The National Academy of Music has a great summary of studies that prove the benefits of Music Education called
Research Briefs National Academy of Music Foundation.
Clicking on it will open a new page with great information.
(NaturalNews) Northwestern University scientists have pulled together a review of research into what music -- specifically, learning to play music -- does to humans. The result shows music training does far more than allow us to entertain ourselves and others by playing an instrument or singing. Instead, it actually changes our brains.
Musicians synch their brains when playing forming a giant brain!
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3050215/guitarists-can-sync-their-brains-with-other-players-forming-a-giant-hyperbrain
Ted Talks Video:
The effect of music study on the brain.
Music Study Actually Changes the Brain, increasing intelligence, focus, accuracy, memory, and creativity. This is a scholarly study.
Music Study Change Brain
EXCITING NEW RESEARCH: The Role of Sleep in Music Education.
The latest article on How Musicians Learn, How the brain works and the role of sleep. It applies to all learning.
http://www.westboroughsession.com/music%20pdfs/16-Apr09/PracticingandCurrentBrainResearchbyGebrian.pdf
Here is a summary of the research written in simpler language. It applies to other academic subjects.
How We Learn to Play a Music Instrument. The role of practice, the brain and sleep.
Basically, when you learn something, your "thinking part" of the brain has to send a message to your motor complex part of the brain that controls movement. It then sends a signal to move a finger for example through nerves. It involves both electrical and slow chemical messages.
Then the movement occurs.
Perfect Practice: It has been said that practice makes perfect. This is not true, only Perfect Practice makes perfect.
Over time your hand will learn how to play your music. It's called Muscle Memory. You must Practice the Movement Perfectly.
If you try to practice faster than what you can play perfectly, you will practice mistakes and the brain will will not develop clean, fast, beautiful technique.
Then during REM sleep you brain reviews what it has learned and engages in problem solving.
The new reserach shows that during the first deep sleep cycle following REM, the brain builds the circuits, data structures, even grows new neurons, for the movement and concept. Litterally, it increases the IQ of the student.
The Sleep Cycle is essential for all learning.
Knowledge of this helps create efficient practice routines and efficient learning.
This will help you in school.
This is similar to studying in school. Regular study to prepare for a test or learning a subject should allow the sleep cycle to allow the brain to do it's job to learn.
Students that cram for tests do not give the brain or sleep a chance to do the role.
PBS Video: How Music Study Grows the Brain
New Update: While it's been well established that music study increases intelligence and academic performance. A recent video examines the effect of studying string music on the parts of the brain. A recent video is available outlining the amazing changes to Einstein's brain as well as other scientists from studying music. You can watch this video for free at PBS. Einstein's brain is different and music transformed his mind.
Watch the PBS Video on Intelligence.
Some studies:
In the Journal of Neuroscience, in the Article Brain Structures Differ between Musicians and Non-Musicians found significant differences in the brains of musicians. These differences related to better academic performance and actual intelligence.
http://www.jneurosci.org/content/23/27/9240.full
In Natural News Friday, July 30, 2010 published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, reviewed scholarly research. The bottom line to all these studies: musical training has a profound impact on other skills including speech and language, memory and attention, and even the ability to convey emotions vocally.
Improved Academic Performance:
Source: University of Sarasota Study
Middle school and high school students who participated in instrumental music scored higher in standardized tests. They found significant correlations between students with serious music instruction and academic achievement
Source: Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, The College Board.
High school music students score higher on SATs in both verbal and math than their peers. This compared music students to students that had not been trained in music.
