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1.1What Is Music?1.1.1 It's a Biological Adaptation
Music has played a central role in human existence for hundreds of thousands of years.
So...what is music?
According to the evidence, it’s probably a biological adaptation—although some researchers argue music is a byproduct of other adaptations.
What’s an adaptation?
It's a biological trait that evolved to promote survival or reproductive success. A tiger’s fangs. A peacock’s fan. A mosquito’s ability to draw blood and escape into the night, just as you’re trying to get to sleep.
As a human, you possess many formidable adaptations, such as bipedalism (two-legged walking), language, and a lot of other inborn skills that your fellow primates do not have. (Unlike horses, all primates— several hundred species—have highly flexible 5-fingered hands, opposable digits, and sharp eyesight. Some, such as monkeys, apes, and humans, also have relatively large brains.)
Before biologists confer “adaptation” status upon a human trait, in a solemn ceremony at Stonehenge under a full moon, said trait must fulfil several criteria, among them: