I’m not a morning person as my husband knows quite well especially on an
knows quite well especially on an
knows quite well especially on an important day like today when I’m giving
important day like today when I’m giving
important day like today when I’m giving my first TED talk but everything was
my first TED talk but everything was
my first TED talk but everything was going well this morning I prepped for
going well this morning I prepped for
going well this morning I prepped for the day locked up the flat was heading
the day locked up the flat was heading
the day locked up the flat was heading toward the tram when I realized I was
toward the tram when I realized I was
toward the tram when I realized I was still wearing my house slippers
still wearing my house slippers
still wearing my house slippers fortunately I’m wearing proper shoes now
fortunately I’m wearing proper shoes now
fortunately I’m wearing proper shoes now for my big speech they say that a good
for my big speech they say that a good
for my big speech they say that a good speech is a lot like fashion long enough
speech is a lot like fashion long enough
speech is a lot like fashion long enough to cover the subject but short enough to
to cover the subject but short enough to
to cover the subject but short enough to keep it interesting today’s talk
keep it interesting today’s talk
keep it interesting today’s talk compares comedy with music for shallow
compares comedy with music for shallow
compares comedy with music for shallow your cat is big aha Nino McLaughlin said
your cat is big aha Nino McLaughlin said
your cat is big aha Nino McLaughlin said a sense of humor is a major defense
a sense of humor is a major defense
a sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles I might add that
against minor troubles I might add that
against minor troubles I might add that a sense of humor can be a major defense
a sense of humor can be a major defense
a sense of humor can be a major defense against major troubles as well Henry
against major troubles as well Henry
against major troubles as well Henry Purcell actually as well as William
Purcell actually as well as William
Purcell actually as well as William Shakespeare said sing on sing on sing on
indeed music and humor both can bring
indeed music and humor both can bring great joy
great joy
great joy so which generates more happiness music
so which generates more happiness music
so which generates more happiness music or comedy
or comedy
or comedy let’s explore humor for example used
let’s explore humor for example used
let’s explore humor for example used appropriately in classrooms creates a
appropriately in classrooms creates a
appropriately in classrooms creates a sense of community
sense of community
sense of community and positive atmosphere sparks a sense
and positive atmosphere sparks a sense
and positive atmosphere sparks a sense of wonder it’s it creates and encourages
of wonder it’s it creates and encourages
of wonder it’s it creates and encourages creativity
creativity
creativity it increases attention and it improves
it increases attention and it improves
it increases attention and it improves memory all of which help learning and
memory all of which help learning and
memory all of which help learning and well-being humor also activates the dope
well-being humor also activates the dope
well-being humor also activates the dope and dopamine which is the brains part of
and dopamine which is the brains part of
and dopamine which is the brains part of the brain’s reward system thus
the brain’s reward system thus
the brain’s reward system thus decreasing anxiety and depression of
decreasing anxiety and depression of
decreasing anxiety and depression of course humor also helps the elderly
course humor also helps the elderly
course humor also helps the elderly Norman Cousins winner of the United
Norman Cousins winner of the United
Norman Cousins winner of the United Nations peace medal wrote an anatomy of
Nations peace medal wrote an anatomy of
Nations peace medal wrote an anatomy of an illness after he overcame a
an illness after he overcame a
an illness after he overcame a life-threatening illness through large
life-threatening illness through large
life-threatening illness through large doses of vitamin C and humor he famously
doses of vitamin C and humor he famously
doses of vitamin C and humor he famously watched hours and hours of humorous
watched hours and hours of humorous
watched hours and hours of humorous movies and clips and claimed that even
movies and clips and claimed that even
movies and clips and claimed that even ten minutes of robust laughter allowed
ten minutes of robust laughter allowed
ten minutes of robust laughter allowed him to sleep pain-free for hours when
him to sleep pain-free for hours when
him to sleep pain-free for hours when even morphine wouldn’t help
even morphine wouldn’t help
even morphine wouldn’t help over time he overcame his illness he
over time he overcame his illness he
over time he overcame his illness he gained his ability to walk and he in two
gained his ability to walk and he in two
gained his ability to walk and he in two years was back to work full time living
years was back to work full time living
years was back to work full time living 26 years beyond what his doctors said he
26 years beyond what his doctors said he
26 years beyond what his doctors said he could thus his experience has inspired a
could thus his experience has inspired a
could thus his experience has inspired a film as well as a plethora of research
film as well as a plethora of research
film as well as a plethora of research shifting back to music and into the
shifting back to music and into the
shifting back to music and into the classroom music also fosters a sense of
classroom music also fosters a sense of
classroom music also fosters a sense of community it creates a positive
community it creates a positive
community it creates a positive atmosphere sparks wonder enhances
atmosphere sparks wonder enhances
atmosphere sparks wonder enhances creativity increases attention and
creativity increases attention and
creativity increases attention and improves memory also interestingly music
improves memory also interestingly music
improves memory also interestingly music also activates dopamine again rewarding
also activates dopamine again rewarding
also activates dopamine again rewarding us with a sense
us with a sense
us with a sense well-being and joy my own experiences as
well-being and joy my own experiences as
well-being and joy my own experiences as a volunteer teacher and researcher have
a volunteer teacher and researcher have
a volunteer teacher and researcher have confirmed to this for example when
confirmed to this for example when
confirmed to this for example when volunteering with an with inner-city
volunteering with an with inner-city
volunteering with an with inner-city youth we would create dances and rap
youth we would create dances and rap
youth we would create dances and rap songs about positive subjects such as
songs about positive subjects such as
songs about positive subjects such as the environment or motivation keep on
the environment or motivation keep on
the environment or motivation keep on move and don’t give up now let’s go
move and don’t give up now let’s go
move and don’t give up now let’s go together and you could see that they
together and you could see that they
together and you could see that they have such abundant energy and and a
have such abundant energy and and a
have such abundant energy and and a channel in a very positive direction
channel in a very positive direction
channel in a very positive direction when I researched in schools multiple
when I researched in schools multiple
when I researched in schools multiple schools in impoverished City in the u.s.
schools in impoverished City in the u.s.
schools in impoverished City in the u.s. we looked we were hired to look at
we looked we were hired to look at
we looked we were hired to look at academic development in relation to
academic development in relation to
academic development in relation to music training but what moved me the
music training but what moved me the
music training but what moved me the most after this study was how it
most after this study was how it
most after this study was how it affected their daily lives one child who
affected their daily lives one child who
affected their daily lives one child who previously had hated school but he found
previously had hated school but he found
previously had hated school but he found that he was very good at violin so he
that he was very good at violin so he
that he was very good at violin so he started to love school because now there
started to love school because now there
started to love school because now there was something he was good at another
was something he was good at another
was something he was good at another girl who lacked a confidence to get in
girl who lacked a confidence to get in
girl who lacked a confidence to get in front of their class now volunteered to
front of their class now volunteered to
front of their class now volunteered to give reports because she had just
give reports because she had just
give reports because she had just performed with the symphony at the big
performed with the symphony at the big
performed with the symphony at the big Music Hall another boy who had
Music Hall another boy who had
Music Hall another boy who had previously not connected with his father
previously not connected with his father
previously not connected with his father now connects with his father because his
now connects with his father because his
now connects with his father because his father played guitar research and
father played guitar research and
father played guitar research and observation confirms that music also
observation confirms that music also
observation confirms that music also gives many benefits to the elderly
Oliver Sacks documents many cases in his
Oliver Sacks documents many cases in his book music Ophelia
book music Ophelia
book music Ophelia for example Parkinson’s patients
for example Parkinson’s patients
for example Parkinson’s patients movements are freed with music
movements are freed with music
movements are freed with music especially when it has a second beat
especially when it has a second beat
especially when it has a second beat post stroke patients are able to regain
post stroke patients are able to regain
post stroke patients are able to regain their speech through singing
their speech through singing
their speech through singing dementia patients light up and their
dementia patients light up and their
dementia patients light up and their positive memories are activated with
positive memories are activated with
positive memories are activated with their favorite music in my years of
their favorite music in my years of
their favorite music in my years of observing and working with children
observing and working with children
observing and working with children across cultures there because there’s a
across cultures there because there’s a
across cultures there because there’s a consistent desire and consistent
consistent desire and consistent
consistent desire and consistent response to explore to express oneself
response to explore to express oneself
response to explore to express oneself to have fun to enjoy to laugh to make
to have fun to enjoy to laugh to make
to have fun to enjoy to laugh to make music to dance when I was taking a
music to dance when I was taking a
music to dance when I was taking a course in music development one of our
course in music development one of our
course in music development one of our assignments was to observe children
assignments was to observe children
assignments was to observe children making music in a natural way in a
making music in a natural way in a
making music in a natural way in a natural environment so I went to a
natural environment so I went to a
natural environment so I went to a school cafeteria and all around me was
school cafeteria and all around me was
school cafeteria and all around me was music two girls were playing patty-cake
music two girls were playing patty-cake
music two girls were playing patty-cake game with each other and doing a
game with each other and doing a
game with each other and doing a call-and-response another group was at a
call-and-response another group was at a
call-and-response another group was at a table doing a three-part intricate
table doing a three-part intricate
table doing a three-part intricate rhythm song another couple of children
rhythm song another couple of children
rhythm song another couple of children were doing a pitch bending musical
were doing a pitch bending musical
were doing a pitch bending musical singing piece it was a joyful atmosphere
singing piece it was a joyful atmosphere
singing piece it was a joyful atmosphere of beautiful cacophony then the school
of beautiful cacophony then the school
of beautiful cacophony then the school monitor came and told them to be quiet
monitor came and told them to be quiet
monitor came and told them to be quiet she scolded them some of them looked
she scolded them some of them looked
she scolded them some of them looked ashamed I believe that within all of us
ashamed I believe that within all of us
ashamed I believe that within all of us we have that child who wants to express
we have that child who wants to express
we have that child who wants to express ourselves who wants to explore and be
ourselves who wants to explore and be
ourselves who wants to explore and be creative and laugh yet maybe maybe we
creative and laugh yet maybe maybe we
creative and laugh yet maybe maybe we were rushed at some point
were rushed at some point
were rushed at some point well now let’s gain that child back we
well now let’s gain that child back we
well now let’s gain that child back we now have permission the internet is full
now have permission the internet is full
now have permission the internet is full of resources for both music and humor
of resources for both music and humor
of resources for both music and humor but it’s much more powerful if you
but it’s much more powerful if you
but it’s much more powerful if you create these activities yourself
create these activities yourself
create these activities yourself grab those metaphorical pots and pans
grab those metaphorical pots and pans
grab those metaphorical pots and pans and wake up your neighbors strip naked
and wake up your neighbors strip naked
and wake up your neighbors strip naked and dance in front of a mirror and be
and dance in front of a mirror and be
and dance in front of a mirror and be sexy and silly is your relationship in
sexy and silly is your relationship in
sexy and silly is your relationship in the doldrums well tickle each other
the doldrums well tickle each other
the doldrums well tickle each other beasts goofy look at some comedies
beasts goofy look at some comedies
beasts goofy look at some comedies together tell some jokes how about
together tell some jokes how about
together tell some jokes how about singing some romantic karaoke songs to
singing some romantic karaoke songs to
singing some romantic karaoke songs to each other or dancing in the kitchen
each other or dancing in the kitchen
each other or dancing in the kitchen while dinners cooking are you feeling
while dinners cooking are you feeling
while dinners cooking are you feeling stagnated at work well take some music
stagnated at work well take some music
stagnated at work well take some music lessons learn an instrument take some
lessons learn an instrument take some
lessons learn an instrument take some dance classes join a comedy troupe a
dance classes join a comedy troupe a
dance classes join a comedy troupe a couple of years ago I felt stuck I had
couple of years ago I felt stuck I had
couple of years ago I felt stuck I had been working non-stop in academia for
been working non-stop in academia for
been working non-stop in academia for many years and my husband said to me one
many years and my husband said to me one
many years and my husband said to me one day he said why don’t you get out there
day he said why don’t you get out there
day he said why don’t you get out there and sing again so I did I gave a concert
and sing again so I did I gave a concert
and sing again so I did I gave a concert at souq Hall in the beautiful historic
at souq Hall in the beautiful historic
at souq Hall in the beautiful historic rudolfinum I included some comedy as
rudolfinum I included some comedy as
rudolfinum I included some comedy as well it was clear that both humor and
well it was clear that both humor and
well it was clear that both humor and music were missing in my life that bird
music were missing in my life that bird
music were missing in my life that bird and that silly self-will were able to
and that silly self-will were able to
and that silly self-will were able to come out I also noticed the audience
come out I also noticed the audience
come out I also noticed the audience responded so positively some of them
responded so positively some of them
responded so positively some of them were moved at the Arya’s others were
were moved at the Arya’s others were
were moved at the Arya’s others were still chuckling afterwards and at the
still chuckling afterwards and at the
still chuckling afterwards and at the musical comedy piece and and one girl
musical comedy piece and and one girl
musical comedy piece and and one girl told me that she would have been feeling
told me that she would have been feeling
told me that she would have been feeling really down in it and it just uplifted
really down in it and it just uplifted
really down in it and it just uplifted her so again which generates more
her so again which generates more
her so again which generates more happiness music or comedy there may not
happiness music or comedy there may not
happiness music or comedy there may not be an answer to that question why not do
be an answer to that question why not do
be an answer to that question why not do both with music I can move Bank and feel
both with music I can move Bank and feel
both with music I can move Bank and feel a better way with you the more I can
a better way with you the more I can
a better way with you the more I can laugh and remember how to play
laugh and remember how to play
laugh and remember how to play doesn’t matter which I choose if the joy
doesn’t matter which I choose if the joy
doesn’t matter which I choose if the joy is worried I feel make it happen on your
is worried I feel make it happen on your
is worried I feel make it happen on your own that is what will keep it real
own that is what will keep it real
own that is what will keep it real [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] there’s good reason why both music and
there’s good reason why both music and
there’s good reason why both music and comedy are appreciated today and have
comedy are appreciated today and have
comedy are appreciated today and have been for millennia from ancient Greek
been for millennia from ancient Greek
been for millennia from ancient Greek theaters to Broadway musicals
theaters to Broadway musicals
theaters to Broadway musicals [Music]
[Music]
[Music] that’s all folks now go out and make
that’s all folks now go out and make
that’s all folks now go out and make some music and comedy of your own thank
some music and comedy of your own thank
some music and comedy of your own thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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