Music isn’t just an interest, it’s a way of life. Researchers say that even a small amount of music training when we are young can dramatically effect the way our brains develop. Music training can have many beneficial outcomes. Scientific American states that:

…researchers have found that musicians are better able to process foreign languages because of their ability to hear differences in pitch, and have incredible abilities to detect speech in noise.

So that is great for professionals with years of music training, but what about people with only a few years of band class?

The study of 45 adults with varying degrees of musical background revealed that

music training had a profound impact on the way the study subjects’ brains responded to sounds. The people who had studied music, even if only for a few years, had more robust neural processing of the different test sounds. Most importantly, though, the adults with music training were more effective at pulling out the fundamental frequency, or lowest frequency sound, of the test noises.

Music training has shown to be a powerful tool in helping people with many obstacles in life. Children that study music in school have stronger reading skills, increased math abilities, and higher general intelligence scores. Music  also improves sociability as people believe music helps them be better team players and have higher self-esteem.

Music can even awaken the brain into a more conscious, active state.  Watch the video below documenting a senile, dimensia-stricken man whose brain is awoken from a nearly unresponsive state into lucidity, all by listening to music.

Historically, music therapy has existed since the late 1700’s. Music has become exponentially more popular as a form of therapy, with over 5,500 certified music therapists around the world.

Intellectuals from every walk of life have expressed the joy and depth of music.  One of my favorite quotes:

“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” -Aldous Huxley

 

 

Sources:

Scientific American: Benefit of Music Training

Science Daily: Music and Reading Skills

University of Illinois: Music and Math Ability

Music’s effect on Intelligence

Music and Team Playing Improvement

Music and Self-esteem 

Old Man Returned to Life Through Music

History of Music Therapy

Music Therapist Certification Board