How playing an instrument benefits your brain - Anita Collins

What people said

noTooMooch · 2022-04 · Recommendation

There is an observable difference in brain activity between playing an instrument and actively listening: [VIDEO] The activity of playing is unlike other skills based learning, including other arts. All this is in the video. It’s the intersection of applying ephemeral knowledge (music theory, intuition for what sounds good) and active muscle memory building. Personally, since picking up guitar and piano during lockdown, I’ve definitely noticed I’m faster at pattern recognition, more readily see simpler solutions to logic problems, and can find focus and flow with less effort. I did play saxophone from 5th grade on, but quit after HS; I was playing music before that too. The years in between just feel colorless and uninspired. Will it make one Einstein? No. But it definitely brings a cognitive perspective, sense of self awareness and agency, nuanced inner monologue, that’s missing in its absence. I don’t get uptight about proper music theory and all that. I just pluck my way into patterns that sound cool to me, build fluency playing them. It’s more like deep work than desire to succeed; I’ve tried meditating, yoga, etc, over years and nothing brings inner peace and sense of self like playing music. But you know; ymmv

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easyPZ · 2024-05 · Reference

Me too! What to play next occurs to me and my hands just do it. Have not checked if this Ted talk[1] holds up but for me playing instruments is very unlike anything else. Woodworking and cooking, while I enjoy them, do not have the same holistic euphoria to them. [1] [VIDEO]

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mewziq · 2024-01 · Reference

Learning an instrument is the only skills based learning that activates both hemispheres and eases their collaboration: [VIDEO] Other skills, tested via imaging, seem to dominate one side or the other.

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