The dual nature of Sound

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Specific nerve signals travel from people’s ears to their brain. When specific brain cells, particularly those in the auditory cortex, are activated, the perception of music occurs, whereas the activation of other cells leads to the perception of noise. In other words, some signals are pleasing to our sense of hearing, i.e., music, while others are not, i.e., noise. Both noise and music are forms of sound. Whether a sound is perceived as music or noise depends on various factors and can vary from person to person. Generally, noise is considered an unwelcome, excessively loud and disruptive sound.

Music is composed of organised travelling sound waves, which highlights the fundamental difference between music and noise. These waves are carefully arranged to create harmony, rhythm, and melody, making them pleasing to the ear. They follow specific patterns in frequency, loudness, and timing. In contrast, noise consists of disorganised, random sound waves that lack a clear structure or pattern. Sound waves are classified as travelling longitudinal waves (Knight, 2019).