How music benefits the brain

How Playing An Instrument Benefits Your Brain

When you see musicians perform, they often look calm and are focused on precise playing. It is foreseeable to literally see their minds lighting up in what can only be described as fireworks as they play.  This display shows how playing an instrument benefits your brain.

For decades, neuroscientists have dedicated time to study the brain to understand how it works. Their study includes observing how the brain reacts to different activities. Through scanners such as fMRI and PET, scientists can monitor the brain in real-time.

From doing math equations, to reading a book, and even piano lessons; scientists can see which part of the brain becomes actively engaged. When scientists viewed brain activity for people who listened to music, they saw multiple parts of the brain light up as they processed sounds.  This applies to the young student or to the mature student.

How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain

Playing music has a greater effect than listening. It is like giving your brain a full-body workout. Many parts of the brain light up when you play an instrument because it involves different interrelated parts to process the information.

When musicians play, they engage the visual, auditory, and motor functions of the brain. These improved skills can be applied to other daily life activities. Playing an instrument also engages both sides of the brain. It increases the size and activity of the Corpus Callosum.

The Corpus Callosum is the bridge between the left and right hemispheres. This link ensures that both sides communicate quickly and effectively. It also inspires a diverse way of thinking, which is quite helpful when it comes to solving problems effectively.

A critical aspect of playing an instrument is that you have to understand the music's emotional content. This teaches musicians how to cultivate executive brain function, which involves inter-related thinking.

Inter-related thinking is also crucial for memory function. Studies have shown that musicians tend to assign different memories with certain “tags.”  These tags improve memory.

Unique Only To Music

These studies have made people question whether musical stimulation is similar to other activities such as painting, sports, and other art forms. Scientists have confirmed that the response they see from the brain can only be seen when they play an instrument. Therefore, consider picking up an instrument for the love of it and for improved brain function.

Best Piano Lessons near Me

What better way to engage your brain by taking piano lessons in San Jose with For the Love of Piano Studio. Consider attending a Free Introductory Session and play piano for the love of it, or to give your brain an opportunity to improve.

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