Why Repetition Comforts Us Betsy Wurzel with Jay Keyser

In today’s episode of Chatting with Betsy, host Betsy Wurzel welcomes Professor Samuel Jay Keyser, author of Play It Again, Sam: Repetition in the Arts. Known as Jay, he shares why repetition comforts us — from hearing familiar stories and music to revisiting beloved art and photography.

Betsy asked Professor Jay about why repetition is especially meaningful for neurodivergent individuals—a subject close to her heart through her experiences with her son, Josh. They also explored why children naturally love hearing the same rhymes, songs, and stories over and over.

Music, Memory, and Healing

Professor Keyser explained how repetition in music provides powerful comfort, particularly as therapy for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. He recalled his own time performing with a Dixieland band in nursing home facilities, where familiar songs lit up the residents’ faces and brought joy to their days.

Betsy also reflected on her husband Matt, whose love of music helped soothe him, and her father, who relaxed to the sounds of his favorite jazz. She shared touching memories of her mother bringing big band jazz recordings to her father’s nursing home, offering him comfort through beloved melodies.

Professor Jay even demonstrated Duke Ellington’s classic “Satin Doll” and spoke about the rhythms and rhymes that connect us so deeply. The conversation extended to Andy Warhol’s famous Campbell’s Soup Can paintings, which highlight repetition in visual art.

The Scholar Behind the Music

Beyond his musical talents, Professor Samuel Jay Keyser is a distinguished theoretical linguist. He is the Peter de Florez Emeritus Professor and emeritus member of the Linguistics and Philosophy faculty at MIT, as well as former Associate Provost. He has authored numerous books and scientific publications and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Linguistic Inquiry.

A jazz trombonist himself, Professor Keyser has been honored with the 2025 Wilbur Cross Medal for Alumni Achievement from the Yale Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. He earned degrees from the University of Oxford, Yale University, and The George Washington University. Living in the Boston area, he is recognized as an authority on the history and structure of the English language.

🎷 Listen to Betsy Wurzel’s interview with Professor Jay Keyser as they explore how repetition touches our lives — from a soothing lullaby, to a familiar song that brings joy and lights up faces in a senior center.   🎀 Click here to listen… 

✨ Repetition brings us back to what feels familiar, safe, and meaningful. Through art, music, and storytelling, it becomes a bridge to comfort, memory, and joy.

Betsy’s Recommendation

Betsy highly recommends Play It Again, Sam: Repetition in the Arts for anyone interested in understanding why repetition comforts us across music, art, and daily life.

📖 The book is available through Amazon and MIT Press.

🔗 Learn more about Professor Keyser at MIT Linguistics. His mailing address is also available on the site for readers wishing to connect.

Special thanks to Lissa Warren PR for arranging this insightful interview.

Contact Information

To contact Lisa Warren

• 📞 Phone: 617-233-2853

• 📧 Email: lissawarrenpr@gmail.com

• 🌐 Website: www.lissawarrenpr.com/

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