Making the Connection between Brain Development and Music Learning

After Hours: Conversations for Music Educators

Neuroscience and psychology researchers have done extensive studies over the last 20 years to understand how the brain processes music and why music learning seems to be such a cognitively unique activity. Musically trained children have better language and communication skills, can focus for longer and are more likely to stick with difficult problems until they solve them, they are able to control their own emotional responses and understand emotional responses of others and they have significantly better working and long-term memory systems. These enhancements then support higher levels of overall academic achievement, motivation, stress management, self-regulation and awareness. Most notably, music learning has been found to improve neural communication issues associated with autism, ADHD, dyslexia and reading and language learning delays. The research is now starting to reveal why music learning is so effective at enhance brain function. In this week's episode, Nick sits down with Dr. Anita Collins for a conversation on this exciting and impactful research.