Why Making Music is Good for Your Brain

Many people love creating and listening to music but are not fully aware of all the associated health benefits of making music…from improving emotional stability to diminishing the effects of brain aging.

Here are some reasons you should dust off your old instrument or start playing a new one.

Magnifies memory

People with musical training are better at verbal memory. A study from Germany recently found that second-graders who spent 45 minutes weekly learning a music instrument recalled more words recited to them than kids with no musicial training.

Improves motor skills 

Playing an instrument well requires great hand-eye-ear coordination, and can often translate o other areas of life as well.  Researchers in Canada found that adult musicians who started playing before age 7 had better timing on non-music related motor-skills than those who started taking music lessons later in life.

Improves mental health

As you may have experienced yourself, music can also be great for relieving stress.  In addition, studies show that people who play music instruments (such as those playing the keyboards and saxophone) are more focused and less prone to aggression than non-musicians. Creating music seems to prime brains for better concentration and emotional control.  In on e study, researches examined brain scans of kids ages 6 to 18. Those who played an instrument had a thicker brain cortex in regions that regulate emotions as well as the capacity to pay attention.

Click here for additional reasons why making music is good for your brain.