Dr. Susan Rogers, a behavioral neuroscientist and a former record producer and engineer known for her work with Prince, will speak September 21 at the Needham library about the uniqueness of every music lover’s listening. She will describe the “listener profile,” a constellation of mental sweet spots where music delivers the optimal award for each listener.

Dr. Rogers teaches for Berklee College of Music Online and is the author of This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You, published by W. W. Norton & Company in 2021. She holds a doctorate in psychology from McGill University, where she studied music cognition and psychoacoustics. Her research focuses on auditory memory, the perception of musical signals, and the influence of musical training on auditory development.

For two decades prior to her science career, Rogers was one of the world's few women known for her work as a record producer, engineer, mixer, and audio electronics technician. Career highlights include years (1983–1988) as staff engineer for recording artist Prince.

The public is invited to this free program presented by the Friends of the Needham Public Library in the library’s Community Room at 1139 Highland Avenue, Needham, from 2-3:30 PM, Sunday, September 21. A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation.

Please note that seats are limited and registration is required. Register at https://needhamlibrary.org/events/.

For more information, please contact Gay Ellen Dennett, program specialist, at gdennett@minlib.net, 781-455-7559 x 79223.