Being musical is part of our human design

Music LearningNeural Development
Written By Lea Faes

“In today’s world, filled with myriad parenting methods and high-tech toys that promise to enhance infant development, it is easy to overlook how fundamental the time-honoured practice of music is for all children—starting pre-birth. Music is crucial for babies in every developmental sense: with regards to communication and language; emotional and social well-being, and even motor skills. But, it is only relatively recently that science has begun to elaborate, in more detail, the true extent of its significance.”

Scroll down in this link to find a concise and well-referenced outline of the way young children’s brain use music to grow. There are also some great suggestions and tips from the author of The Music Miracle, Lisa Henriksson-Macaulay.

More to read
Music learning is the cheapest diagnostic tool you can find!
Fireworks, Reading, Music Learning
Music learning is the cheapest diagnostic tool you can find!
Fireworks, Reading, Music Learning

Music learning is the most effective way, both in terms of time and impact, to prime the brain for language learning.

Fireworks, Reading, Music Learning
7 Amazing Reasons to Introduce Music in Early Childhood Education
Advocacy, Video, Early Childhood
7 Amazing Reasons to Introduce Music in Early Childhood Education
Advocacy, Video, Early Childhood

If you are looking to develop your child’s emotional, social, motor and cognitive skills from early childhood, then try introducing music in early educational programs. Watch this video to learn more!

Advocacy, Video, Early Childhood
How do you tell the story of your work?
Advocacy, Fireworks
How do you tell the story of your work?
Advocacy, Fireworks

As humans, we are built on stories. The stories we were told, or told ourselves, when we were young, carry through to our adulthood. We share wisdom through stories, and we teach through stories. How do we as music teachers tell the story of our work?

Advocacy, Fireworks
How Music Primes the Brain for Learning
Advocacy, Cognitive Health, Neural Development, Executive Function, Language & Literacy
How Music Primes the Brain for Learning
Advocacy, Cognitive Health, Neural Development, Executive Function, Language & Literacy

This article delves into the transformative impact of music education, particularly for underserved students, and a strategic tool for addressing academic challenges, boosting attendance, language skills, and social integration.

Advocacy, Cognitive Health, Neural Development, Executive Function, Language & Literacy
Explaining music and the brain to young children
Video, Neural Development
Explaining music and the brain to young children
Video, Neural Development

You don’t have to be a musician to reap the benefits of music. Enjoying music activates a slew of brain regions, including areas involved in hearing, movement, reward, and emotion.

Video, Neural Development
Have the impacts of music learning been exaggerated?
Advocacy, Research Quick Reads
Have the impacts of music learning been exaggerated?
Advocacy, Research Quick Reads

The field of neuromusical research has reached a new stage – large data-driven studies that are seeking to understand the overall effect of music learning on cognitive development and academic achievement.

Advocacy, Research Quick Reads
2024 Celebrate to Advocate Calendar
Advocacy
2024 Celebrate to Advocate Calendar
Advocacy

The 2024 Celebrate to Advocate Calendar is your go-to guide for making advocacy effortless this year!

Advocacy
BBB Research Bites
Advocacy, Research Bites
BBB Research Bites
Advocacy, Research Bites

Research Bites make it effortless for your community to grasp the advantages of music education. They are the perfect addition to your emails, on your social media or in your e-newsletters!

Advocacy, Research Bites
Music Learning helps Language Learning
Advocacy, Research Quick Reads
Music Learning helps Language Learning
Advocacy, Research Quick Reads

Research Quick Reads aim to equip you with key insights to share the benefits of music education with your school leaders, staff, or parents. Consider these your secret weapon for initiating meaningful conversations on this topic.

Advocacy, Research Quick Reads
Artscars
Advocacy, Fireworks
Artscars
Advocacy, Fireworks

Social psychology author, Brene Brown, uses the term Art Scars, which are experiences people have had as children in the arts that are deeply affecting. Art Scars might just be the hidden influence impacting your music learning advocacy.

Advocacy, Fireworks
What happens to your brain when you sing?
Wellbeing & Therapy, Singing
What happens to your brain when you sing?
Wellbeing & Therapy, Singing

Professor Sarah Wilson explains how singing is a form of natural therapy in this video by ABC Classic. She highlights the effect that singing has on motor networks, listening networks, planning and organisational networks, memory, language, and emotional networks. Essentially, singing is a full workout for the brain!

Wellbeing & Therapy, Singing
Music as Pain Relief
Rehabilitation, Wellbeing & Therapy
Music as Pain Relief
Rehabilitation, Wellbeing & Therapy

Recent research suggests that music, especially preferred tunes, can serve as potent painkillers. A study conducted by Darius Valevicius from McGill University found that participants listening to their favourite tracks experienced significantly reduced pain intensity and unpleasantness compared to silence or scrambled sound.

Rehabilitation, Wellbeing & Therapy
The Key to Healthy Ageing
Memory, Ageing, Cognitive Health
The Key to Healthy Ageing
Memory, Ageing, Cognitive Health

New research suggests that playing instruments and singing may support brain health as we age. A study found that engaging in musical activities, especially playing keyboard instruments, correlates with improved memory and cognitive function later in life.

Memory, Ageing, Cognitive Health
Fireworks 007 - Why do people break up with music learning?
Music Learning, Fireworks
Fireworks 007 - Why do people break up with music learning?
Music Learning, Fireworks

Packed with BBB updates and our year in review, a new opinion piece written by Dr Anita Collins, a new community success story, and so much more. Fireworks will inspire and motivate you to advocate for music education.

Music Learning, Fireworks
The Cognitive Symphony of the Brisbane City Pops Orchestra
Memory, Executive Function, Ageing, Cognitive Health, Wellbeing & Therapy, Community
The Cognitive Symphony of the Brisbane City Pops Orchestra
Memory, Executive Function, Ageing, Cognitive Health, Wellbeing & Therapy, Community

This article dives into the history and enduring vitality of the Brisbane City Pops Orchestra who have recently celebrated their milestone 50th-anniversary performance. The orchestra boasts a diverse ensemble of musicians spanning generations, including members who have been involved since the beginning.

Memory, Executive Function, Ageing, Cognitive Health, Wellbeing & Therapy, Community
Playing a musical instrument or singing in a choir may boost your brain
Memory, Executive Function
Playing a musical instrument or singing in a choir may boost your brain
Memory, Executive Function

A recent study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that individuals with a history of musical experience, regardless of proficiency or instrument played, exhibited better memory and executive function.

Memory, Executive Function
New neuroscience research upends traditional theories of early language learning in babies
Auditory Processing, Early Childhood, Communication, Language & Literacy
New neuroscience research upends traditional theories of early language learning in babies
Auditory Processing, Early Childhood, Communication, Language & Literacy

New research challenges traditional theories of infant language acquisition, suggesting that babies primarily learn language through rhythmic rather than phonetic information in their initial months.

Auditory Processing, Early Childhood, Communication, Language & Literacy
Fireworks 006 - How do you tell the story of your work?
Music Learning, Fireworks
Fireworks 006 - How do you tell the story of your work?
Music Learning, Fireworks

Packed with BBB updates and our year in review, a new opinion piece written by Dr Anita Collins, a new research reflection, and so much more. Fireworks will inspire and motivate you to advocate for music education.

Music Learning, Fireworks
Music is the Jackpot!
Auditory Processing, Early Childhood, Communication, Language & Literacy, Reading
Music is the Jackpot!
Auditory Processing, Early Childhood, Communication, Language & Literacy, Reading

This video contains excerpts from an ARTSpeaks event held on November 8, 2021. In this video, neurobiologist Nina Kraus explores the impact that music learning has on young students in the areas of reading skills, sound processing, language abilities, and more.

Auditory Processing, Early Childhood, Communication, Language & Literacy, Reading
Lea Faes
Previous

Music synchronises our brain!
Next

Everything in moderation, including syncopation and harmony