“I LOVE Freddie. That’s why I love music!”

We all know music is great for kids, but

Did you know?…

• Music causes the mind to think smarter.
• Medical scans track brain activity.
• Music is one of the very few whole brain activities, engaging all four parts of the brain! All other tasks use either the left or right brain. Music exercises all of the brain.

How?

• The more you play, the more you exercise your mind. The exercised mind thinks better, making a student smarter.
• A high percentage of band, choir, or orchestra members get good grades in school.
• Band kids aren’t smarter because they like music; band kids are smarter because they PLAY music.
• If an athlete would be well-suited and prepared for a physically demanding job, doesn’t it make sense that music instruction would mentally prepare a person for a mentally challenging job?

Want to know more? 

Being a music teacher, caring adults often inquire how to help guide the child showing musical aptitude, or when to begin music lessons. My reply? Start as soon as possible.

The benefits of music reach far beyond learning how to sing or play an instrument. Belonging to an organized music group enhances a child’s success in society, success in school, and success in life. Caring parents value these positive benefits, but the recent studies regarding mental development impact their parental decisions. The studies show that music training profoundly affects brain development.

With advancements in technology, including PET and MRI scans, researchers literally watch and chart brain activity while a person engages in various tasks. Researchers quickly discovered that music is one of the very few whole brain activities, engaging all four parts of the brain! The only other functions that use both hemispheres are higher-level mathematics and logic processing, such as chess. All other tasks rely on the dominant use of either the left or right brain. Furthermore, the research shows the brain’s ability to continue to develop with proper stimulation and exercise. Nothing compares to music education in brain stimulation and development. The plethora of music and brain research articles makes it clear—music education benefits every child.

Why does engaging in music activate the entire brain? A musician’s mind is constantly choosing how fast or slow to play, with what style, rhythm, phrasing, and feeling–training the brain to become incredibly good at organizing while simultaneously controlling finger movement, reading and memorizing. Thus, a musician conducts numerous mental and physical activities at the same time–training the brain to organize and create multiple mental pathways.

These mental skills and multiple mental pathways, honed by music education, permeate all facets of learning and the effects continue to compound over time with advanced music study. One example of the effects publicized in 2001, a Profile of SAT Program Test Takers, reported students participating in music scored higher on the SATs than students with no arts participation. Scores for students in music performance classes were 57 points higher (Verbal) and 41 points higher (Math). Scores for students in music appreciation classes were 63 points higher (Verbal) and 44 points higher (Math). * It is no coincidence that a high percentage of band, choir, or orchestra members are top-ranking students.

What better way to develop a child’s mind than consistent engagement in musical activities? There is no better way. Regardless of a child’s natural tendencies for the arts, making music instruction a part of every child’s total development can only enhance their life skills and mental processing.