Piano Guidance
Photo by cottonbro studio Pexels Logo Photo: cottonbro studio

Does music affect DNA?

They found that, in skilled participants, genes involved with several brain mechanisms such as dopamine, neural growth, and synapse formation, were expressed to a greater extent following music experience. While genes involved with neural death, and removing neurons and synapses, had reduced expression.

What feeling is G minor?
What feeling is G minor?

Its affect covers sadness, sometimes quiet and sedate joy, and a gentle grace with a slight touch of dreamy melancholy. Occasionally it rises to a...

Read More »
What is the easiest chord to learn?
What is the easiest chord to learn?

Em is the first beginning guitar chord you should learn. It's one of the most basic guitar chords not only because it's easy, but because it's used...

Read More »

You've likely experienced strong emotions while listening to music. Would it surprise you to know that, at the same time, something as fundamental as the expression of your genes was potentially being altered?

Chakravarthi Kanduri and his colleagues1 at the University of Helsinki found evidence for such deep effects. They collected blood samples before and after participants of varying aptitude listened to Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major. These samples were compared with some taken before and after the same period of time conversing or walking. They found that, in skilled participants, genes involved with several brain mechanisms such as dopamine, neural growth, and synapse formation, were expressed to a greater extent following music experience. While genes involved with neural death, and removing neurons and synapses, had reduced expression. Kanduri and his colleagues collected their blood samples in the periphery. So, it only indirectly identifies brain effects. Dopamine for example, though known to affect motivation within the brain, also regulates heart and kidney function outside the brain. However, many of the identified genes strongly associate with brain mechanisms, such as neuron growth. If these mechanisms are active within the brain, then music might be facilitating learning in those participants. Growth of new neurons and synapses is known to underlie the formation of memories2. In support of this possibility, a study in 20133 showed that administering a pill, with similar genetic effects as exhibited by music in this study, dramatically improved ability to learn pitch identification. How perceiving music leads to changes in gene expression remains to be explored. In this respect, it is especially impressive that gene changes were identified in peripheral blood, a ways away from the music perceiving brain. Likewise, why skilled and trained participants showed dramatically more gene changes than novice participants requires further research. Exploring how such experiences factor in gene expression promises to inform and deepen our conception of music as well as biology. 1. The effect of listening to music on the human transciptome. Kanduri C., ea. 2015. Peer J. 2. LTP Wikipedia 3. Valproate reopens critical-period learning of absolute pitch. Gervain J., ea., 2013. Front. Syst. Neurosci.

Is piano music good for your brain?
Is piano music good for your brain?

Playing the piano changes the brain in a positive way! Studies show that music stimulates the brain in a way no other activity does. While playing...

Read More »
What is the original Colour of human teeth?
What is the original Colour of human teeth?

Enamel is on the surface of every tooth and it has a natural hue of white. However, the underlying dentin layer has a slightly yellowish color....

Read More »
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Is playing by ear genetic?

Yes, it is true that, in order to play by ear, your brain has to be capable of discriminating certain features from the music you hear. And it is true that parts of the neurobiological circuits that do so are genetically influenced.

(NOTE: This quiz is for both clawhammer and fingerstyle banjo players)

Learning how to play music by ear is perhaps the single best way to accelerate your progression down the timeline of musical mastery. Yet, it’s also a subject clouded by a misleading body of mythology that leads many to believe that it’s just one of those things you are or not born to do. You either have the gift or you don’t.

Which is absolutely, totally, 100 percent…WRONG!

Yes, it is true that, in order to play by ear, your brain has to be capable of discriminating certain features from the music you hear. And it is true that parts of the neurobiological circuits that do so are genetically influenced. But, what’s also true is that the majority of human brains are very good at pitch discrimination, and only small fraction of the population has a genetic condition that makes doing so difficult. More than likely, then, you already possess all the neural machinery required to play by ear! If you want to find out for sure, just click below to start the quiz:

Can EVH read music?
Can EVH read music?

Eddie Van Halen Known by his last name, Eddie Van Halen is a glam-rock legend, but, surprisingly, he could not read music notation. Nov 15, 2022

Read More »
Is blues scale major or minor?
Is blues scale major or minor?

The hexatonic, or six-note, blues scale consists of the minor pentatonic scale plus the ♭5th degree of the original heptatonic scale. This added...

Read More »
What to do after scripting?
What to do after scripting?

15 Steps To Take After You Finish Your Script Proofread your script. ... Get it out for feedback from people you trust. ... Rewrite the script...

Read More »
Which keys are the loudest?
Which keys are the loudest?

Compare the Loudest Mechanical Keyboards Keyboard No. of keys Typing Loudness Glorious Modular Tenkeyless 87 keys 9/10 Durgod Taurus K320 87 keys...

Read More »