You know that feeling when you listen to a song or piece of music that you absolutely love and how it just makes you feel so happy and like the world is a better place? It turns out there’s science in that! Even more than that, researchers have found that studying music has enormous benefits on what is called “brain plasticity.” In essence, brain plasticity (sometimes referred to as neuroplasticity) is the ability of the brain to rewire itself to function in a different way than before—basically, it’s about growth, learning and creating new habits. Very cool, very important stuff.
So, how does music affect our brain plasticity? The research suggests that when we play and practice a musical instrument over a period of time (the longer the better), our brain starts to change its wiring to help us become better at what we’re doing. This includes improved abilities in relevant motor functions (such as non-dominant hand keyboard playing, if you’re a pianist), as well as increasing grey matter. Simply put, the more you practice, the more you’ll witness positive development in cognitive function, which leads to stronger musical dexterity!
This fantastic news is backed by a study conducted at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, where researchers found that the areas of the brain responsible for improvisation were less active in experienced pianists. I know what you’re thinking—that surely doesn’t sound right? But it is! The brains of the more experienced pianists are thought to be working so efficiently that they’re almost on autopilot. They don’t actually need to use as much effort to improvise pieces because they’ve trained their brain over time in doing just that. I hate to say it, but your teacher really is right when they say “practice makes perfect!” It’s important to note that this is not just limited to music; improvisation is a facet of creativity which is required in all aspects of life—new ideas are needed for politics, education, healthcare. (So, get to practicing your instrument!)
When it comes to childhood development, research is now suggesting that musical training does wonders for children’s emotional and behavioral regulation, even going so far as to conclude that music education improves brain function far more than sports, theatre or dance. Even in subjects like mathematics, music training seems to be a catalyst in improved grades. And even more incredibly, this phenomenon seems to be indiscriminate in students from various socio-economic backgrounds, helping to bridge the achievement gap.
When we break it down, though, is it really that surprising? A key aspect of learning to play a musical instrument is having spatial-temporal reasoning—the ability to conceptualize something and manipulate it over time. The same skills that are required in music reading (the ability to anticipate and plan for quickly approaching notes, moving hand positions, etc.) are skills that are equally important in STEM subjects. And what about language? Learning a language requires a good working memory (something we’ve already established music helps with), as well as the ability to recognize sounds and make quick connections. It actually makes a lot of sense that music would help in these areas!
Learning to play an instrument will not only bring you happiness, introduce you to a community of like-minded people, and give you a glorious sense of achievement, but it will also lead to successes outside of your musical career and help rewire your brain to prepare you for all sorts of challenges both in and outside of the classroom. Those of us in the music industry have long since known of the valuable benefits of music education, but here we have it in writing and with evidence—music is good for you! So, next time you feel yourself blissfully lost in your music or completely consumed by your practice, remember: you’re actually improving your brain function and doing yourself all sorts of good. Go forth and let the music flow!