The musician is constantly adjusting decisions on tempo, tone, style, rhythm, phrasing, and feeling – training the brain to become incredibly good at organizing and conducting numerous activities at once. Dedicated practice of this multi-tasking art form can have a great payoff for lifelong attention skills, intelligence, and an ability for self-knowledge and expression.
In addition to these concrete benefits, it has been shown that secondary students who participated in band or orchestra reported the lowest lifetime and current use of all substances (alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs). Wow. You can learn more about the value of the arts for our children by visiting the Arizona Commission on the Arts website.
Here are some other articles and sources showing music’s powerful effects on everyone, from the aging to those with disabilities.
Aging…
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/04/22/childhood-music-lessons-aging-brain-tune/
Autism…
http://portchester.patch.com/articles/symposium-explores-effect-of-music-therapy-on-autism
Downs Syndrome…
http://www.down-syndrome.org/research-highlights/2120/
Academics of Children…
NAMM study on Academic Performance
In retirement…
http://www.musicafter50.com/health-benefits-of-playing-music-after-50/
