Documentary on the science of music collects top prize at science film festival in Paris

"The Music Instinct" Wins International Recognition

Documentary on the science of music collects top prize at science film festival in Paris

October 26, 2009

View a video about the "The Music Instinct."

The Music Instinct: Science and Song, is a television documentary that brings together researchers and musicians to investigate the biological, emotional and psychological impact of music. Elena Mannes and Margaret Smilow, director and producer (respectively), of the two-hour documentary--developed with major funding from the National Science Foundation--were awarded the Grand Prix at Pariscience 2009, an international science film festival.

A group of researchers led by neuroscientist Daniel Levitin joined musicians Bobby McFerrin, Yo-Yo Ma, Evelyn Glennie, Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley to explore the connections between music and the human mind, the body and the universe.