Part 1 of the TED Radio Hour episode Soundtracks of our lives
Why do our favorite songs evoke such strong emotions? Songwriter Scarlet Keys teaches the many methods musicians use to boost a listener's mood—or break their heart.
About Scarlet Keys
Scarlet Keys is a professor at Berklee College of Music and a former staff songwriter for Warner Chappell. Her songs have appeared on film and TV, as well as in national commercials. She received a gold record for the song "So Much Love to Make," recorded by Swedish artist Jill Johnson. Some of her former students include Charlie Puth, Betty Who, and Lizzy McAlpine.
Keys is the author of What if it All Goes Right: Practicing Hope in the Hardest Times and The Craft of Songwriting: Music, Meaning and Emotion. She also hosts the podcast What's in a Song.
This segment of the TED Radio Hour was produced by Rachel Faulkner White and edited by Sanaz Meshkinpour. You can follow us on Facebook @TEDRadioHour and email us at TEDRadioHour@npr.org.
Web Resources
Related TED Bio: Scarlet Keys
Related TED Talk: Poetry and music that reaches across the digital void
Related TED Talk: How music can help you find peace after loss
Related NPR Links
Life Kit: It's not too late to learn a new instrument
Life Kit: How To Make A Playlist That Really Shines
The Pulse: The Healing Power of Music
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