Food for Thought: Does Music Improve Learning?

Music Education is fun, engaging, and creative — some of the many reasons why students are attracted to learning an instrument. Music can also be an incredible hobby, offering a lifetime of intrigue and discipline. In addition to the soothing joy of playing an incredibly moving piece, music education is also known very well in scientific communities around the globe, because many say that it can actually positively impact other areas of learning.

For decades, research studies have shown how music can impact a person’s ability to retain information, and many have taken action in researching how these studies can actually impact the brain physically. Numerous studies suggest that the impact of music education on the brain, begins with brain cell connections that occur while learning. These are the same connections that assist other forms of communication during our lives such as, speech, language and reading.

In many ways learning music is like learning a new language. The mythology, its origins and structures challenge our brains and can impact these other areas of learning too. In other words, learning music is a form of exercise for our brains. Children who are musically trained generally tend to have larger vocabularies and advanced reading skills than those who don’t participate in music education. Not to mention that teachers have long known that getting children to memorize information to the tune of a song can help immensely.

But that’s not where it ends. Aside from these learning elements, the benefits of music is far more reaching. In recent years, music therapy has risen as a popular and effective way for psychologists and others in the medical community to help students who suffer from ADD/ADHD and even autism. A book that was published in the 90s called “The Mozart Effect” also claimed that music possessed the power to reduce stress and increase productivity.

Aside from these scientific benefits, music itself is worth studying on its own merits as a form of creative expression. Are you interested in music lessons for yourself or your child? Sign up for a free music assessment today at www.resoundschool.com