I'm Alan Alder, and this is clear and vivid conversations about connecting and communicating.

We ask people all over 10 Western countries, 20,000 people, how do you use music in your life? Well, I use it to get

out of bed in the morning. I use it when I'm reading the newspaper. I use it in the car to avoid the

tedium. It helps them relax. It helps them focus. It comforts them. About 70% of people

are using music the way you might describe using a drug.

That's Daniel Leviton. He's both a neuroscientist and a musician, and he's woven those two

threads together in a new book called, I heard there was a secret chord. The book explores the

power of music, not just to lift our

spirits or to inexplicably move us emotionally. For some chronic conditions, music can also

act as a medicine. So I knew this would be a fascinating conversation. This is going to be great

talking with you, because you have such interesting ideas about

music and not just ideas.

You studied it as a neuroscientist and as a musician at the same time.

How many instruments do you play?

Well, I suppose it depends on whether I play them well or can pass, but I routinely play guitar and bass,

piano, saxophone, and I sing. And once in a while, if there's a drum kit sitting around

and there's a band playing, but nobody at the drums, I'll play the drums.

And do you compose, too? I do. Well, composing sounds kind of like a high-falutin word.

I'm a songwriter.

Yeah, well, that's composing.

Thank you.

I think the most amazing thing that you explore is music as medicine,

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