Submitted by Marilyn Braunstein, Sep 27, 2007 17:24

I was truly dismayed by Benjamin Ivry's review of Dr. Oliver Sack's book, Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain. Mr. Ivry's focus seems to be on his perceived musical inaccuracies and esoterica rather than the point of the book, which is, the relationship between music and the brain and its positive emotional and psychological effects. During the last several decades, the results from Dr. Sacks' findings have improved the quality of life for so many people who suffer from the results of stroke, brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, depression and many other debilitating illnesses and injuries. I have personally been witness to people living at Beth Abraham residential facility in the Bronx who participate in the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function who could not speak, but during their music therapy session, they could belt out song after song without missing a word. I have seen a brain injured man who did not socialize or ever crack a smile transform into an animated, smiling individual very much engaged in the drumming circle. I was also surprised that Mr. Ivry refers to the world-renowned neurologist as "Mr." rather than giving him his much deserved title, "Dr."

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