Brain scans show that the brains of adult musicians are larger than those of non-musicians.
Research now shows that learning to play the piano actually causes parts of the brain to increase in size.
Kudos to all you parents who are helping your children learn to play! You’re making a real difference in your child’s development.
Read a Summary of the Research
Brain scans reveal clear differences: certain parts of the brain are larger in adult musicians as compared with nonmusicians. So are special brainy people genetically predisposed to music or is the process of learning an instrument responsible for the larger size? Researcher Gottfried Schlog and his colleagues developed experiments to investigate.
Schlog’s study demonstrates that learning to play an instrument does in fact cause structural changes in the brains of children, and that the amount of time spent practicing is important. Test children received lessons on piano or a string instrument for two years.
Brain scans performed at the beginning of the study revealed no significant differences between children in the test and control groups. Brain scans performed at the end of two years showed significantly increased size among children who were high practicers.
Parents Can Make a Difference
These results provide great news for parents! While nature helps determine your child’s potential, there are measures you can take to enrich your child’s developing mind, such as providing your child with piano instruction.
The other good news is that obtaining these positive effects is within your reach. High practicers were children who practiced 2-5 hours a week–this is doable!
How Can I Help You?
As a caring parent, you want to help your child’s developing mind and know that music can play a crucial role. What do you struggle with as you try to incorporate music into your child’s life? How can I help you? What resources would you like to see?
Send me an email or leave a comment below.
Read the actual research publication: http://www.musicianbrain.com/papers/Schlaug_CorpusCallosum_Children_Music_nyas_04842.pdf
Graphic used with permission from mycutegraphics.com.
How true, Kristin!
I wish such research would start to filter down to the general public. Music teachers have always known of the benefits of learning to play an instrument (although maybe not an enlarged brain!).
As well as intellect, piano students benefit from coordination, enhanced memory as well as cooperation with other musicians and the resulting social skills.
I wish my previous HeadTeachers could have realised how important music is to the curriculum. Unfortunately, they didn’t play an instrument so suffered from a smaller brain!
Enjoying the Zuper Ears and Impresto Piano Basics material, by the way – testing them out on my students this week :-)
Alan
I agree, Alan, that this info is not as widely known as it ought to be. I myself had always believed in the positive impacts of musical training, but was tremendously impressed when I learned that the difference can actually be seen in brain scans. That’s incredible! And you’re right about the other benefits of coordination, memory, and cooperation. Glad to hear that you’re enjoying Zuper Ears and Impresto Piano Basics. Keep up your great work!