Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.

William Congreve (1697)

The number of times I have played music for a non-human audience I can count on one hand. It appears, however, that music may well move our animal fellows in ways similar to how it moves us.

While in Pendleton to perform with the Oregon East Symphony, I stayed with my friend, Emily. Here is Emily’s dog paying attention to me while I played her piano.

I was warmly rewarded for my efforts.

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My friend, Hamid is a skilled healer and musician with whom I’ve enjoyed jamming on a few occasions. While we were playing, his dogs came in and disrupted our music with kisses and attempts to sit in our laps.

I enjoyed visiting my friend, Erin and her menagerie of animals. I spied a piano and sat down, which seemed to delight her cockatoo, Raspberry.

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I’m not in these videos, but my friend, Jenny has a sweet dog, Buddy, who sings when she plays the violin. I love revisiting these videos often.