Ever Had Fireworks Going Off in Your Brain?
Updated: May 7, 2021
‘On the outside they may look calm and focused, reading the music and making the precise and practiced movements required, but inside their brains there’s a party going on.’
Studies by neuroscientists, using tests such as Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography, show that the human brain operates at an amazing rate when musicians are performing on their instrument.
In essence, practicing music makes you smarter! By practicing we consistently strengthen the relationship between the Motor, Visual and Auditory areas of the brain, which can then be utilised by skills other than playing an instrument.
Surely That Can’t Be True!?
We hate to say it (actually we love it!), but it is indeed true that music makes you smarter. Harvard say, ‘Today's doctors tell us that music can enhance the function of neural networks, slow the heart rate, lower blood pressure, reduce levels of stress hormones and inflammatory cytokines, and provide some relief to patients undergoing surgery, as well as heart attack and stroke victims.’
Well, that’s an unbelievable greatest hits of what benefits to our health music lessons bring! Let’s recap that Def Poetry Jam style, music:
1. Enhances the function of neural networks
2. Slows heart rate
3. Lowers blood pressure
4. Reduces levels of stress hormones and inflammatory cytokines
5. Provides some relief to patients undergoing surgery
6. Provides some relief to victims of heart attacks and strokes
Add to this a higher chance of developing critical thinking tasks such as planning, strategising and attention to detail, learning music while developing can effectively add points on to a fully-developed adults IQ.
It’s clear that learning music makes you smarter, so why doesn’t everyone learn an instrument!? That’s not a question we can answer, but we’re here for anyone who wants to try. You can learn music on a variety of instruments with The Music Works.
Sign up for a free, no obligation music lesson now!
How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain
Check out this amazing video by Ted Talks, which explains how playing music makes you smarter!