Learn about musical intelligence, and review musical intelligence examples as well as learning styles. Discover famous people who had musical intelligence.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Musical Intelligence | Definition & Examples
Table of Contents
- What Is Musical Intelligence?
- Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences
- How to Enhance Musical Intelligence
- Musical Intelligence Examples
- Experiments in Musical Intelligence
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you show musical intelligence?
Musical intelligence can be shown in numerous ways. People with musical intelligence can tune an instrument and detect pitch. They can turn words into lyrics and recognize beats. They can also produce or compose songs.
What is meant by musical intelligence?
Musical intelligence refers to the ability to detect, understand, and apply musical expressions such as rhythm and lyrics. It relates to patterns, structure, tone, and pitch, among other music-related skills.
What famous person has musical intelligence?
Ludwig van Beethoven, Kendrick Lamar, and Michael Jackson all demonstrate musical intelligence through their outstanding appreciation for and demonstration of rhythm and music. People like Elton John and Eric Clapton show that Gardner's multiple intelligences are not necessarily related.
What do people with musical intelligence do?
People with musical intelligence often do well in music-related fields. They can compose music, play instruments, and write lyrics. They can also work in the movie industry by becoming film composers and sound engineers.
What is an example of musical intelligence?
Examples of musical intelligence include identifying instruments in a song or recognizing notes. Another example is easily memorizing words in foreign languages.
Table of Contents
- What Is Musical Intelligence?
- Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences
- How to Enhance Musical Intelligence
- Musical Intelligence Examples
- Experiments in Musical Intelligence
- Lesson Summary
Musical intelligence refers to one's ability to appreciate and produce musical skills like sounds, rhythms, lyrics, and patterns. Traditional methodologies used to assess human intelligence measure cognitive abilities. Musical intelligence broadens the appreciation for one's knowledge and capabilities. People who exemplify musical intelligence are often at the top of their field. For example, the composer Bach, the artist Michael Jackson, and the rapper Kendrick Lamar are considered to have high musical intelligence.
Musical Intelligence: Definition
The definition of musical intelligence, also known as musical-rhythmic intelligence, focuses on the ability to detect and create rhythmic patterns formed through instruments, voice, and the environment. It is important to critically understand and analyze this because rhythm is the foundation of composition in any form of music.
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Howard Gardner is a developmental psychologist who studies how and why people change. His best-known contribution to the field is his theory of multiple intelligences (MI). His studies suggest that human intelligence is not based on a single ability as different categories make up intelligence. This theory challenges the traditional, longstanding belief that one's intelligence is based on cognition. It also provides a framework for understanding growth and potential; MI theory intelligence can be affected by genetics and environment and can be learned and practiced over time.
In his 1983 book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Gardner explains that every person is born with multiple intelligences. He then advises that society has to foster this intelligence for individual and societal development. He explains intelligence as ''the ability to create an effective product or offer a service, a set of skills that make it possible to solve a problem and the potential for finding or creating solutions for a problem.'' He furthers this by defining musical intelligence as ''abilities to produce and appreciate rhythm, pitch, and timbre.''
In addition to musical intelligence, Gardner explores other abilities that one possesses, signifying the different processes of intelligence:
- Logical-mathematical: Includes the ability to quantify, detect patterns, and discern multi-step reasoning.
- Linguistic: Includes the ability to understand and use words and sounds meaningful.
- Musical: Includes the ability to recognize and produce musical expression through sounds, rhythm, and tone.
- Spatial: Includes the ability to accurately visualize the visual-spatial world.
- Bodily-kinesthetic: Includes the ability to control one's body skillfully.
- Interpersonal: Includes the ability to understand and respond to others' moods, feelings, and motivations.
- Intrapersonal: Includes the ability understand to one's moods, feelings, and motivations and identify one's strengths, weaknesses, and abilities.
- Naturalist: Although added later, this includes one's ability to understand and utilize the natural world.
Each of these is significant for developing human potential, and everyone will display different levels of each one. Intelligence is based on one's ability to recognize and perform characteristics portrayed in each skill.
Although musical intelligence is similar to linguistic intelligence for their shared emphasis on sounds and rhythm, their execution differs. Linguistic intelligence focuses on language and communication; it can manifest through conversation and writing and is exemplified in careers as poets, politicians, or translators. Musical intelligence focuses on musical composition and performance and can be demonstrated through the work of singers, composers, and musicians. Gardner defines musical intelligence broadly as it should relate to the above skills and reveal appreciation for ''musical expression,'' which could correspond with anything musical.
To explain this concept further, Howard describes Yehudi Menuhin, who is considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century, as an example of musical intelligence. Menuhin was first exposed to music at three years old, learned how to play from Louis Persinger, and began performing internationally by ten; he continued to study, practice, and perform over his lifetime. His ability to recognize, understand, and produce sounds to create music emphasizes Howard's identification of musical intelligence.
Musical Intelligence: Integration into Curriculum and Learning Style
Traditional teaching methods focus on formal assessments of cognition. Gardner emphasized the need to implement musical intelligence into the curriculum to represent and develop diverse abilities and needs. By incorporating MI into the curriculum, educators can better meet the needs of complex learning styles. The implementation of different learning styles has led to success among students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia.
Musical intelligence solely refers to one's abilities in music and does not necessarily relate to other forms of intelligence. School traditionally measures and assesses the knowledge, so many musicians, like Elton John and Eric Clapton, dropped out to develop their musical abilities, exemplifying the separation of musical capabilities from other forms.
Musical intelligence tends to be fostered through aural or auditory stimuli. People who consume auditory information at high levels tend to cultivate musical intelligence. If a child remembers information they hear, musical intelligence is an effective way to strengthen their learning style.
Integrating musical intelligence into the school curriculum has been met with pushback. Many psychologists believe that the MI theory does not have enough empirical evidence to prove its effectiveness or reliability; some educators also believe the framework is too broad to be implemented effectively. One of the educators' concerns is that it is difficult to know when to use the different kinds of multiple intelligences. Gardner himself has stated that educators need to form overarching goals for their students and then utilize his theory to understand their students' needs and develop their capabilities.
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Gardner has pointed out the dangers of labeling students with a specific intelligence as it can limit them. He recommends:
- Differentiation of curriculum
- Individualized instruction
- Teaching for multiple types of intelligence
- Treating multiple intelligences as separate from learning styles
Teachers can help foster musical intelligence specifically by incorporating elements that benefit that skill, such as:
- Playing music in the background or letting students wear headphones during individual work
- Allowing musical options for independent projects
- Creating songs with students to help them study or remember information
- Connecting music with lessons, such as comparing rap with poetry
These are just a few ideas of how teachers can enhance the classroom environment and provide tools that help strengthen musical intelligence.
Career Choices
Some career choices that those with musical intelligence may choose to pursue are:
- Songwriter
- Film composer
- Record producer
- Disc jockey
- Singer
- Musician
- Conductor
- Music teacher
- Sound engineer
If one displays high levels of musical intelligence, it is important to continue fostering these skills and related activities to continue developing comprehension and musical abilities.
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Musical intelligence can manifest in different ways. Examples of musical intelligence include:
- Detecting pitch
- Understanding musical patterns and structure
- Recognizing notes, tones, and rhythms
- Easily memorizing phrases and words in foreign languages
- Recalling songs
- Identifying instruments used in a song
- Having a sense of rhythm
- Using patterns to remember things
People with musical intelligence have many talents, including the ability to:
- Sing
- Play an instrument
- Compose music
- Produce songs
- Conduct an orchestra or band
- Tune instruments
- Turn concepts into lyrics
Famous People with Musical Intelligence
Musical intelligence can be seen through the successes of famous people in the field of music, from Classical composers to modern-day rappers and pop stars.
Ludwig van Beethoven is considered one of the greatest composers to have lived and was highly influential in the Western world. He became a successful pianist as a child and pursued music. At 28, Beethoven began losing his hearing, and by 44, he went deaf. Despite this, he continued to compose music and was the most prominent composer of his time, with a legacy that is still admired today. His work demonstrates his sensitivity to tone, meter, and rhythm.
Michael Jackson became an international star as a child and influenced contemporary musicians. He demonstrated the recognition and production of musical patterns by incorporating R&B, pop, and soul to create his sound. Considered the '' King of Pop,'' his ability to sing and dance revolutionized the music industry.
Kendrick Lamar is a rapper known for his lyrics set to rhythm. His use of poetic techniques such as anaphora, repetition, and internal and end rhyme demonstrates his skill in patterns, structure, and verbality. His music incorporated a range of sounds from instruments and finger snaps. His work won him a Pulitzer Prize for his understanding and effective use of rhythm.
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David Cope is a composer and professor known for his research on artificial intelligence and music. In 1987 he began Experiments in Musical Intelligence (EMI), a project that used a computer program to analyze existing music and then used algorithms to create new music in the same style. EMI could take a song from Beethoven and then create an entirely new song utilizing the same techniques as the original composer so that the piece sounded as if he composed it.
Although highly successful with this program, many criticized Cope's experiments. Purists in the music field felt that it went against the heart of music; they believed that music was a representation of human expression. But those in education and research viewed his experiments as an important step in artificial intelligence and saw the use of his application in other fields. In response, Cope stopped using the program.
However, in the 1990s, Cope built off of EMI; using its strengths of EMI, while incorporating its pushback, he created a new program called Emily Howell. Emily Howell analyzed information from EMI to create her musical style, almost acting as an individual, learned composer that could use feedback to improve.
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Traditionally, intelligence refers to one's cognition. In the 1980s, developmental psychologist Howard Gardner introduced the concept of multiple intelligences (MI), which suggests human intelligence is much broader and consists of varying levels of eight major modalities: logical-mathematical, linguistic, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist. Musical intelligence, also called musical-rhythmic intelligence, is the ability to comprehend and produce musical skills such as rhythm, lyrics, and patterns. People who demonstrate musical intelligence often think in music and rhymes and learn concepts easier when turned into a song. They have a heightened understanding of structure, notes, tones, and pitches. They also tend to memorize phrases and words in foreign languages easily. They tend to do well in careers that allow them to apply these skills, such as composing films, writing songs, and producing records. Famous people who demonstrate high musical intelligence include Beethoven, Kendrick Lamar, and Michael Jackson.
Although some scholars do not believe that MI has enough empirical data to defend its effectiveness, it is often incorporated in the classroom as a tool to help develop broad skills among children, especially those with learning disabilities. In the 1980s and 1990s, researcher David Cope developed computer programs that utilized musical intelligence. Experiments in Musical Intelligence (EMI) analyzed musical compositions of composers, such as Beethoven, and then created new compositions that sounded as if they had written them. This program received pushback from music purists who believed it stripped music of its human aspect. He then created Emily Howell, a program that followed a similar process but created its unique style and was able to adapt to feedback.
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Video Transcript
Musical Intelligence
Have you ever been complimented on your ability to play an instrument? Maybe you enjoy listening to and composing music. Are you good at detecting rhythms, patterns, and pitches in music? Do you find that you learn concepts much easier when you turn them into lyrics? If so, you have demonstrated musical intelligence.
Beethoven, Cher, and Stevie Wonder are individuals considered to have high musical intelligence. In other words, they think in music and rhythms. People with musical intelligence are able to hear and recognize patterns easily. They are very sensitive to rhythm and sound. For example, they can easily distinguish the sound of a clarinet from the sound of a flute.
People with musical intelligence think in terms of patterns. For example, they look for patterns in new information in order to increase learning. They also look for patterns in speech and language. They remember things by turning them into lyrics or rhymes. People with musical intelligence have a strong appreciation of music.
People with musical intelligence are known to:
- Seek patterns in their environment
- Be drawn to sound
- Easily memorize phrases and words in foreign languages
- Enjoy dancing and singing
- Use patterning to remember things
- Have good rhythm
- Be skilled at playing several instruments
- Be zealous about music
- Have the ability to easily remember songs
- Have a high level of understanding of musical structure, notes, tone, and rhythm
Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences
According to the multiple intelligences theory proposed by Howard Gardner in 1983, there are eight different types of intelligence. They are:
- Visual/spatial intelligence: includes the ability to think in terms of physical space, detect patterns, and manipulate physical space
- Bodily/kinesthetic intelligence: includes the ability to use the body to send messages, communicate needs, and solve problems
- Naturalistic intelligence: includes the ability to observe patterns in nature and a love of outdoors
- Interpersonal intelligence: includes the ability detect the moods, feelings, and motivations of others
- Intrapersonal intelligence: includes a high level of self-knowledge, including one's fears, motivations, goals, and weaknesses
- Logical/mathematical intelligence: includes the ability to understand complex mathematical concepts and think logically
- Linguistic intelligence: includes the ability to understand the functions of words and effectively use them
- Musical intelligence: includes the appreciation of music patterns
Your level of intelligence varies across the different types. A high level of intelligence on one measurement does not guarantee a high level on another. For example, a physicist may be able to understand several complex scientific principles (logical/mathematical intelligence), but have no clue how to pick up on social cues (interpersonal intelligence).
Experiments in Musical Intelligence
In the 1980s, composer and professor David Cope created a project called Experiments in Musical Intelligence (EMI). EMI was a computer program that analyzed the musical compositions of composers, such as Beethoven and Mozart, and could create a new composition that sounded as if the composer had written it. This program was found to have been successful for almost every composer throughout history.
The reception of EMI was generally negative, though there were some supporters. Those in academia believe that Cope's work was valuable and could potentially be useful in fields other than music. Those who were musicians or composers did not support the use of EMI. They believed that the creation of music is inherently human and that EMI somehow took the humanity away. Due to the negative reactions, Cope decided to scrap EMI.
In 2003, Cope began to work on a new project, a computer program called Emily Howell. By analyzing the works that EMI had produced, Emily was able to develop her own musical style independent of the previous composers. Emily has the added feature of being able to take in musical or verbal feedback and use it to make changes in her compositions.
Lesson Summary
Musical intelligence refers to a tendency to think in music and rhythms. People with musical intelligence, such as Michael Jackson, are sensitive to rhythm, melody, and sound. They also make good composers, singers, musicians, songwriters, and conductors. Computer programs, such as EMI and Emily Howell, remain controversial due to their ability to compose music, which is deemed as an inherently human ability.
Learning Outcomes
Once you've finished with this lesson, you should have the ability to:
- Describe musical intelligence
- Identify some characteristics of people with this type of intelligence
- List Howard Gardner's eight types of intelligence
- Summarize the purpose of and controversy surrounding computer programs like EMI and Emily Howell
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Musical Intelligence | Definition & Examples
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