How Music Works: The Science and Psychology of Beautiful Sounds, from Beethoven to the Beatles and Beyond

A must for music lovers with an interest in the source thereof. An outstanding explanation of as the title says how music works. Practical easy to follow and understand with plenty of smiles and laughs as a bonus. I use it as a reference and have read it more than once, that's how good I think it is.. Great book for beginners to music and music theory Love the Birds Disclaimer: I have not finished the book, I am taking my time to read it slowly to fully understand the great information provided. I also read parts aloud to my husband, who understands music theory quite a bit but is definitely learning from this book. I say this is a great book if you are new to music -- and I mean that you are new to playing music/instruments. Music is its own language, and this book is the beginni. "Great book for people who need to know why?" according to Don Rozier. Great book. Especially if you are like me and always need to know why something is the way it is. He explains why some notes sound better together rather than just telling you they do. He talks about the interaction of sound waves. May not be for someone who doesn't care about the science behind the theory.

In 2003, he earned a master's degree in music composition from the University of Sheffield in Great Britain. . He has taught physics at the University of Nottingham and the University of Lulea in Sweden. John Powell holds a PhD in physics from Imperial College at London University

The perfect gift for music lovers everywhere.This edition also includes a CD of examples and exercises from the book.. John Powell, a scientist and musician, answers questions about harmony, timbre, keys, chords, loudness, musical composition, and much more in this fascinating guide to what music is and how exactly it works.What makes a musical note different from any other sound? How can you tell if you have perfect pitch? Why do 10 violins sound only twice as loud as one? Do your Bob Dylan albums sound better on CD or vinyl?In a clear, accessible, and engaging voice, Powell explores the science and psychology behind music

In the first half, he defines the elements of music like pitch, frequency, harmony, rhythm, and decibel. . From Publishers Weekly In this enlightening book, Powell, a British scholar and professor, sets out to explain how we experience music. Building on this foundation, Powell hits his stride in the book' s second half as he demonstrates, using both classical and pop music, how musicians create sound and how we listen to it. Included in the book is a 10-track CD. All rights reserved. He selects examples from all manner of disciplines--music composition, simple mathematics, physics, engineering, history--and offers his insights, such as how Bach' s Prel