Playing a musical instrument makes you brainier

Playing a musical instrument makes you smarter, it has been claimed.

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent

New research suggests that regularly playing an instrument changes the shape and power of the brain and may be used in therapy to improve cognitive skills.

It can even increase IQ by seven points in both children and adults, according to researchers.

Experts said there is growing evidence that musicians have structurally and functionally different brains compared with non-musicians - in particular, the areas of the brain used in processing and playing music.

These parts of the brain that control motor skills, hearing, storing audio information and memory become larger and more active when a person learns how to play an instrument and can apparently improve day to day actions such as being alert, planning and emotional perception.

Lutz Jäncke, a psychologist at the University of Zurich, said: "Learning to play a musical instrument has definite benefits and can increase IQ by seven points, in both children and adults.

"We found that even in people over the age of 65 after four or five months of playing a instrument for an hour a week there were strong changes in the brain.

"The parts of the brain that control hearing, memory, and the part that controls the hands among others, all become more active. Essentially the architecture of the brain changes.

"For children especially we found that learning to play the piano for instance teaches them to be more self-disciplined, more attentive and better at planning. All of these things are very important for academic performance, so can therefore make a child brighter.

"Of course music isn't the only answer, but I do believe that it should be used in addition to other things."

Mr Jäncke also said that music can also make it easier to learn foreign languages and become more perceptive in interpreting the emotions of others.

He added: "When you play a musical instrument you have to learn about tone and about scores and your ability to store audio information becomes better.

"So not only does this make it easier to pick up other languages and have a better verbal memory in your own language , we have also seen that musicians are able to pick out exactly what others are feeling just on the tone of their voices. Empathy, disappointment, that kind of thing.

"If music has such a strong influence on brain plasticity this raises the question of whether this effect can be used to enhance cognitive performance.

"Several studies indeed show that musical practice increases memory and language skills, and I suggest expanding this field.

"Hopefully, the current trend in the use of musicians as a model for brain plasticity will continue ... and extend to the field of neuropsychological rehabilitation."

The research is published in the online publication Faculty of 1000 Biology Reports.

Music Therapy: Learn How Playing Music Can Help Depression             

Posted by Revelle Team on Feb 26, 2016        

Research continues to support the knowledge that playing music is beneficial to your brain. Over the last few decades, enhanced medical technology has enabled scientists to study the positive stimulation that only music can provide on cognitive processes. The results of these studies have confirmed that music therapy, especially in the form of learning to play an instrument, has the ability to reduce the symptoms and development of dementia, help overcome the challenges of a learning disability, and increase academic performance in students. 

Moreover, these proven results have spurred research extensions within the medical community, and new applications are being tested and reported concerning music’s ability to heal the body. Within the last few years, more studies have shown the beneficial connection between playing music and physical health, especially regarding stress-related ailments like pain and depression. Both a recent editorial by the British Journal of Psychiatry and an article in the American Physiological Association examine this recent attention and explore just why music is so effective for relieving depression.

Learning to play music with a music therapist, involves activity. This type of active participation, when combined with the specific brain responses that learning to play an instrument invoke, provides the stimulus that generates healing.

Depression is a serious medical condition, but many people are hesitant to begin a chemical regimen before exploring any possible natural alternatives to that type of treatment. Music therapy has the ability enhance traditional techniques when applied as a learning exercise.

Aesthetic Appeal

A diagnosis of depression is typically associated with (in some measure) a lack of enjoyment and meaning in life. However, when combined with specific therapeutic techniques, the artistry and connection established through the music generates an aesthetic appeal that transcends verbal communications. This creates a relationship that opens doors not only for effective catharsis, but also for progress. It stimulates a desire to behave differently, and to experience yourself in a new light, an important aspect of treating clinical depression.

Physical Interaction

Learning to play a musical instrument also aids therapeutic treatments by requiring controlled physical effort and interaction. People who suffer with depression are often characterized by severe withdrawal, but music helps break down those barriers. Plus, physical exercise has long been lauded as a way to both prevent and assuage symptoms of depression, but music therapy goes even further.

Music is part of our culture, and it affects us whether we acknowledge it or not (for instance, tapping along to a beat, “suffering from an earwig,” or knowing instinctively whether a certain song is pleasing or not). By physically participating in learning to play music, instinctual responses compel interaction and create a strong sense of physical recognition within the player. Moreover, this strengthens the feeling of meaningful contribution.

Relatable Experiences

Music is deeply embedded in our psyche, and when you learn to create music with an instrument, you develop new ways to express your inner thoughts and feelings. Music therapy, when it includes learning to play an instrument actually nurtures a sense of self-awareness. As you learn to create new sounds and bring them together in a melodious form, your brain makes similar connections within your environment.

Pulsing rhythms and harmonic combinations mirror personal interactions, and although you may not consciously recognize it right away, your brain is learning.

Healing Vibrations (Frequency of Health)

Sound frequencies and rhythms are being studied for their actual influence on a variety of physical ailments. Researchers have discovered that “playing music increases the body’s production of the antibody immunoglobulin A and natural killer cells… [and] reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol” (APA). An increased immune system that is able to better prevent sickness and contribute to lowered levels of stress are both important aspects for treating clinical depression.

The theory is that low frequencies stimulate areas of the brain in specific ways, but more research is needed for full comprehension of why it works.

The activity involved in physically playing an instrument benefits players’ health in many ways. Indeed, the full scope of the power of music isn’t yet known, despite the recent attention. However, it has been shown to positively alleviate symptoms of depression by establishing aesthetic connections that enhance traditional treatments. To find out more about how music therapy can help heal depression and links to certified professional therapists, visit the American Music Therapy Association website.

Thanksgiving Break - November 20 - 24

Christmas Break - December 19 - January 1 *Please note that we start the break on a Tuesday this year.

_____________________________________

______________________________________

__________________________________                     

Check out WGO!  This is an outreach dedicated to the homeless and impoverished children of Honduras. My wife and I have traveled to Tegucigalpa twice and had the privilege of serving these children. I can tell you firsthand that it is an incredible ministry! Please consider sponsoring a child yourself.  It will change your life and theirs!

_________________________________

If you have a moment, take a listen to some of my students' songs on the playlist I've posted here.