We will highlight the varied characteristics that are associated with musical intelligence and help you understand it better with the help of examples.
Did You Know?
Children who have had up to 3 years of tuition in a musical instrument, before they reach the age of 9, develop enhanced math and problem-solving skills.
It was Howard Gardner, a developmental psychologist, who proposed the theory of multiple intelligences in his breakthrough work ‘Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligence’s in the year 1983. He proposed that human intelligence is not limited to a single unit, but is rather segregated into several intelligence forms―in all, 8 intelligence types. He went on to explain that not all people will have a high intelligence in all 8 forms, some will have a high intelligence in one form, while the others in another. Most people, he said, have a combination of several intelligences.
Musical intelligence features as one of these 8 intelligences and is characterized by people who have great musical abilities and a general musical bent of mind.
In this Melodyful article, we will delve into the depths of what this intelligence entails and state the facts that distinguish it from the rest other forms of intelligences.
Musical Intelligence Characteristics
People with high musical intelligence are, first and foremost, highly musically-inclined, in that, they have an ear for music.
Not only do they enjoy music as a whole, but they are also able to recognize the different patterns of music, like the rhythm and the bass. They are able to use this keen sense of music and compose music pieces and songs.
They can easily pick up the beat to a song and you’ll often find them tapping, humming, singing, and whistling. They can easily tell when a note is off key.
They are highly passionate about music. They are easily able to imitate the voice, and singing patterns of others. In addition to understanding the varied nuances of music, they are also great at recognizing instruments. In fact, they are able to clearly distinguish between the different tones and notes of varied instruments. For example, as in a musical piece, they can differentiate whether a note was made by a flute or a clarinet.
They are also inclined towards learning and playing one or more musical instruments. They have an inbuilt talent for understanding rhythm, timbre, pitch, and pattern; so it is not unlikely that they are simply able to pick up an instrument and start playing it. They are able to remember and recall things more clearly when they are turned into lyrics, for example, or given a rhythm.
They also tend to look for patterns in life, just like they would do in music. They learn better when there are patterns set to events and information.
They are drawn to sound and rhythm. They are aware of the different sounds that are constantly playing in the environment. For example, they will hear the distant cry of a bird, the whirling rhythmic beat of the washing machine in motion, or the rain on the roof. Interestingly, these people also enjoy dancing and singing.
They have an uncanny talent to recognize and remember songs. They are also able to listen actively and fully. They are drawn to music because it evokes feelings and emotions in them. They are able to understand the depths of an emotion more clearly when they hear a song about the same; it has a profound effect on them.
Examples
There are certain individuals who possess a high level of this intelligence. These include, musicians, singers, composers, music conductors, music teachers, recording engineers, performers, dancers, musical instrument makers, musical instrument tuners, rap artists, songwriters, record producers, choir directors, television and radio artists, and music retailers, among others.
People who possess a high level of musical intelligence will do especially well in careers involving any of the above-mentioned professions.
Ways to Improve Musical Intelligence
Have a keen ear for all the sounds around you, in your environment and otherwise.
Listen to a wide range of music and songs that stretch to include different styles and genres.
Close your eyes and locate a sound in your background. Trace it back to its direction and its source.
Play different styles of music for when you’re studying or are inspired or stressed, and experiment to see which form of music works best for which mood.
Study or learn something with a low tempo music playing in the background. Then play the same tune when trying to recall the same―it will happen much more efficiently. This practice, you will find, is a great way to learn and recall. Arrange all your lessons to music.
Learn to play a musical instrument. Write a song or a jingle and try to set it to tune. Add sound effects to a story or an incident. Make up a sports cheer. Any cheer. Imagine you’ve been asked to write one for the sports team at school. Tap the musical pattern and count the number of beats in a song.
Attend musical shows that feature classical music.
Famous People with Musical Intelligence
There are several celebrities with musical intelligence who are celebrated because of their innate talent. Some of these celebrities are even known to have a disability of some form, and yet they have been able to reach exceptional heights in their careers. This only goes to show that even though a person might not have a high level of intelligence in one field, he/she can more than make up for it with a high intelligence in another.
Following are examples of famous people who have a high musical intelligence.
Mozart, Aretha Franklin, Leonard Bernstein, Ray Charles, Beethoven, Michael Jackson, Itzhak Perlman, Eminem, Stevie Wonder, Adam Clayton, Miles Davis, Carlos Santana, Leonard Bernstein, Amy Beach, Andrea Bocelli, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Adrian Willaert, Elvis Presley, Cher, Aaron Copland, Yehudi Menuhin, Elton John
Musical intelligence allows a person to find a pattern in everything that they undertake, along with being musically-inclined―the advantages of which are multiple. With the several methods of enhancing this intelligence, developing the same should pose no problem whatsoever.
