Music Molds the Mind, Experts Say

Instrument lessons accelerate brain’s development. Experts on music and learning say playing an instrument can be more than just fun, it might also be the key to unlocking a child’s mental and social potential.

Numerous studies have concluded that playing the piano improves hand-eye coordination; helps children grasp mathematical concepts like fractions more easily; improves a student’s ability to understand how items fit into a space and also boosts a youngster’s self-esteem.

User's Guide to the Brain

“The musician is constantly adjusting decisions on tempo, tone, style, rhythm, phrasing and feeling — training the brain to become incredibly good at organizing and conducting numerous activities at once,” noted Dr. John J. Ratey, in his book “A User’s Guide to the Brain.” Research indicates regular musical study helps both children and adults think more efficiently and grasp the meaning of information more quickly than they would if they did not study music.In the coming weeks, we will highlight how the magic of music education opens the hearts and minds of young people to various aspects of their own genius and to the world around them. “Dedicated practice of this orchestration can have a great payoff for lifelong attentional skills, intelligence, and an ability for self-knowledge and expression.”