The Benefits of Playing an Instrument for Brain Development
Research has shown that playing a musical instrument can have a positive impact on cognitive, emotional, and social development (1). Let’s take a closer look at each of these areas and explore how playing an instrument can benefit your brain, and prove to others what we already know to be true!
If any of these topics interest you, we’ve referenced them at the end of this post!!
Cognitive Development
Playing a musical instrument involves the processing of different sensory inputs, including visual, auditory, and physical stimuli, by the brain. This processing mechanism effectively enhances brain function and improves cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. Extensive scientific research has consistently demonstrated that playing a musical instrument can yield notable enhancements in language processing, spatial-temporal skills, and executive functioning (2).
In an interesting study, they discovered something really cool: kids who played musical instruments actually had more of this stuff called white matter in their brains. White matter is like the wiring that connects different parts of our brains together. And get this—the specific area where they found more white matter was in the corpus callosum, which connects our brain’s left and right sides (3). So, playing a musical instrument seems to help these two sides of our brains talk to each other more effectively, which can boost how well our brains function and think.
Emotional Development
Have you ever been moved to tears by a piece of music? Or maybe there’s a song that instantly transports you back to a special memory? It’s incredible how music has this extraordinary power to touch us on such a deep emotional level. And guess what? Playing a musical instrument can have that same effect. It’s been scientifically proven that when we play music, it actually activates the brain’s reward system, giving us those warm and fuzzy feelings of pleasure and happiness. Plus, playing an instrument is a fantastic way to express our emotions and find solace when we’re dealing with stress or anxiety. It’s like our own personal therapy session with the power of music (4).
Here’s something we find fascinating: research has discovered that playing a musical instrument can actually boost our empathy and emotional intelligence. It turns out that musicians have a knack for recognizing and understanding emotions in others better than those who don’t play an instrument (5).
Social Development
Playing a musical instrument can do wonders for our social development too. When we play in a band or orchestra, we learn how to collaborate as a team and communicate effectively. These experiences help us develop essential social skills like cooperation, leadership, and effective communication. It’s like a social skills boot camp with the power of music (6).
Playing a musical instrument can give us a sense of belonging and connection to a larger community. It’s like we become part of something bigger than ourselves. And you know what? This connection can actually enhance our social support system and help us feel less lonely and isolated. It’s like having a musical family that understands and supports us (7).
In conclusion, playing a musical instrument is not just a fun hobby, but it also has many benefits for brain development. By improving cognitive, emotional, and social skills, playing a musical instrument can enhance overall well-being and improve quality of life.
So now you know the benefits of playing an instrument, not just as a hobby, but as a brain development tool. Sharing this with your community is a great way to encourage them to understand the benefits of playing an instrument!
References
Schlaug, G., Norton, A., Overy, K., & Winner, E. (2005). Effects of music training on the child’s brain and cognitive development. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1060(1), 219-230.
Bugos, J. A., Perlstein, W. M., McCrae, C. S., Brophy, T. S., & Bedenbaugh, P. H. (2007). Individualized piano instruction enhances executive functioning and working memory in older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 11(4), 464-471.
Steele, C. J., Bailey, J. A., Zatorre, R. J., & Penhune, V. B. (2013). Early musical training and white-matter plasticity in the corpus callosum: evidence for a sensitive period. Journal of Neuroscience, 33(3), 1282-1290.
Thoma, M. V., La Marca, R., Brönnimann, R., Finkel, L., Ehlert, U., & Nater, U. M. (2013). The effect of music on the human stress response. PLoS One, 8(8), e70156.
Bhatara, A., Quintin, E. M., Fombonne, E., & Levitin, D. J. (2009). Cognitive flexibility in autism spectrum disorders: hallmarks and neural mechanisms. European Journal of Neuroscience, 29(4), 697-704.
Schellenberg, E. G. (2011). Examining the association between music lessons and intelligence. British Journal of Psychology, 102(3), 283-302.
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