Researchers in the fairly new field of music neuroscience are finding that kids who learn to play a musical instrument also develop important skills related to literacy, math and mental focus.
Scooped by Beth Dichter |
Does learning to play an instrument impact other abilities of students? Based on recent research the answer would be yes. What abilities? "Speech perception, the ability to understand emotions in the voice and the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously." We might speak of these as executive functioning skills. One quote from the post:
“There are a lot of different brain systems involved in successfully playing even a small musical piece: your auditory system, your motor system, your emotional system, your executive function system; this playing together of these brain regions, almost like in a musical ensemble.”
Learn more about how playing an instrument may impact the brain as well how music may change brain plasticity (using the acronym OPERA to describe it) and how literacy might be tested through music.
If your school has a music program this post will provide evidence to support the continued funding of the program, and if your school is considering adding music instruction it would also provide support.
The impact of music and cognitive ability