Discovering Elephants' love for music

[Catherine]

I watched the whole thing and of course listened. I think the elephants responded to the music. If they were not interested they would not have stood around the piano.

What an extraordinary man to take his music to elephants in a jungle. He could have played concert halls for people who would pay for the privilege of hearing him. Instead he plays as a way of reaching elephants who have been abused by humans. He is brave and sensitive and a beautiful human being.

I suppose there will be many elephants in need for years to come. Elephants can live a long time and there must be so many who have been used/abused who now need a place to retire. There is something wrong about using an elephant until it is old and blind and then leaving him to others to care for.

I am not surprized to see and animal respond to music. I know Misty liked music. I used to sing to my dwarf hamsters as a way of calming them. The quail I had years ago loved music. I still have their favourite pieces and now I have a cassette player again so I can play them for the new quail. The male calls to my microwave when it chimes so I think he will love music.

I think nature is full of music. Go out into a quiet place and listen and it is not quiet. There are sounds and rhythms in the wind and water. Music is the most natural thing in the world. Humans didn't invent it, but we did perfect it. It is one of the things that we do very well that make the world a better place.