# Do animals 'get' music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068 "2003-02-01T07:38:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![NothingMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b77776/32.png) [@NothingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NothingMan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/21 "2003-02-02T17:01:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr Rrrrr Fffff Rrrrfffrrrfff \* > \*\* Do musicy dancing even make sense without soundy music? \*\* What ?? “All your bases are” - ah, screw it. ---
**Author:** ![msgotrocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8edcca/32.png) [@msgotrocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msgotrocks)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/22 "2003-02-02T17:07:58Z")
Some _people_ don’t even get music! My husband admits to not having a clue when it comes to music. So I think some animals do get it just like some people don’t. > [@](#): > > Do deaf people what have been deaf all their life ‘get’ dancing? Do musicy dancing even make sense without soundy music? Some deaf people (incl. born deaf) not only “get” dancing, they dance. I’ve seen deaf people dance to music they could feel (through vibrations, bass, etc.). I don’t know what you mean by “musicy dancing” but anything from ballet to Britney Spears can be seen for its own value (without accompanying sound). Don’t know if moshing has as strong an artistic value, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/23 "2003-02-02T17:15:21Z")
I have got a CD of the [Thai Elephant Orchestra](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005B19H/qid=1044205956/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-0011130-2069635?v=glance&s=music&n=507846) [[amazon.com](http://amazon.com) link; _not_ affiliate], and it sound like the do ‘get’ music. ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/24 "2003-02-02T18:21:02Z")
We had a parakeet while I was growing up who would dance and sing whenever I played piano. I play very poorly, but it didn’t seem to bother him. I do think some birds appreciate music. My dogs couldn’t care less about music–unless it’s that lovely clinking sound they’re food dishes make when I’m preparing to feed dinner! My horse is more relaxed when I ride to music. But I think it’s because I’m more relaxed and that calms her down. I don’t think she cares much about the music itself. ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/25 "2003-02-02T18:23:21Z")
(I swear, I do know the difference between “they’re” and “their”–I just didn’t think to preview.) ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/26 "2003-02-02T20:03:05Z")
My dog howls when my stepson practices his saxophone. he appears to be “singing” his howls are modulated, and rise and fall in pitch. Damned if I know what he is trying to express, though! ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/27 "2003-02-04T05:59:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by msgotrocks \* > \*\*Some deaf people (incl. born deaf) not only “get” dancing, they dance. \*\* How about a deaf _musician_? Ladies and gentlemen, meet the phenomenal [**Evelyn Glennie**](http://www.evelyn.co.uk/) \ \ ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/28 "2003-02-04T12:46:39Z")
Do deaf people what have been deaf all their life ‘get’ dancing? Do musicy dancing even make sense without soundy music? Does this sake any mense to anyone? Or yes? ---
**Author:** ![QuaHKN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f14d63/32.png) [@QuaHKN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuaHKN)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/29 "2003-03-06T02:47:26Z")
I have a friend that has recently performed the Grieg Piano Concerto. When playing the opening in the piano at home, her black lab puppy runs under the grand piano and howls along. He really seems to react to A minor- it drives him crazy. I’ve never noticed anything with my dog. The horse I ride now seems to be partial to Mozart… but then again, could be my interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/30 "2003-03-06T03:23:17Z")
My basenji likes my bagpipes. Comes running whenever I start playing, and sits down and watches me. 🙂 On the other hand, our older dog, beagle-spaniel mutt, used to leave the room as soon as I pulled out my chanter. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/31 "2003-03-06T03:29:00Z")
…the hillllllllls are alive with soundy music ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068/32 "2003-03-06T03:32:44Z")
My girlfriend’s bunny definitely responds to certain songs. He’ll even do “The Happy Bunny Dance” for some songs. I’ve also seen one of my ferrets do his happy ferret dance when certain songs are played. And, a bird I used to have would dance on his perch to songs he liked. So, are they “getting” the music? I’m not sure. I’m not even sure I’m getting the question. But, I know these animals, at least, LIKE some music more than other music. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-get-music/152068.md?page=1)