03/15/2023
I’ve found lots of interesting information regarding how learning music alters the brain, as it is a full-body workout for the brain as it engages multiple parts of the mind at once - exercising parts of the brain related to mathematics, spatial intelligence, and verbal areas.
In recent years, neuroscientists have made great strides in understanding how the brain works by using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to monitor people's brains while playing music in real-time. Playing piano specifically strengthens 3 areas: motor, visual, and auditory cortices. This activity increases communication between both hemispheres of the brain via the corpus callosum, which can lead to more effective problem-solving and creative thinking skills.
Musicians often have higher levels of executive function, a category of interlinked tasks that includes planning, strategizing, and attention to detail. Studies have shown that the brains of musicians are structurally larger in 5 different areas: hearing and listening, motor actions to produce sounds, memory, emotion, attention, and learning. It was found that the corpus callosum was larger in pianists.
Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to rewire itself by creating new neural circuits - an ability that adults can exhibit as well as children. It’s important to note that the neuroplasticity effect disappears when you stop practicing. While most people think you can’t learn an instrument later on in life, rather it has been found that music lessons boost cognitive function, protect against dementia, help PTSD, and lessen depression.
In addition to improved executive function, enhanced memory capabilities are also seen in musicians due to their highly connected brains being able to give each memory multiple tags such as conceptual/emotional/audio tags (similarly used by search engines).
The key is to never stop learning, especially music! It can improve academic and social pursuits, the ability to solve problems more effectively and improve cognition and dexterity in all ages. I have taught piano lessons for 30 years and can attest to seeing my students succeed.
Elaine of Edmonton Piano Teachers
