Music Education Can Build Up Your Brain
A new study reveals that as little as one year of musical training can have a positive impact on your brain that will last the rest of your life.
Image: iStockphoto
Let’s say you took violin lessons all through elementary school, but you haven’t gotten the instrument out of its case in years. Were all those lessons a waste of your parents’ money because you didn’t become a Joshua Bell-level virtuoso?
Not at all. Even though your school performance days have long since passed, a new study reveals that as little as one year of musical training can have a positive impact on your brain that will last the rest of your life.
In an experiment comparing preschooler who had taken music lessons to those who hadn’t, researcher Laurel Trainor of the Institute for Music and the Mind at Ontario’s McMaster University discovered that the musically-trained kids had larger brain responses to certain sound recognition exams. Trainor’s findings reveal the possibility that musical education can actually modify the brain’s auditory cortex, leading to better overall learning skills.
The study’s results indicate that “musical training (but not necessarily passive listening to music) affects attention and memory, which provides a mechanism whereby musical training might lead to better learning across a number of domains,” Trainor said in a statement.
The effects of music education are even more pronounced in children with dyslexia and other language-related disabilities. “A music intervention that strengthens the basic auditory music perception skills of children with dyslexia may also remediate some of their language deficits,” said Gottfried Schlaug, who has also studied music education in relation to learning.
So, whether or not you can play a Tchaikovsky symphony part, it’s likely that your years of music lessons prepped your brain for all the presentations, emails, and adult conversations that are part of your life today. To help make sure that kids today have the same opportunities for music-inspired brain enhancement, help out by volunteering with or donating instruments to your school’s music education department, or contributing to a nationwide group like Little Kids Rock.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, General Interest, Health and Wellbeing, Science,Liked this? You'll love these, too:
-
Luis Soriano Delivers Literacy By Donkey to Children in Colombia
Primary school teacher Luis Sariano believes education is valuable, and delivers learning resources to children across Colombia with his burromobile. Read More
-
Korean War Veteran Builds Schools for his Former Enemies in China and North Korea
After South Korean soldier Kim Chin-kyung escaped from enemy forces, he decided to help them by creating universities in China and North Korea. Read More
-
Sarah Phillips, 16, Records Amazing Tribute to Raise Money for Cervical Cancer Cure
16-year-old Sarah Phillips recorded Paolo Nutini's "Autumn" on her cell phone in tribute to her mother, Debbie, who died of cervical cancer the next day. Read More
-
8 Must-See Instrumental Acoustic Guitar Music Videos
Check out these music videos from eight of our favorite instrumental guitar virtuosos. Read More
-
‘Magic Water’ Can Clean Toilets, But Is Still Drinkable
Electrolyzed water is just ionized salt water - but it has stronger cleaning power than bleach, while remaining clean and drinkable. Read More
To our free daily newsletter, featuring good news from around the world, exclusive interviews with changemakers, guest columns, and subscriber-only weekly giveaways and special offers. Your privacy is secure with us, we will never spam you or sell your email address. Enter your email address below or click here to learn more about what you will receive.
Stanislav Petrov: The Man Who Saved the World by Doing Nothing
Miracle Fruit Makes (Almost) Everything Delicious
Liam Hoekstra, Superbaby: Toddler Born with Superhuman Strength
Hachiko: The World’s Most Loyal Dog
80-Year-Old Harry Lee McGinnis Walks Around the World








