Researchers suggest that the secret to unlocking the benefits of music is found in the brain’s handling of sound, the fundamental element of music, speech, and, surprisingly, reading.
The noises we perceive enter our auditory system through a sophisticated ‘auditory pathway.’ This pathway is strongly linked with brain regions responsible for our movement, cognitive processes, language, knowledge, and focus.
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Monday, July 10th
In her book ‘Of Sound Mind,’ Nina Kraus explores the deep connection between sound and the brain, emphasizing the role of sound processing in many of the brain’s functions. She advocates for a holistic understanding of the biological impacts of our sonic lives, highlighting how sounds affect us profoundly.
Kraus’s enthusiasm for her subject resonates throughout the book as she continually uncovers new findings about auditory processing, the brain, and our lives in sound. She argues that our listening habits significantly influence our minds, and emphasizes that our brains are always actively listening, even when we might not consciously think about the sounds around us.
The instrument played—a flute, violin, accordion, piano, or even the human voice—doesn’t make a difference. Being exposed to a lot of music can have an effect. As Kraus highlights, the critical factor is that interacting with sound alters and enhances the brain’s reaction to it.
More recent research also indicates that a child’s ability to maintain a steady beat and predict the next one is a strong sign they’re ready to learn reading.
For instance, in her book “The Music Advantage,” educational researcher Anita Collins explains that reading music engages the same “phonological loop” in the brain as reading words, strengthening the connection between sounds and words.
This process involves visual recognition of symbols, recalling sound from memory, physically producing the sound, and auditory verification. The processing of sound bolsters the same brain regions responsible for learning languages and reading.
Hence, we could conclude that music and reading complement each other as learning activities, with music potentially a powerful tool for enhancing language learning.
Scientists are still unraveling why music education is so advantageous for students. Still, they have enough evidence to assert that merely listening to music or composing a song for a school project is just the tip of the iceberg.
For optimal brain benefits, students should actively participate in music by learning an instrument or taking voice lessons, ideally in a group context. The data is compelling enough to endorse music education as a standalone class for all children and all grades, viewing it as a crucial investment.
This article based on “How Music Primes the Brain for Learning” published on edutopia.org
