Early this month classical radio station, KUSC, and the University of Southern California Brain and Creativity Institute co-sponsored a concert and panel discussion called “Music on the Brain."
While this whole summary is worth reading, I want to hold up the consistent findings of numerous studies that have shown that kids who study music outperform their peers in a variety of realms. Psychologist, Assal Habibi, reported on her eight-year longitudinal study featuring underprivileged youngsters enrolled in a rigorous music education program.
She reported that over time her team saw 'more active engagement in the frontal regions of the brain, which are responsible for decision-making, and more integration' between the two hemispheres of the brain. Here was proof, the researchers claimed, that music training made a real difference.
"Moderator Gail Eichenthal pointed out that there is a perplexing disconnect between these findings and the fact that music education continues to be either nonexistent or starved for funding in so many school districts." - Tom Jacobs
Article: At USC, Research Shows the Benefits of Music Extend From Childhood to Old Age
|
|
