nonmusicians have typically acquired the fundamentals of this knowledge
from their experience listening to music throughout their lives. Thus non-
musicians are sensitive to shifts in tonality and to the multilevel structure of
rhythmic organization.
The implicit knowledge of adults is built on elements present even in infancy:
the importance of melodic and rhythmic contours ,the use of discrete ,steady
pitch levels ,the organization of rhythmic patterns into a steady beat and an
overlay of more complicated rhythms ,and octave equivalence ,to name a few.
These elements provide the groundwork for perceptual learning and accul-
turation throughout life to build upon.
Acknowledgment
I thank Melinda Andrews for her thoughtful contributions to the development of this chapter.
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