The chicken and working memory egg
Musicians have been found to have a higher capacity for something called speech-in-noise. This is the ability to hear and understand speech in a noisy environment. This is interesting to researchers because this ability is one of the most commonly reported effects of hearing loss and the one that often leads sufferers to withdraw from social situations as well as push them to get that hearing test they have been putting off.
This study found that “music training does not provide an advantage in adverse listening situations either in terms of improved speech understanding or reduced LE (listening effect)”. Instead, they found that the level of someone’s working memory provides more of an advantage to speech-in-noise perception.
Interestingly other studies have found that musically trained people also have high levels of working memory. In these studies, researchers have tried to determine if high levels of working memory were present prior to music learning (and therefore may have made music learning easier and more enjoyable and engaging) or if music learning actually improved working memory. It is one of the many chicken-and-egg dilemmas that exist in this field of research.
It is worth remembering that while we know a lot about the brain, there is far more we don’t know. Memory is one of the areas that we are only just scratching the surface, possibly because the creation, storage and retrieval of memory is both incredibly individual and based on a very intricate series of sensory and cognitive tags.
We will keep an eye on this field of research for you as it progresses.
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.
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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.