Music and Pets
The life of a professional musician can be intense. It is mandatory to perform at the highest level for every rehearsal, and produce a flawless performance every time. The expectations are high not least from yourself! So downtime is imperative.
Taking time away from the intensity of performing at the highest level is something Matthew has always made time for. Family, sport, rest and moments for downtime are an important part of a well-balanced musicians life! Part of the balance Matthew achieves is time with his pets.
Pets bring joy, they give us their love and they are an undeniable antidote to our complex human lives. Tending to the needs of our pets taps into something that is essential to our existence. To help another creature thrive in turn helps us thrive. It also validates us. Our pets are the mirrors that show us how valuable we are and how important we are to another living being.
People’s choice of pet is as unique as each person! Matthew has a trio of bovine steers. Yes, these pets are a little unusual!
Matthew says that his large pets require more space, and more food than a smaller animal! But they respond to human contact much like every other pet does. With confidence and kindness. And spending time with them, helps him unwind.
This video is Matthew with Fergus! You will notice Victa in the background who is enjoying a snack of grass hay from his feed “bowl”
Pets and Music
Music is truly a universal language. It transcends cultural and linguistic barriers and crosses historical divides. It has the power to evoke feelings that change your emotional and bodily states. As musicans we know this well. Remarkably, the impact of music extends beyond human experience into the animal world particularly in cattle.
Studies have shown that dairy cattle respond positively to certain types of music. This auditory enrichment has been found to improve their welfare, and, in turn, enhance their life experience. Research has shown that exposing cows to music can lower their heart rate, creating a sense of calm, especially when their environment is stressful. This leads to a physiological increase in feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine. It can also increase their food intake, a sign that they feel safe and comfortable. And it helps them get along better with other animals in their herd.
The best “moo-sic” to play to cows is tuneful, with a regular slow pulse. They respond best to descending pitches and consonant chordal structures. They prefer music at 70 decibels, which is a comfortable hearing level for cows. They do actually like Country and Western music! However Matt chooses to play Bach or Vivaldi to his steers!
Reference: Ciborowska, P., Michalczuk, M., & Bień, D. (2021). The effect of music on livestock: Cattle, poultry, and pigs. Animals, 11(12), 3572.
Fergus, Rover and Victa enjoy breakfast from the hay buffet. Matthew Angus performs Hopscotch with Carolyn Morris on piano, also composed by Carolyn Morris. The perfect music for cows! Studies show that playing music to cows can increase their food intake and this small family of bovines seem to be