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Why we love repetition in music - Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis

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TEDEd Animation

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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.

Compare the effects of repetition in music and language.

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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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