Want Perfect Pitch? You Might Be Able To Pop A Pill For That
A Harvard study says a drug normally used as a mood stabilizer might allow adults with no musical experience to learn perfect pitch.
Music News
Kelis Puts 'Milkshake' Behind Her And Moves On To 'Food'
Singer songwriter Kelis Rogers, who's also a trained chef, goes by just Kelis. She's best known for the 2003 hit song "Milkshake." Steve Inskeep talks to the R&B artist about her new album Food.
Play It Again And Again, Sam
We're all seduced by repetition, music research suggests — 90 percent of the music we listen to, we've heard before. Beyond music, this bias toward familiarity holds up in every culture. What gives?
Musicians, Take Note: Your Instrument May Be Contraband
Tighter regulations on ivory coming in and out of the U.S. could have a profound impact on musicians who travel with antique instruments.
Two Leads, Two Deaths In 18 Hours
In a first for the Metropolitan Opera, Kristine Opolais made two major-role debuts in the space of 18 hours. The Latvian soprano sang leads in Madama Butterfly and La Bohème back to back.
Remembering Karen Carpenter, 30 Years Later
By the time she was 24, Carpenter was already famous, having released more than a dozen hit records with her brother Richard. Her legacy remains a source of disagreement.
From Recife, Brazil, 3 Rhythms Get The Carnival Party Started
The descendants of the coastal Brazilian city have a long, mixed history, making for quite the vibrant display and musical celebration. One style of music is even said to make the blood boil.
A Major Oscar Dust-Up Over A Song From A Minor Movie
The song "Alone Yet Not Alone" had been nominated for Best Original Song at this year's Oscars. Not anymore. Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter explains why.
Music Education For Creativity, Not A Tool For Test Scores
With so much pressure on schools to improve test scores, music and the arts sometimes fall off the list of priorities. That's led advocates for music education to point out its benefits in the classroom.
Classical Music Piece Enhances Roald Dahl's 'Dirty Beasts'
On Sunday, the London Philharmonic debuted a new piece of music based on Roald Dahl's Dirty Beasts. With Matilda playing to sold-out crowds on Broadway and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory running in London's West End, this is just the latest work by the author to get a musical soundtrack.