It has often been said that music makes you smarter. This is so because musicians have structurally and functionally different brains compared with non-musicians. In particular, the areas of the brain used to process music are larger or more active in musicians. Even just starting to learn a to play a musical instrument can change the neurophysiology of the brain.
Lutz Jäncke, a member of Faculty of 1000 Medicine, proposes to use music in neuropsychological therapy, for example to improve language skills, memory, or mood. The brain regions that are involved in music processing are also required for other tasks, such as memory and language skills. "If music has such a strong influence on brain plasticity," writes Jäncke, "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 in particular one from Northwestern University.
Therefore, children should start their instrumental lessons at a younger age than the typical third or fourth grade. This field of study would give them an academic advantage in the long run and it would help them to learn math and increase their language skills: verbal, written and give them a boost in their process of learning to read.
It has often been said that music makes you smarter. This is so because musicians have structurally and functionally different brains compared with non-musicians. In particular, the areas of the brain used to process music are larger or more active in musicians. Even just starting to learn a to play a musical instrument can change the neurophysiology of the brain.
Lutz Jäncke, a member of Faculty of 1000 Medicine, proposes to use music in neuropsychological therapy, for example to improve language skills, memory, or mood. The brain regions that are involved in music processing are also required for other tasks, such as memory and language skills. "If music has such a strong influence on brain plasticity," writes Jäncke, "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 in particular one from Northwestern University.
Therefore, children should start their instrumental lessons at a younger age than the typical third or fourth grade. This field of study would give them an academic advantage in the long run and it would help them to learn math and increase their language skills: verbal, written and give them a boost in their process of learning to read.
