When I was younger my parents were very adamant about me playing an instrument and having a close connection with music in general. I never understood why my parents were forcing me to do something that I wasn’t passionate about but they had alternate intentions. My mom said, “Music is like learning a whole new language”. She said it opened doors and it could help me to look at music in a more educated and special way.
So, I guess my parents were right. =[
According to this study, research has proved connections between music and intelligence. The study had students take a test. After taking the test, different groups of students listened to different kinds of music or no music at all. The group that listened to Mozart got higher scores after retaking the test than the other groups who listened to different music or no music at all. This proved how much of an impact music, and especially classical music, had on the students’ academic performance. The research stated,” there is wealth of research activity focused on a better understanding of the musical mind. We are optimistic that the years ahead will yield many exciting findings about the important cognitive, social, and emotional roles of music in human life.”
Does playing an instrument rather than listening to music have a larger effect on a student’s academic performance?
The same study tested piano instruction and its connection with education and intelligence. It was proved that one of the positives of piano instruction was enhanced abstract reasoning skills that are imperative for learning math and science. A study was done with three groups of children: One group received piano lessons, another computer training and the last one received no instruction at all. The children that received the piano lessons scored much higher than the other groups of kids. The category that they scored the highest in was spatial reasoning. Spatial reasoning requires higher brain function that is used to solve complex science and math problems. “Thus, the findings pointed to a direct link between music instruction and math and science aptitude.”
Another research done stated that, “musical experiences alter the brain’s makeup, both in terms of morphology (brain structures) and in terms of information processing.” This study specifically looked at the brain and how the brain of a trained musician and an untrained musician were different. The study showed that the brain research that they found indicated that people who had experience with music instruction had different brain processing then people who didn’t. Musicians’ brains were organized and operated in a different way. Trained musicians excelled more in linguistic, mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic and intrapersonal intelligence.
In conclusion parents are always right. Learning an instrument or being exposed to classical music really opens the brain up to more knowledge and experience. Music can increase someone’s knowledge in many different subjects that one can say it’s detrimental to NOT take up an instrument. It is never to late to start playing, here are some places that can help you get started!
MORE FUN FACTS ON WHY PLAYING THE PIANO MAKES YOU HEALTHIER AND SMARTER!
Picture 2: https://curiosity.com/memes/can-music-make-you-smarter/#meme-vsauce-special-can-music-make-you-smarter-james-mays-q-a-ep-22-head-squeeze-head-squeeze
I found this topic to be really interesting! I always wondered how much of an effect music had on our brains. I think a common assumption is that it is good to play classical music for a baby in the womb or a newborn, but when I searched online they say it is in fact not certain if it helps, because it is hard for researchers to see how it effects the baby. The babies do tend to move and respond to the music though. Here is the link with more info 🙂 http://www.babycenter.com/0_music-and-your-unborn-child_6547.bc
thanks eliana!!
I find this so interesting because my mom use to always make me try and play the piano and when I did, she would take me to private lessons and even encourage me by playing herself! Playing an instrument shows such responsibility trying to keep up with it and dedicating your time to get better. I never saw this correlation but what it takes to play an instrument is exactly what you need to succeed academically.
Here is a real story that proves music goes hand-in-hand with academics.