Producing the “ideal” student through music
“Stay on task, remember what you are doing and think creatively” says every teacher in some way to their students throughout the school test. While we might know what these learning behaviours look like from the outside, do we really know what is going on inside the students brains? And how on earth can learning music help?
In this study the authors summarise how music learning has been found to improve three areas of executive function (that group of functions that helps us act independently and we spend much of our childhood and a fair bit of our adult lives trying to improve): inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility.
Inhibition control is the ability to remain on task even when you are bored, frustrated or distracted (Something every 10 year old finds supremely difficult). Working memory is the type of memory (and there are many types) that is the temporary holding area for information. Think of it as we think about the things we need to do in a day as an adult, we pop out tasks and appointments into a temporary file in our head and then empty it at the end of the day. This is why when someone says “what did you do yesterday” you might draw a blank. For children this temporary holding space is very small and leaks like a sieve. Tell a toddler to complete two related tasks and they can be fine, ask them to do three and you might as well ask them to solve cold fusion.
Cognitive flexibility is the ability to switch between thinking about two seperate concepts and/or think about multiple concepts at once and create connections between them all. In a classroom, or even an office, you might hear someone say “think creatively about the problem” or “think outside the box”. This is a highly sought after trait as an adult in many professions, but sometimes seems like an illusive concept to teach in children. It tends to be children have it or they don’t and we don’t know exactly why.
It is likely that mastering such skills can lead to improvements in nonmusical cognitive domains.
In many school reports we might read that “Sophie needs to work on not getting distracted” or “Ben could be more creative with his writing or problem solving”. These three skills/attitudes are often seen as being present in a Western schooling system’s version of the “ideal” student.
How then does music learning help train, develop or enhance these skills? This study gives a brilliant practical example of just how this might happen through the experience of music learning.
“Playing a musical instrument requires musicians to continuously switch between reading notes and translating them into meaningful sounds by monitoring and adjusting fine finger movements. Furthermore, when playing in a group, musicians have to attend to new and competing streams of auditory information from other performers as well as their own playing. It is likely that mastering such skills can lead to improvements in nonmusical cognitive domains. Indeed, several studies have shown that individuals with music training outperform their musically untrained peers in tasks assessing executive function, including auditory working memory.”
Wrapped up in the experience of learning music are so many skills and attitudes that students can take into their adult life that will serve them well. How are you guiding them towards those executive function skills today?
Music learning is the most effective way, both in terms of time and impact, to prime the brain for language learning.
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!
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?
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.
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.
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.
The 2024 Celebrate to Advocate Calendar is your go-to guide for making advocacy effortless this year!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.