How Playing an Instrument Benefits your Brain

If you find it interesting to learn about how playing an instrument benefits your brain, this is a great 4 minute video that is well worth your time.

(This picture does not have the link – the link is at the bottom of the article.)

What I like even more is it’s perfect to show your students if you want to change up band class a bit (maybe on the day after a concert or during an extended final exam period). It might be especially effective if you show it during the time students are filling out schedule cards for the next year.

The kids will definitely understand it – it’s an animated video that starts like this, “Did you know that every time musicians pick up their instruments there are fireworks going off all over their brain? On the outside they may look calm and focused, reading the music and making the precise and practiced movements required, but inside their brain, there’s a party going on.”

This would also be a great video to show your band parents as a preview before an open house, parent meeting or concert. It could also be effective for recruiting if you have a parent information meeting for incoming students where you have time to show it.

Here’s the intro from the website and a link to the Ted-Ed talk:
When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout. What’s going on? Anita Collins explains the fireworks that go off in musicians’ brains when they play, and examines some of the long-term positive effects of this mental workout.

Click here for the video about how playing an instrument benefits your brain.

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