If you’ve ever tried to learn an instrument for the first time, you know how painfully frustrating it can be. Some people compare playing multiple musical instruments to being able to speak many languages in the sense that both abilities make an individual “smarter.” Though, is there any truth in that? Does the mental turmoil caused by learning musical instruments also come with benefits for your brain, and not just your ears? Well, researchers have found that learning to play a musical instrument can enhance memory, spatial reasoning, verbal and literacy skills. Exposure to music at a young age or learning an instrument benefits a child’s reading age, IQ and the development of certain parts of the brain. How tough? Learning instruments trains the mind to become alert, remain active and sharpen the memory.
Starting with IQ, an analysis by the College Board of 10 years of SAT data showed that students who took four years of arts courses in high school earned higher scores of both verbal and math SAT compared to those who did not take art courses. From these students, those who took music courses earned the highest math and second highest verbal SAT scores.
Additionally, learning musical instruments can in fact be connected to language learning as it seems that learning to play instruments at a young age helps to develop the cortical auditory process in the brain, making it easier to learn new languages. When learning an instrument, the brain learns to extract patterns like rhythm and harmony. This knowledge comes with the ability to store audio information and identify patterns within languages, resulting in having a better verbal memory of languages. It has been noted that musicians are able to pick out exactly what others are feeling just by the tone of their voices!
Not only is learning an instrument a full-body workout for the brain, but it can also make one feel happier and increase confidence. When playing music, happy hormones are released through the bloodstream that affects our heart rate, causing us to feel more relaxed. Also, even though challenges in learning may be infuriating at first, overcoming these challenges comes with a great sense of achievement and increase in confidence.
After all, everyones loves the feeling of being good at something they enjoy. So, whether it’s identifying patterns or increasing IQ, music can do many beneficial things to the mind. If you do play an instrument, think about how it’s impacted your life, or if not…would you consider learning one now?
THE NORTH STAR 