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Why we love repetition in music - Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis

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TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

How many times does the chorus repeat in your favorite song? How many times have you listened to that chorus? Repetition in music isn’t just a feature of Western pop songs, either; it’s a global phenomenon. Why? Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis walks us through the basic principles of the ‘exposure effect,’ detailing how repetition invites us into music as active participants, rather than passive listeners.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis
  • Director Andrew Zimbelman
  • Producer Andrea Sertz Jew, Nathan Jew
  • Composer Joshua Smoak, Alex Admiral Collier
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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