did better on classical music over rock and roll. Well do know that corn has ears, but taste? -Fadac |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Bert Date: 30 Jun 99 - 04:41 PM a maizing |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: mountain tyme Date: 30 Jun 99 - 06:39 PM I leave a portable radio under a five gallon plastic bucket resonator in my garden to repel critters and birds. Works pretty well if I remember to change the batteries. At evening gloaming I set with my banjo and attract bats. (it is very quiet here) Blue herrons which always take flight at my sight will come from over a half mile away and set down between ten and fifteen feet away to listen to the banjo. When I stop playing only for a moment they fly away. When I begin again they will return. They don't seem to be partial to any beat/speed or choice of tune. Rag Time Annie (especially the third part) is a good place to start though if you want to try Herron & Bat calling. Cheers! |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Banjer Date: 01 Jul 99 - 05:52 AM I've never used banjo playing to attract anything, but I do believe that settin out front and playing the banjo about twice a month goes a long way to keep the chiggers, moles, ants, and other critters out of the yard! (At least MY banjo playing does!) |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Banjer Date: 01 Jul 99 - 05:54 AM I'll have to take back part of that last statement. I DID one time play the banjo and attract something!! It was a pair of old boots flying towards me at a high rate of speed! |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Mari-Kat Date: 01 Jul 99 - 09:30 AM I was once a pretty fair fiddler, but my half Siamese half some unknown white cat objected none-the-less by biting my ankle. He thought better of my pedal harp -employing it as a fine perch, climbing upon me with the most velvet of paws to get to the crown, the better to view the world as I played. He made the error (only once) of attempting to climb the sound board to the same purpose, leaving 4 desperate claw marks as he helplessly slid down, simultaneously surviving that and my towering wrath at the scratches! |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Mari-Kat Date: 01 Jul 99 - 09:37 AM Then there was our dog muttkin, Chu-Cullen. We enjoyed his company on all occasions, and taught him to sing along as we played the piano. He wasn't one to be stingy with his favors, and paid the same compliment to any unsuspecting soul visiting us who tried over the keys! |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: bob schwarer Date: 01 Jul 99 - 02:45 PM My wife's African Grey whistles the theme fro "Bridge on the River Kwai"(Col. Bogey March). Fun to watch her hop to attention whenever it is on TV. also sings "Jingle Bells" in season. Especially likes a Harvey Reed piece which I don't know the name of. Dances to it. I know the album title so I guess I'd better get it. My White Fronted Amazon is a critic. Tried to take a chunk out of me once when I sang to him. He's probably right. I've been sneaking a little more to him gradually. Bob S. |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Steve Parkes Date: 02 Jul 99 - 03:17 AM Jus be grateful the Grey doesn't sing the words! Steve |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: MAG (inactive) Date: 02 Jul 99 - 03:11 PM My beloved long-gone kitties Witchie-Poo and Shadow never minded my guitar, but took great exception to singing practice, which is what I do most and best. My current kitties alas are cats of very little brain; they don't seem to mind. My most recent ex has a collie who would always howl along. I couldn't tell if he was joining in or complaining. --MA |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Llanfair Date: 02 Jul 99 - 06:59 PM Our two dogs and three cats are totally indifferent to music. Tess, the collie cross just resents not being the centre of attention (we are in a constant state of conflict about who is top dog in our pack) Benson, the Crumbhound, the only one in the world, pedigree, has just spent the last half hour on my knee. He is Labrador-sized, firmly at the bottom of the pecking order, and terrified of thunderstorms!!!! Bron. |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Art Thieme Date: 03 Jul 99 - 11:53 AM Fadac, I'd be willing to bet that when they played music to the corn, it was music to his ears. Art |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Banjer Date: 03 Jul 99 - 02:40 PM Oh Art! I didn't even know you were not feeling well again! I DO hope you get better soon! |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Date: 05 Jul 99 - 11:20 AM Katlaughing, I'd like to see the article you mentioned, if only to find out what a psychic pet is and where I can get one. Marion |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Marion Date: 29 Oct 99 - 03:49 PM Refreshing this thread, because I miss it... |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 29 Oct 99 - 10:13 PM Rasputin The Cat (of Honoured Memory) hated the concertina. He might have been in the next street, but if I so much as played a few notes on it, he would show up, put his front paws on my knee and look at me until I stopped. Never did learn to play the blasted thing. The current generation have different tastes; Emer The Cat ignores everything except the harmonium (she likes to curl up in instrument cases, especially the plush-lined type) while Oscar The Cat objects to all live music, particularly fiddle. I wondered at first whether it was just my technique that he didn't care for, but he's heard far better players than I and still showed a clean pair of heels. Just pretending to open the case gets rid of him. I suspect that the harmonics of -especially- free-reeds and bowed instruments interfere with their small furry brains. They aren't in the least disturbed by recordings. Malcolm |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Kathy Date: 29 Oct 99 - 10:33 PM |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: sophocleese Date: 30 Oct 99 - 12:55 AM I used to have a cat that would come running whenever my husband-to-be played the bagpipes. All other cats disappeared at the first tentative blow. Fluffbutt however seemed to hear in the bagpipes the sounds of distress and would rush to offer comfort. It says a lot for her affection, but little (or maybe lots), for her musical taste. I should add that my husband can play the bagpipes quite well. |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: katlaughing Date: 30 Oct 99 - 01:08 AM When I had the piano, my Miss Lovee always would come over and sit on the bench, rubbing up against me. She made it pretty obvious that she LIKED it. The violin was another matter. She is a very sensitive snowshoe Siamese. When I play it, she runs around, crazy-like, as though she has lost ALL of her marbles, darting here and there in a wild-eyed imitation of a marauding hun or something. Malcolm, I think you're right about the harmonics, although none of the other cats I've had seem to have a problem with it. My cats love it when I put on a tape or cd, they blink their eyes at me in sweet contentment and I ask them if they like the "mewwz-ique", at which they manage to look even more contented. Wish I had that ability! |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Sourdough Date: 30 Oct 99 - 01:27 AM Fadac and Art: Concerning singing to a field of corn: What do you think about trying Pop music? Sourdough |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: mountain tyme Date: 30 Oct 99 - 04:56 AM Forgot to say...my banjo (especially when playing twin with another) does seem to attract drunks from miles around...some of them act in ways that makes this post particularly pertinent to this thread. Sophocleese mentioned above an instrument? I had not heard played "live" before this summer. After listening carefully to the tones and drones I was thankfull to realize it was not odourous. |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: Little Neophyte Date: 30 Oct 99 - 07:38 AM Sophocleese your bagpipe story reminds me of an incident that happened to a friend of mine who also plays the bagpipes. A few years back my friend Pat was playing in Central Park NY when a big german shepherd dog appeared near by, no owner in sight. At the time there were few people around so it was basically my friend and this big dog. The dog started circling slowly around Pat which made him very frightened fearing he was going to be attacked at any moment. The only thing that kept Pat calm was to continue playing his bagpipes. After a few minutes the dog stopped circling, sat down directly in front of Pat and began to howl along with the music. Wonderful thread Marion, very happy you pulled it down from the attic Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: Animals' response to music From: DonMeixner Date: 30 Oct 99 - 08:48 AM Our old and saddly departed Golden Retriever named Schooner was a truly a wonder of a dog. He was deaf to most entreaties but was in the kitchen at the fall of a souffle. He could hear a marshmallow being eaten to yards away and some how was able to deduce where you might be planning to go and fall asleep in the doorway between you and your destination. After a hand inury when I coudn't play anything with strings I took up the harmonica again. The sound of the reeds would make Schooner whimper and cringe. Being the considerate soul I'd move away from him to a diferent room. Schooner would get up and follow and lay down at my feet and whimper some more. As the fingers got better my ambitions got larger. A button Accordion. Schooner followed the same routine. Only louder. I image he was pleased when I was to play strings again. Don |
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