The Influence Of Musical Education On The Brain

Music is one of the most ancient forms of art, as well as one of the most beneficial activities for the brain. Musicians, for example, have a stronger hippocampus, which is part of the brain involved in learning and memory. Neurogenesis, the process that is critical for learning and memory in the hippocampus is brought about through musical practice (What Happens). Musical practice on the piano is also associated with positively affecting the brain. One study conduct demonstrated through a special MRI that measures white matter in the brain, that regular piano players had a higher myelin levels than non-piano players (What Happens). This contributes to faster, and quicker nerve impulses, which then strengthens the brain. Not only does playing contribute to performing better cognitively, it over takes one's body. Musicians know when, “Each note rubs the others just right, and the instrument shivers with delight. The feeling is unmistakable, intoxicating” (Popova). The feeling

Damkohler, Katherine. "Bringing Back What Works in Education." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 25 Feb. 2015. Web. 03 Mar. 2016.

It’s a proven fact: music strengthens the brain. The most beneficial type of music to the brain is instrumental, specifically playing an instrument. Playing an instrument involves all parts of the brain. ‘“There’s some good neuroscience research that

Did you know that music is one of the few activities that utilizes the whole entire brain? Did you know that music can physically alter your brain structure? Today I am going to be talking about the power of music and its impacts and effects on the brain. Throughout my whole life I have always had a passion for music of all different types and genres. I listen to music wherever I go and during whatever I’m doing. My mom would continually badger me about the music I was listening to and how it was corrupting my brain. After much research and many songs later, I discovered it actually has many positive effects on the brain. In the rest

Many modern studies show that students who play instruments or sing in their school’s choir do better in their classes than students who do not. The increase in grades occurs because concentrating on singing, playing, and reading music acts as a stimulus for the human brain. This motivates the player or singer to work and study harder, which leads to increased

Playing an instrument engages both the left and the right brain, builds and strengthens connections between brain cells, and basically makes the brain work harder (Wilcox 2012). Students who play an instrument have higher SAT scores. Research has shown that students in music programs score 63 points higher on the verbal and 44 points higher on the math sections of the SATs than students who do not participate in music programs (Johnson 2006, Catterall UCLA 2006, The College Entrace Examination Board). The most remarkable test score improvements are found in the lower socio-economic groups of kids (Catterall 2012). Research studies in 2005 (Columbia University, Bastian) and 2007 (Barry, Cutietta) both showed improved academic performance, higher IQs, and better scores on standardized tests in students who play one or more musical instruments (U.S. Department of Education, Catterall 2002, Helmrich 2010). Almost all the past winners of the Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science, and Technology for high school students played one or more musical instruments. Data has shown the neurological benefits of musical education in processing foreign languages due to the subject’s brains being able to process sounds, pitches, and frequencies (Northwestern University Auditory Neuroscience 2011). The Neurosciences Institute (Karus

Recent studies have shown that a fully matured brain is capable of changing by learning simple music techniques. This process is identified as Music Plasticity, Plasticity is permanently shaping structural brain development.(jneurosci) Changes occur because of the profound emotions that music is able to break through. Each song written holds heavy expression within it, the associations that musicians make with these expressions is particularly…. Playing an instrument is an intense, personal movement in which long periods of practice time is a must. It requires hours upon hours of repetitive movements, memorizing long phrases, and different forms of time presion levels, being so, this develops strong organizational skills within the brain,

Playing and listening to instruments help strengthen parts of the brain. For one, “science has shown that when children learn to play music, their brains begin to hear and process sounds that they couldn’t otherwise hear” (Locker 1). One of the main importances of playing music is listening to know when a note has gotten off key. The ability of picking up wrong notes help people listen more closely without having to think about it. Another example, “researchers found that after two years, children who not only regularly attended music classes, but also actively participated in the class, showed larger improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers” (Locker 1). These children were more attentive

However, after 4 years of musical training, researchers found significant changes in both test results and cranial development. This research paper focuses on the importance of prolonged musical training on a child’s musical development. In their longitudinal study, Schlaug et al. were able to find that as little as year of musical training showed a significant change in test scores between the two groups, data showed that an average of 4 years demonstrated actual, physical changes in one’s brain, such as an increase in grey matter volume and an increase in activation of the superior temporal

Neuroplasticity, as defined by Encyclopedia Britannica (2017) , is the “capacity of neurons and neural networks in the brain to change their connections and behaviour in response to new information, sensory stimulation, development, damage, or dysfunction.” One reason why this specific research is important is because music instruction can enhance brain functions. Breaking down the old notion that specific areas of the brain are responsible for specific assigned tasks has been replaced by the idea of neuroplasticity and the brains ability to adapt and change throughout life. The relevance of this science is one that would support the idea that music making enhances the growth and maturation of all types of cognitive functions. These functions include memory, learning, listening, and literacy. Again, success in beginning band will largely depend on the students’ ability to read and understand the music placed in front of them. But not just literacy alone; the student will be tasked with these other cognitive functions in their acquisition of musical skill and

Having the ability to learn and play an instrument is one truly astounding feat. Whether the instrument be a guitar, drums, or a piano, musicians are given the opportunity to express themselves through the art of music. Anita Collins in her 2014 Ted Talk, “How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain,” emphasizes the perks that an individual gains whenever an instrument is put to use. For example, Collins states that playing music is the equivalent to engaging oneself in a full body workout. Additionally, every part of the brain is stimulated when playing an instrument; further, the simultaneous use of the motor, visual, and auditory segments of the brain strengthens when an instrument is constantly used. Thus coming to the conclusion that

The brain is a vulnerable organ at a young age, it’s very manipulative and how it develops sets the tone of who the child will be as an adult. How parents choose to develop their child’s intelligence at a young age will be set in stone for the rest of their life. By taking music lessons, people are choosing to physically change their brain for the better, for the rest of their life. A closer look at how the brain develops when taking music lessons, will reinstate that as a parent, music lessons are a must. According to Christopher Bergland, “Musical training has the potential to change the brain function and structure over a long period of time” (Bergland 1). Training before age seven can maintain a well-connected brain infrastructure into

Music has a positive affect on mood and behavior through listening to lyrics of music, music therapy, and influence of music. Music has been around for many years, as far back as cavemen. Most Don 't know but music has more of a purpose than just mere entertainment. Music is used in many cases as a therapy to help heal people. Music affects many different parts of the brain in a positive way. Music is also used to express pain and sorrow or other emotions and in many cases magnifies the feelings.

Historically, there has been a debate among educators and researchers whether music education plays a significant role in a child’s brain development, intelligence quotient, social development and overall success in life. Many believe the data has been unreliable because there is little to prove with absolute certainty that those who participate in music education were not just born smarter. On the other hand, substantial data has been collected in recent years that seems to clear up those questions of doubt. As America’s children continue to show a significant drop in their annual test scores, while simultaneously demonstrating worsened behavior in school, answers are being sought from many angles. “Suggested reasons for the deteriorating behavior include a lack of boundaries at home, attention-seeking, an absence of positive role models at home, low self-esteem and family breakdown.” (Townsend, 2013) While there are many contributing factors to these heart-breaking realities, I will present how simply providing regular music lessons can be pivotal for a child. The diminishing importance our culture is placing on the benefits of music education is impacting our nation’s children by limiting their potential in academic achievement, social development, and overall well-being, but we can resolve this problem in part by raising awareness about this vital issue.

Although many, one positive way music education is beneficial to students is that it has a large impact on brain stem growth. With the incorporation of music in a student’s daily life, the brain stem’s responses become more robust (Brown). Therefore, the amount of brain stem growth correlates with recent musical training. As stated by Brown, an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore, “student’s that are involved with a large amount of music will see more gains in brain stem growth”. Furthermore, the neural changes that occur in students as adolescents stay with them into adulthood (“Music Matters”). This allows students to be more prepared once they go into the workforce as adults. Along with the brain stem’s responses being more robust, it’s sensitivity to sound increases (“The Benefits” 1). This is abundantly evident from early on, as mother’s sing to their infants to facilitate brain stimulation and development. Enrichment through music, starting at a young age, seems to improve individuals speech sound development and use of more advanced vocabulary. Adolescents’ language also improves with the use of music in a student’s academics (Miller 46). Luehrisen