A TED-Ed Animation Explaining Why We Love Repetition in Music

“Why We Love Repetition in Music” is a TED-Ed animation by author and music professor Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis that explains how our brains are hard-wired to enjoy repetition in songs. The accompanying lesson can be viewed at the TED-Ed site.

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.