RE: a woman's ears

[Goddess <thefates@concentric.net>]

  Thanks Laurie, I also notice that some male friends were able to listen
and enjoy much louder, higher frequencies then I can deal with.  This point
also goes along with my last post on this topic.  As for your other point
about articulation, I think your on to it...  

smiles,

Corynne

At 02:05 PM 3/8/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Sarajane, thanks for writing!  You've touched on something I've 
>experienced, 
>but did not realize had been scientifically documented.  (S's post is
copied at 
>end...)
>
>Invariably, xy's I've played with have been able to handle louder high 
>frequency volumes onstage than I, some by a considerable margin.  (Maybe
that's 
>one reason why I'm into bass %^). This doesn't mean I don't like it 
>totally 
>intense and balls to the wall!  Plus, overall I think my musical tastes 
>are 
>usually as out there as anybody's.  So it may well be that, as you 
>suggest 
>Sarajane, in some situations volume can have more to do with discomfort 
>than 
>musical content.  Non-musicians may not necessarily be able to articulate
the 
>difference.
>
>However, some people are just more into mainstream stuff than others (re 
>the 
>bedraggled "Anti-Spouse Forces Theorem" thread).  Developing a taste for
more 
>fringe and eclectic music is a not only a function of personality, but
also of 
>experience and exposure.  For instance, recently when I listened to what 
>had 
>been a favorite cd for the first time in about 15 years - I was really 
>surprised how slick and unimaginative it sounded now.  (I got off on
*that*?) 
> Guess it's mostly because I've been listening to and playing more
experimental 
>stuff in the interim.  That's a good sign!
>
>The point is, if one's significant other/friend/partner isn't a musician 
>or 
>audiophile, maybe their lack of musical "sophistication" lies in part
because 
>they haven't had the advantage or pleasure of learning to listen in the 
>ways 
>that we as musicians do.  If one of the reasons they are with us is
because of 
>our musical natures, maybe we can more systematically (and patiently!) 
>help 
>them develop that part of themselves as well.
>
>laurie
>
>
>Sarajane's post:
>Dear Loopers
>     The recent "my girlfriend" thread reminds me of the old folk song
>"momma don't  allow no guitar playing round here". But so far, no
>one has mentioned the fact that there are actual physical differences
>in HOW men and women perceive sound....for instance, female ears
>are able to hear in higher ranges than most males. This effect is 
>especially
>pronounced at times of hormonal surges, and many women find those
>high (screechy) notes physically uncomfortable. The biological reasons
>(and I'm not making this up; I've read the medical/scientific studies on
this)
>behind this seem to be pointing towards millions of years of conditioning
>females to hear those babies (high pitched and loud in their frequencies)
>and it causes a certain biological trigger (make it stop!). This is
especially
>true of REPETITIVE (ie loops, anyone?) loud, high pitched sound. And while
>women, especially when in MOM mode, have a certain amount of tolerance
>built up for repetition (Mom? Mom? Mom? Can I...Mom?)they may not always
>choose to seek it out recreationally....
>    And did anyone see the article in the newspaper this week about the
>inner ear differences (structureally speaking) between lesbian inner ears
>and heterosexual female inner ears? Seems the lesbian ears are more
>like men's ears......perhaps because of hormonal differences while still
>in the womb....
>    However, NO sweeping generalities can be made when talking about
>sensory awareness---I'm female, and I LOVE many kinds of loop music,
>even loud, even odd pitches....I lived with a bagpiper once, who played
> in the house on bad weather days. and it was great! And 17 years
>of listening to Bryan's music has not bored me---though there are the
>occasional high notes that drive me from the room....
>                                          Sarajane Helm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>