Learning an instrument will improve your brains performance in almost all other activities. Amazing, right? Well, what even more amazing is this: playing a musical instrument is the only activity that neuroscientists have studied (including playing sports, reading and painting) that has this effect.

What Makes Learning an Instrument so Special?

Solving a mathematical equation, driving, reading, and drawing all engage separate and distinct areas of the brain. In contrast, playing a musical instrument engages just about every area of the brain, including the visual, motor, and auditory cortexes. It’s the brains equivalent of a full body workout.

Benefits of Learning and Instrument

This ‘full brain workout’ has a host of astonishing impacts on our day-to-day lives. Let’s look at a few more closely.

Problem Solving

Because learning an instrument engages so many areas of the brain from both the left and right hemispheres, it helps to expand and strengthen the corpus callosum, or the bridge between the two hemispheres. This causes messages to travel across the brain quicker and through more divers routes, allowing musicians to solve problems more effectively in both academic and social situations.

Memory

Studies suggest playing an instrument can enhance memory function. Musicians are known to categorise memories with multiple ‘tags’, such as context, emotion and time. Non-musicians may be more prone to use just one tag, making retrieving the memory a slower process.

All-round Improvements

Studying mathematics will improve your skills in logic. Studying painting will improve your creative capabilities. Playing music, on the other hand, will improve both your logical and creative capacity, making you a well-rounded individual.

Start Learning an Instrument Today

Keen to start experiencing the many benefits of learning an instrument? Good news – long-term improvements in brain function caused by learning an instrument are apparent in musicians who have been playing for two years or twenty. So start today and give us a call on 02 9602 9774, or fill out the form at the top right of this page.

Source: TED-Ed