Shows
Instru(mental)#19 - Split Second Music JudgmentsWhat can we deduce from hearing less than 1 second of music? Learn how accurately listeners can identify music genres from excerpts that are less than a quarter of a second long, and see how your brain does in a mini version of the experimental task. Our takeaways include how these sophisticated, split-second associations to music sometimes work against our better judgment.ReferencesMace, S.T., Wagoner, C.L., Teachout, D.J., & Hodges, D.A. (2012). Genre identification of very brief musical excerpts. Psychology of Music, 40(1), 112-128. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735610391347Song Excerpts...
2025-10-0124 min
Instru(mental)#18 - Music as Moral EvidenceCan music change our moral judgments of others? In this episode, we explore how knowing about someone's, or something's, musicality shifts our moral decision-making. This episode's research study includes four related experiments involving musical monkeys, anti-musical humans, dogs, babies, and robots. Then, we explore what the converging results suggest about music’s impact to shift social attitudes and advocacy efforts related to groups that are often dehumanized, like the homeless community or incarcerated individuals. ReferencesAgrawal, T., Rottman, J., & Schachner, A. (2023). How musicality changes moral consideration: People judge musical entities as mor...
2025-09-2528 min
Instru(mental)Instru(mental) TrailerWhat if you didn’t have to be a scientist, or a musician, to use music in your everyday life? Hi there, I’m Brea, a board-certified music therapist and this is Instru(mental) – a podcast that explores the science of music and how it shapes your brain, your body, and your life. This podcast isn’t just about what music sounds like, it’s about what music does to you.In each episode, I break down fascinating research about how music affects us and I share real-life takeaways you can actually use to feel better, think clearer, o...
2025-09-1501 min
Instru(mental)#17 - The Best Wedding MusicWhat's the best music for a wedding? In this episode, I explain how I lightly manipulated my guests with music to make my wedding as fun, engaging, and memorable as possible. We'll cover research about the music and social bonding hypothesis, the brain's reward circuitry, and statistics about my own wedding playlists that explains how music contributed to the celebration. And, if you're in wedding planning mode, this episode has tips for curating the best music for your special day! ResourcesBrea's Wedding Reception Spotify PlaylistSongData.io: Playlist analyzerReferencesC...
2025-09-1033 min
The Feeling is MusicalThe Music Therapy and Harm ModelWelcome to The Feeling is Musical! Today, we chat with Brea Murakami, a board-certified music therapist about the model she developed regarding music therapy and harm.
Transcript of the Music Therapy and Harm Model available at www.scMusicProject.org/Podcast.
ABOUT THE MUSIC PROJECT
From its origin as the Everett Symphony, the Snohomish County Music Project has since transformed into one of the leading music therapy providers in the Pacific Northwest. Visit www.scMusicProject.org to learn more.
FOLLOW US
Instagram // www.instagram.com/scMusicProject
Twitter // www...
2025-01-1125 min
SLP Learning HourTunes for Talk: Overlap and Collaboration Between Speech Therapy and Music TherapyGuest: Brea Murakami, MM, MT-BC - Research demonstrates that musicians often have better speech-processing skills than non-musicians. This episode provides an overview of the OPERA hypothesis, which outlines five mechanisms (Overlap, Precision, Emotion, Repetition, and Attention) and explains how music experiences can benefit speech and language processing. The guest will share real-life case examples of how singing can be used to practice speech-related goals, along with intervention ideas and variations that non-musician speech-language pathologists can lead.
2024-05-021h 03
Care Chronicles199. Music and Harm: Brea Murakami, MM, MT-BC and Daniel Goldschmidt, MT-BCThis is episode 4/4 of our re-release series!
In this episode Brea tells about her model for the potential for harm from music. Brea, Daniel, and Tricia discuss their own clinical experiences with harm, and the implications of this model on the Music Therapy profession
2023-01-111h 02
Navigating Adulthood and IDDEpisode 22: Intro. to Supervision Series, Supervision for New Professionals, and BurnoutIn this solo episode, I discuss my experiences with supervision as well as how a lack of supervision led to burnout early in my career. I further explore supervision accessibility for new professionals and offer a couple of ideas of how to find accessible supervision. Lots of resources below!Links: Music and Harm: What We Know and What We Need to Know- AMTA-Pro Podcast ~ October, 2018, Brea Murakami, MM, MT-BC, Daniel Goldschmidt, MT-BC Ami Kunimura's https://www.selfcareinstitute.com Peer Support Network for new professionals Facebook groupshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/MTLeadershttps...
2021-11-2914 min
Enhance Life with MusicEp. 103: Is there a dark side to the power of music? With Brea Murakami, MM, MT-BCIf music is so powerful, can it also cause harm? We discuss music-induced harm (MIH – yes, it's a thing!) with music therapist, psychologist, and researcher Brea Murakami. Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode103 Connect with us: Vote for us in The People's Choice Podcast Award! https://www.podcastawards.com/ (scroll to Music Category) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnhanceLifeMusic/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enhancelifemusic/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpetersonpiano/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicenhances Sponsorship information: https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/sponsor Lea...
2021-07-1333 minCare Chronicles79. Music and Harm: Brea Murakami, MM, MT-BC and Daniel Goldschmidt, MT-BCIn this episode Brea tells about her model for the potential for harm from music. Brea, Daniel, and Tricia discuss their own clinical experiences with harm, and the implications of this model on the Music Therapy profession. Brea Murakami, MM, MT-BC is a board-certified music therapist and the Interim Director […]
2020-11-181h 02
Reading GlassesEp 173 - Gimme Those Chunks! How to Get Through Required ReadingBrea and Mallory help you get through some required reading. Use the hashtag #ReadingGlassesPodcast to participate in online discussion! Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com!Reading Glasses Merch Recommendations Store Links -Reading Glasses Facebook GroupReading Glasses Goodreads GroupAmazon Wish ListNewsletter Libro.fmWatch 12 Hour Shift!Drunken Erotica Book Club - 10/11 6pm PT Instagram LiveBeing Neighborly Books Mentioned - The Space Between Worlds by Mi...
2020-10-0847 min
Instru(mental)#16 - Music as a Social SurrogateHow can music serve as a social surrogate when we can't directly interact with others? This episode explores how listening to music can serve as a social proxy and provides ideas for how to strengthen your social relationships in the age of social distancing.For more information about the research, resources, and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for news and updates!
2020-07-1717 min
Instru(mental)#15 - Bridging Music Therapy/Cognition [Interview with Daniel Goldschmidt]How can the fields of music therapy and music cognition strengthen each other? This episode features a conversation with music therapist Daniel Goldschmidt (@danielnnz) on a wide range of topics about bridging these two disciplines including:What it's like to going to music therapy vs. music cognition conferencesHow Daniel applies music cognition research to his professional practiceWhere music therapy/cognition can easily intersectWhy music therapists need to seek expertise beyond their bubbleFind more information on the research articles and music included in each episode at our website, www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook...
2020-01-1036 min
Instru(mental)#14 - Drumming and Prosody [Interview with Jessica Riley]This episode features an interview with Jessica McLean, a soon-to-be music therapist who started her career in music neuroscience. We talk about how Jessica first got involved in music science research and how she’s applied her research skills to help children with cochlear implants better hear prosody. In this episode you’ll learn more about what music may sound like for cochlear implant users, a drumming-to-speech paradigm Jessica designed to help with prosody recognition, and the importance of prosody in our everyday communication. Find more information on the research articles and music included in each episode at o...
2019-08-1649 min
Instru(mental)#13 - Human HearingHow do our ears and brains take in and process sound? This episode covers the basics of how we hear starting with sound wave all the way to the primary auditory cortex. Learn how music therapists work with individuals who are hard of hearing and how to protect your own hearing.For more information about the research, resources, and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for news and updates!
2019-07-2618 minInstru(mental)#12 - Melody vs. Lyrics and Emotional IntensityHow can individual musical elements impact our music listening experiences? This episode is a quick dive into how melody and lyrics in a song impact the emotional intensity of music. Learn how you can make more strategic music choices by becoming mindful of musical elements’ influence in how you perceive music.For more information on the research articles and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter with @instrumentalpod for news and updates!
2019-07-1217 minInstru(mental)#11 - Music-Evoked Autobiographical MemoriesHow do certain songs become intertwined with our personal memories? This episode explores the musical reminiscence bump, how our musical preferences may be influenced by our parents, and the neurologic mechanisms behind music-evoked autobiographical memories. Get ideas for how to use music to frame and reflect on your past experiences. For more information on the research articles and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter (@instrumentalpod) for news and updates!
2019-07-0530 min
Reading GlassesEp 94 - Wet Grocery Flyers and How to Relax with Books with Lynn Chen!Brea and Mallory talk about relaxing with books and interview Lynn Chen, narrator of the Crazy Rich Asians audiobook. Use the hashtag #ReadingGlassesPodcast to participate in online discussion! Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com! Reading Glasses Merch Sponsor - Lola www.mylola.com Promo Code - GLASSES Lull Mattress lull.com/reading Links - Reading Glasses Facebook Group Reading Glasses Goodreads Group Amazon Wish List Newsl...
2019-04-0450 min
Song Appeal"Life & Death" from Lost - Season 2, Episode 13What makes "Life & Death" sad? And why do we like sad music? In this episode, we'll take a look at how our minds learn that certain music represents certain ideas, and we'll look at how our brains respond to the mediant chord, the minor third, and a good controlled cry.
Special thanks to David Rosen and Brea Murakami for their help with this episode.
You can find the full transcript for this episode, the shownotes, and a link to hear this theme at SongAppealOfficial.com/Lost.
You can help support this show on Patreon at Patreon.com/SongAppeal...
2018-11-3015 minInstru(mental)#10 - Music, Rewards, and DopamineDoes music release dopamine? And how can music be interpreted as a reward? This episode uncovers how reward circuitry in our brain can be activated when we listen to music. Learn how the interactions between music and dopamine contribute to neuroplasticity and how music therapists take advantage of musical rewards for increased motivation. For more information on the research articles and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter (@instrumentalpod) for news and updates!
2018-08-1030 minInstru(mental)#9 - Congenital AmusiaWhy are some people tone deaf? This episode explores a musical disorder called congenital amusia, in which people have trouble processing the pitch and melodic structures of music. Learn the neurologic disconnect in amusic brains, what amusia can tell us about humans' musical foundations, whether people with amusia can still enjoy music, and how to find out if you may have amusia yourself. For more information on the research articles and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter (@instrumentalpod) for news and updates!
2018-08-0230 minInstru(mental)#8 - Music and DyingHow does music help us deal with death? This episode covers research that gives us insights into how music can lessen death anxiety and then discusses three ways that music is used in hospice care to support individuals at the end of life. Takeaways include resources like the Five Wishes document and ideas for how to start important conversations with your loved ones about death. For more information on the research articles and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter (@instrumentalpod) for news and updates!
2018-07-1233 minInstru(mental)#7 - Personality and Music PreferenceDo our musical tastes reflect our personalities? This episode dives into research about how the Big Five personality factors might influence what music we like. Along the way, learn what you may able to know about a person after hearing their favorite music and how to use that knowledge to build more genuine connections with strangers and people you've known your whole life. For more information on the research articles and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter (@instrumentalpod) for news and updates!
2018-07-0629 min
Instru(mental)#6 - Music and Shopping BehaviorCan music impact how we shop? This mini-episode explores how music can unconsciously influence our decisions of what to buy and how much money we spend in retail settings. Get the highlights of how music can impact our associations with products, change how we perceive time, and how to use music for a comfortable shared environment. For more information on the research articles and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter (@instrumentalpod) for news and updates!
2018-06-2912 minInstru(mental)#5 - Music, Movement, and ExerciseHow does music impact how we move? Can music help us exercise more efficiently? This episode dives into research that explains what's happening in your spinal cord and brain when you're listening to music during a run or at the gym. This episode features lots of takeaways for when and when not to use music for your workout.For more information on the research articles and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter (@instrumentalpod) for news and updates!
2018-06-2227 min
Instru(mental)#4 - Infant Music PerceptionHow do babies perceive music? Infants aren't blank musical slates, they're actually pretty sophisticated music listeners. This episode highlights how we're all built to process music from birth, and how this innate musicality helps medically fragile infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Takeaways include tips for parents to share more music with their children.For more information on the research articles and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter (@instrumentalpod) for news and updates!
2018-06-1423 min
Instru(mental)#3 - The Mozart Effect (That's Not a Thing)The Mozart effect has gotten a lot of hype (and criticism) the past few decades...what's the real story? This episode breaks down the research that led to the Mozart effect being debunked. Even though those Mozart baby CDs won't make your baby smarter, we also share the one music activity that has shown to have long-term benefits to cognitive processing.For more information on the research articles and music in this episode, go to www.InstrumentalPodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter (@instrumentalpod) for news and updates!
2018-06-0822 minInstru(mental)#2 - Musical Entrainment and Social BondingMusic often brings people together whether through dancing, choirs, or bands. How exactly does music help build stronger relationships, even among strangers? This episode dives into research behind musical entrainment and how synchronizing with another person can lead you to act in a more cooperative, helpful way. Check out our website (www.InstrumentalPodcast.com) for more information on the research articles and clips featured in this episode. Follow @instrumentalpod on Twitter for the latest news and updates!
2018-05-3128 minInstru(mental)#1 - Music and Emotion InductionMusic's ability to impact our emotions is often taken for granted, but how exactly does music influence our feelings? This episode dives into six ways to answer this question and explores how you can strategically use music for emotion regulation.More information regarding the research article and music clips can be found out our website (www.InstrumentalPodcast.com). Follow @instrumentalpod on Twitter for the latest news and updates!
2018-05-3125 min
Reading GlassesEp 42 - Don’t Be A Moby Dick in Your Online Book Club and comicbookgirl19!Brea and Mallory talk about online books clubs and interview comicbookgirl19! Use the hashtag #ReadingGlasses to participate in online discussion! Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com! Reading Glasses Tote Bags Sponsor - Casper - www.casper.com/glasses Promo Code - GLASSES Audible - www.audible.com/glasses Text GLASSES to 500-500 Links - Reading Glasses Transcriptions on Gretta Reading Glasses Facebook Group Reading Glasses Goodreads Group Apex Magazine Page Advice...
2018-03-2938 min