1

Savannah Ashment

Mr. Gardner

Musty Cockatoos

15 February 2019

Annotated Bibliography

Gardner, Howard. "Igor Stravinsky: The Poetics and Politics of Music." ​Creating Minds​, New

York, Basic Books, 2011, pp. 174-75. Print.

In the book, “Creating Minds,” by Howard Gardner, he provides several examples of situations

that provide peace to the mind and body. Halfway through the novel, Gardner introduces the

concept of music to the reader. He explains that music has the same mentally healing capabilities

that individuals correlate with jewelry, art, literature, and poems. The chapter titled, “Igor

Stravinsky: The Poetics and Politics of Music,” is mainly guided by the famous classical

composer, “Igor Stravinsky” who is known for his impressive work during the classical european

time period of the mid 1800’s to late 1900’s. The author dives into further detail about the

history of music and the basic qualities of an appealing song or ballad. Gardner summarizes the

cognitive strategies behind Stravinsky and how he believed music cannot be appealing or

interesting, and how the concept itself results powerless. Coming as a shock from a profound

classical composer, the idea continues to relate and be restated by Howard Gardner himself

throughout the novel.

This source is an excellent C.A.P.O.W source due to its evident ethos with the fact that Howard

Gardner is a professor of cognition and education at Harvard University. The ethos also
 2

continues as the author introduces a famous composer such as Igor Stravinsky as a detailed

example to represent his ideas. The source contains few elements of pathos, as well as limited

examples of logos except for a few facts of Stravinsky and his beliefs. The books publication is

current and contains few biases, except the fact that the author may not be very knowledgeable

about the therapy studies of music. This bias is important to remember throughout the analysis

and use of this source. Research with knowledge of musical therapy while writing this book may

have changed his opinions on music as a whole. This use of bias leads to the possible use of the

False Authority logical fallacy.

I will plan to use this source as an opposing opinion to the argument towards the effectiveness of

musical therapy. The author states that music has no power at all, and I can use that to refute the

other side stating that music is helpful and effective for those with mental illness. This source

will give a different perspective that will add non-bias into my research essay and presentation.

Mean Mood Values Measured on the Face Scale before and after Music Therapy Sessions​. 2008.

​Science Direct​, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168605408002201#fig2.

Accessed 7 Feb. 2019. Map.

This chart titled, “Mean Mood Values Measured on the Face Scale before and after Music

Therapy Sessions” by Science Direct, clearly explains the effects of musical treatment before and

after treatment. The evidence shows that the mean of the mood values of the patients were taken,

and used to compare the results. The chart explains that the patients Mean Mood Values were

determined by the face scale, which includes a patient being showed 5 images of facial
 3

expressions. The patient was then asked to rate their mood from 0 (positive mood) and 10

(negative mood). The graph depicts that levels of mood values began high in patients, and after

therapy sessions the mood values were extremely decreased. The mean mood values decreased

by at least .5 during the studies. The final results showed that the average anxiety improvement

among patients was around 39%.

This source gives an optimal example of how science plays into the research question. It allows

for clear and recognizable data that sets real science based results. One strength of this chart is

that it comes from a credible site called “ScienceDirect,” whose purpose is to publish scientific

studies and experimental results. The graph has ethos with information studied by scientific and

educational based authors. There contains no pathos or bias, although logos is present as the

graph is methodically based off of research. This source may contain the loose generalization

logical fallacy, considering some patients may have other medications or reasoning for increased

mood. There are a few weaknesses about this source that are important to remember throughout

the use of this source. The process seems to be vague in its description of the details of the

procedure, nonetheless the researches credibility says otherwise.

I will use this source to connect the idea of music therapy to scientific fact. It is important that I

base my research off of credible studies such as those given by “ScienceDirect.” This source will

come in handy to explain that the ideas of musical therapy are not just ideas, but hard research

and evidence. Because the source was created by scientists and researchers, the credibility adds
 4

to the ethos of my essay. The graph is easy to read and will allow for simple accessibility to how

musical therapy effects moods and patients in the study.

Moore, Kimberly Sena. "5 Problems Music Can Create." ​Psychology Today​, 15 Aug. 2014,

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-musical-self/201408/5-problems-music-can-cre

ate. Accessed 18 Feb. 2019.

In Kimberly Moore’s article titled, “5 Problems Music Can Create,” she expounds on the

positive and negative aspects often times unseen by musical therapy. Moore introduces each of

the issues that she finds with patients affiliated with the treatment. Her results and analysis of

musical therapy establish a strong opinion of the topic of Overstimulation. She states that not

everyone likes music, or has the same taste in the music that doctors prescribe the patients.

Moore also provides knowledge of hearing loss. This problem can be seen with patients in their

youth or old age. As her article continues, Moore establishes a strong argument against music

when she discusses the memory and emotional triggers that musical therapy can be to a patient

with mental illness. These points are strong and come from detailed experiments she conducted.

This source is a very strong C.A.P.O.W source for multiple reasons regarding rhetorical analysis

and a lack of bias. Moore first establishes her credibility stating she has a PhD as a musical

therapist, and is as professor at the University of Miami. This adds reliability in her knowledge

of the topic as she argues throughout her article. The article contains few elements of pathos, as

it contains multiple examples of logos with facts of mental illness. Moore’s article may contain

the Loose Generalization logical fallacy as she may only be focusing on the patients that had
 5

negative outcomes after musical therapy treatment. However, Moore establishes an important

non-biased article by first stating the positive sides that musical therapy can have on the mentally

ill. Overall this source is successful in providing credibility and usefulness.

I will use this article to state the important counter argument of my claim. This article provides

several reasons why musical therapy is not successful and useful for those with mental illness

and anxiety. This article will be crucial in providing common ground between me and my

counter opinionated side. The article will be key in completing my objective, that musical

therapy is effective in the lives of mentally ill individuals.

"Music Therapy." ​PBS​, Public Broadcasting Service, 2 Apr. 2018, www.pbs.org/video/

music-therapy-bymlde/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2019.

This video clip published by PBS titled, “Music Therapy” explains the details and real life

examples given by musical therapy. The video begins with interviews by scientists and therapists

who have familiarity with the practice. The scientists are asked questions explaining the

treatment and the benefits behind it. Throughout the clip, example shots of regular therapy

sessions are shown with real testimonials from parents of those with mental illnesses. The

parents discuss the success and efficiency of musical therapy. Scientist Tracy Wanamaker

explains that her musical treatment is used not only to increase academic and social skills, but

also to further motor skill development. PBS uses patients as visual examples during their

therapy sessions to connect a deeper explanation of the treatment.

 6

PBS’s video clip efficiently uses rhetorical appeals to describe the effects of musical therapy in

real life scenarios. Ethos is evident with the interviews from different scientists such as Tracy

Wanamaker. Other testimonials from parents deepen the credibility of the source. The use of

Logos is obviously apparent as facts on the brain’s reactions to music and mental disabilities is

discussed. The addition of Pathos in the clip continues to engage the audience with videos of

mentally ill children undergoing treatment. The video clip has multiple strengths such as detailed

examples and explanation of science. One main strength and advantage using this video clip is

that the personal testimonies of individuals add a realistic effect on the study. One downside is

that the video is originally twenty-one minutes long. The most influential section of this clip is

from two minutes and eighteen seconds to four minutes. There is no bias in this video as PBS is a

reliable neutral publisher with informational and credible scientist background.

This source will be very useful in my writing because I will use it to apply real life examples of

musical therapy and its effects on individuals with mental disabilities. Most commonly, people

do not realize what an actual musical therapy session looks like first hand, and this will show a

simple example. I will also use this source to back up my research that musical therapy is

different for every patient. It is not a cookie-cutter treatment that is stagnant for each patient.

Even though I will not be using the entire source, I believe the two minutes that I am taking will

be very influential in furthering my research. The testimonials and interviews of people who deal

with musical therapy first hand will be important in discussing the results of the practice.

Porter, Sam, et al. “Music Therapy for Children and Adolescents with Behavioural and
 7

Emotional Problems: A Randomised Controlled Trial.” ​Journal of Child Psychology &

Psychiatry,​ vol. 58, no. 5, May 2017, pp. 586–594.

In this Academic Article titled, “Music Therapy for Children and Adolescents with Behavioural

and Emotional Problems: A randomised Controlled Trial,” author Sam Porter coherently

explains the thorough details of his demonstration. In 2017, researchers at Bournemouth

University conducted an experiment including two-hundred and fifty-one young adults with

certifiable mental health needs. Procedure indicated that patients would be given sessions of

musical therapy once a week for twelve weeks. After further patient examination at the thirteenth

and twenty-sixth week, doctors began their analysis. They searched for signs of improvement in

behavioral stability as well as communication abilities. Researchers found that results taken from

the thirteenth week evaluation showed impressive advancements both mentally and socially in

patients exposed to musical therapy versus patients not given musical treatments.

Porters Academic Article enlightens a scientific topic in a clear way that is easy for the reader to

understand. The use of Ethos is apparent in the article as Porter and his other contributors study

at The Department of Social Sciences and Social Work at Bournemouth University. The author

also effectively provides deep details of the study in order to understand the purpose and

methods conducted. Although the article shows no signs of bias or logical fallacies, an evident

imperfection in the article is found in the results of the experiment as it pertains to the purpose of

this annotated bibliography. Although the article makes it clear that the outcome reflects

positively on musical therapy, Porter states that further research may need to occur for a more

accurate conclusion.
 8

As my research develops, I will utilize this academic article to further explain the scientific

effects of music in a fact-based way. This piece is significant for providing evidence to support

my research of the effects of musical therapy on mental health. The experiment tests patients

with multiple kinds of mental illness along with individuals without mental-help needs. This is

crucial for my ability to contrast the noticeable differences. With this article, I can explain how

scientists have experiments to aid and prove the question posed in a credible and trustworthy

manner. Although the author stated that the experiment may need further research to solidify his

scientific experiment, I believe the article still has a positive effect with undeniable evidence.

Schäfer, Thomas et al. “The psychological functions of music listening”​Frontiers in psychology

vol. 4 511. 13 Aug. 2013, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00511

This article titled, “The psychological functions of music listening,” effectively describes the

abstract and unseen qualities on the music around us. In the first few paragraphs, the author

Thomas Schäfer uses examples and scientific experiments to thoroughly engage the audience in

material that relates to them. He explains that music is a way for individuals to express their

mood and their way of thinking. Schäfer continues to inform the reader about ancient examples

of music and the role it played for people long ago. He relates that closely to our day and age and

the purpose it plays in our society and communities on a much larger scale. Later in the article,

he deepens his understanding on the topic by stating that music has many more positive and

negative purposes than we think. For example, it’s effects on our mood, religious beliefs, attitude
 9

towards others, and personality as a whole. He concludes the piece by informing the reader of the

obvious psychological and emotional ties that mankind has with music on a larger scale.

This source is a strong source due to its detailed and thorough examples of history from long ago

and experiments done by scientists. The source produces ethos by Schäfer showing his deep

understanding of the topic in his credibility taken from The ​United States National Library of

Medicine. ​The source continues its strength by effectively using logos with different research

studies executed by ​The ​United States National Library of Medicine. He states multiple logical

facts and studies to back up his research. Although there is no pathos or logical fallacies, there

may be bias in the fact the author did not thoroughly discuss the opposing argument against

music in psychological ways.

I will use this source in multiple ways and depths to increase the understanding of music therapy

on a deeper psychological level. I can use the studies completed by researchers to describe the

scientific angle of my argument. The deep historical ties that Schäfer includes in his article can

aid my understanding in the background of music to obtain cause and effect of my topic. Overall

this article has multiple perspectives that will be successful in my research paper. The examples

the author uses on mood and humankind will be a great introduction into my topic and several

quotations will be a credible source to site.