The Brain- Body Connection
Why Musicians Have Healthier Brains
By Deane Alban
If you are looking for evidence on how music affects the brain, you may want to considering studying the brains of those who play a lot of music — professional musicians. Brain scans show that their brains are different than those of non-musicians. How?
Musicians have bigger, better connected, more sensitive brains. (3)
Musicians have superior working memory, auditory skills, and cognitive flexibility. (4, 5) Their brains are noticeably more symmetrical and they respond more symmetrically when listening to music. (6)
Areas of the brain responsible for motor control, auditory processing, and spatial coordination are larger. (7)
Musicians also have a larger corpus callosum. (8) This is the band of nerve fibers that transfers information between the two hemispheres of the brain.
This increase in size indicates that the two sides of musicians’ brain are better at communicating with each other.
While most of us aren’t professional musicians, we still listen to a lot of music — on average of 32 hours per week. (9)
This is enough time for music to have an effect on the brains of non-musicians as well.
Ways Music Makes You a Better Person
Music has the power to bring forth our better nature. Some rather interesting studies have been done on what researchers refer to as prosocial behaviors.
These are voluntary behaviors intended to benefit others such as empathy, kindness, generosity, helpfulness and cooperation. Listening to music makes people more inclined to spend time and energy helping others. (28)
This is especially pronounced when music is appreciated in a group such as when dancing, playing music with others, or attending a concert. This prosocial effect of music has been observed in both adults and children. (29, 30)
Music has been found to make children as young as 14 months more helpful. (31, 32) The most effective music of all are songs with lyrics advocating kindness and helpfulness.
A classic example of a prosocial song is We Are the World which has been performed for many humanitarian purposes. Listening to positive lyrics can affect how kind and generous you will be and even how you’ll spend your money. (33, 34) An interesting example, restaurant customers leave bigger tips when music with positive messages is played during their meal. (35)
Prosocial lyrics can even encourage coffee shop customers to buy fair trade coffee! (36) Positive song lyrics help make people less prejudiced and fearful of those different than them. (37, 38)
Imagine the implications for 21st Century classrooms?
Social Emotional Learning Links to MySchoolROCKS
Linking the ability to regulate emotions (SEL) with success at school:
- The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) cites that " Recent research shows that lacking emotional self-regulation in childhood can predict a wide range of consequential life outcomes..."
- "It has long been recognized by teachers that students who can pay attention, persevere with tasks, solve problems, and work well with others generally do better in school than those whose abilities are compromised by stress, anxiety, depression, or anger..."
Learning to play a musical instrument is all about perseverance and resilience!
Canadian researchers lead the way in understanding how music affects the brain:
- Influenced by the work of Canadian scientists, Dr. Daniel J. Levitin' best seller This is Your Brain on Music, explores how music connects with and deepens neurological pathways in the brain
- CBC Music and MusiCounts observe that learning music helps children with "verbal memory and accelerates the ability to process sound..."
- Work at Polyclinique de l’Oreille reveals that "musical pieces have an expressive structure that is strong enough to inflict emotional states. Music can also reduce anxiety and stress and improve mood."
(Graphic created by Pascale Héon, Audiologist,
MySchoolROCKS and Ministry Wellness Education
In 2016, Ontario's Ministry of Education released Well-Being in Our Schools, Strength in Our Society. The engagement paper states that "...we must heighten our focus on well-being as a crucial prerequisite for long-term success...that the well-being of our children is our priority as a society."
CONTACT MySchoolROCKS and discover how to engage with your students in new and creative ways!
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Testimonials
Allan Drive Middle School - Bolton, ON
"Allan Drive greatly appreciates the efforts put forward by MySchoolROCKS.ca during their ROCKOutBullying event at our school. The students enthusiastically received the messages aimed at combating and eliminating bullying in our school. The kids and staff had a great time jamming with the band and we truly appreciated the opportunity to get our principal up to ‘slap a little bass’. All the best for your future efforts!”
Blessed John XXIII Elementary School - Mississauga, ON
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Sts. Peter and Paul - Mississauga, ON
Thanks for the amazing presentation at P&P! Looking forward to working with you and our students in the New Year! Diego is still on a high from being able to share his drumming skills with the school!