Photo: Sound On

Is listening to music left or right brain?

The right brain, often considered the more subjective and creative hemisphere, focuses on the melody in music. The left hemisphere, considered the analytical part of the brain, is responsible for the understanding of musical structure and motor skills, such as playing the violin (Yoon).

funmusicco.com - How Does Music Stimulate Left and Right Brain Function? Why is this ...

How much is Yousician free?

Yousician is free to play forever, but it'll only give you feedback for about 20 minutes daily, or one lesson as they call it, on the free tier. A...

Last updated Apr 18, 2020

Can a 30 year old piano be tuned?

Yes, any piano can be tuned after years of no use, as long as it is working condition. Keep in mind, however, that a severely out-of-tune piano...

Last updated Jun 14, 2020

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Promotion

Music research indicates that music education not only has the benefits of self-expression and enjoyment, but is linked to improved cognitive function (Schellenberg), increased language development from an early age (Legg), and positive social interaction (Netherwood). Music listening and performance impacts the brain as a whole, stimulating both halves – the analytical brain and the subjective-artistic brain, affecting a child’s overall cognitive development and possibly increasing a child’s overall intellectual capacity more than any other activity affecting the brain’s bilaterism (Yoon).

How does music stimulate the right and left hemispheres?

We often hear about an analytical person, like an accountant, being left-brained while a more “free spirit”, like an artist or poet, is considered “right-brained”. Yet music research indicates that the average professional musician or composer, despite incorrect personality stereotypes, encompasses both the analytical traits of the left brain and the more creative aspects of the right brain. The right hemisphere engages in synthesizing several different parts to create a cohesive whole when processing new information (Williams). Almost nonlinear in processing information, the right brain is adept at visual imagery. The left hemisphere, sequential and linear in its data processing, moves step by step when processing new information (Williams). Just like any part of the body, any activity that stimulates the brain helps increase its overall functionality. While most activities like visual art, computing, and language largely work in only one hemisphere, music is one of the few activities that stimulates both sides of the brain. The right brain, often considered the more subjective and creative hemisphere, focuses on the melody in music. The left hemisphere, considered the analytical part of the brain, is responsible for the understanding of musical structure and motor skills, such as playing the violin (Yoon). Rhythmic structures uniquely affect the brain extensively, such as supplementary motor areas and the basal ganglia, especially when compared to musical styles lacking a steady beat pattern (Phillips-Silver). Nonmusical activities, such as walking or martial arts, also aid the brain bilaterally when combined with a steady rhythm (Manjul).

Music Listening vs. Music Performance/Activity

Music research indicates that both music listening and music performance have significant benefits. Several years ago popular culture was abuzz with the Mozart Effect, the incorrect notion that simply listening to Mozart for several minutes a day increased a child’s IQ on a permanent basis. While subsequent music research indicates Mozart Effect does not exist, there have been several studies that indicate the listening to music does have significant physiological benefits.

The act of listening to music has several noted benefits (Yoon):

Stress relief and emotional release

How do you tell if a key is a master?

Any key that operates two or more unique locks can be called a master key. A master key will look like any other key within a master key system. It...

Last updated Oct 15, 2020

What instrument has only 2 strings?

The erhu The erhu has only two strings while violin has four.

Last updated Dec 2, 2018

Promotion

Increased creativity and abstract thinking

Positive influences on the bodies overall energy levels and heart rhythm

Music research on music education suggests that musical activities like dancing, playing an instrument, and singing demonstrate long term benefits in memory, language development, concentration, and physical agility. (Netherwood, Schellenberg). Added memory and language skills help the average musician gain a better understanding of human language than those who do not engage in musical activities. (Moreno) Long term cognitive and language skills increased for student musicians who maintained long term commitments to music by studying an instrument or engaging in vocal performance.

Key Points

Music research shows that music education benefits students notably by its positive effects on the brain’s functions.

Some key points to remember:

Music research indicates the music education benefits students by increasing self-expression, cognitive abilities, language development, and agility. Music is unique in its ability to affect more than a single brain hemisphere, incorporating both the right and left sides of the brain. While music listening has marked benefits regarding physiological effects of stress, playing an instrument or taking vocal lessons offers a marked increase in the benefits of music education, especially in regards to memory, language, and cognitive development. Please feel free to share your thoughts on the benefits of music education in the comments section below. Networking is a great way to be informed of the research so that we can educate students and schools about the great benefits of learning music.We’d love to hear from you!! Legg, R. (2009). Using music to accelerate language learning: an experimental study. Research in Education, (82), 1-12. Retrieved from the Professional Development Collection database. Schellenberg, E. (2005). Music and Cognitive Abilities. Current Directions in Psychological Science (Wiley-Blackwell). 317-320.

Vitale, J.L. (2011). Music Makes You Smarter: A New Paradigm for Music Education?

Perceptions and Perspectives from Four Groups of Elementary Education Stakeholders. Canadian Journal of Education, 34(3), 317-343.

Netherwood, C. (2007). Music to your ears. Autralian Parents, 64.

Yoon, J. (2000, January 1). Music in the Classroom: Its Influence on Children’s Brain Development, Academic Performance, and Practical Life Skills. Phillips-Silver, Jessica. (2009, June). On the Meaning of Movement in Music, Development, and the Brain. Contemporary Music Review. Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 293-314. Williams, Linda. Teaching for the two-sided mind: a guide to right brain/left brain education. Simon & Schuster. 1986.

Bajaj, Manjul. Personal Growth – Cross train your brain. Lifepositive.com. http://www.lifepositive.com/Mind/Personal_Growth/Cross_train_your_brain12003.asp.

Moreno. S. (2009). Can Music Influence Language and Cognition?. Contemporary Music Review, 28 (3), 329.

funmusicco.com - How Does Music Stimulate Left and Right Brain Function? Why is this ...

What can I do with old piano keys?

Piano keys in particular are an especially popular, highly recognizable elements that work well as ornaments, miniature art pieces and even house...

Last updated Jun 11, 2018

What is the longest album title ever?

Its full title contains 156 words (865 characters), and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest album title, beating Soulwax's Most of the...

Last updated May 9, 2018

Promotion

Is Kawai a good piano?

Kawai doesn't make as many pianos as Yamaha, but you will still find Kawai products in many places. As far as quality is concerned most would agree...

Last updated Mar 13, 2021

Promotion

How do I know if I am singing in key?

How to tell if you're singing in tune: using free websites + apps to improve your pitch accuracy Use a virtual keyboard and chromatic tuner to...

Last updated Oct 23, 2022