Those piano lessons your mom forced you to take in elementary school were actually a really good idea.
According to .Mic, new research published in the Public Library of Science reveals that people who have had at least two years of music lessons show increased activity in the brain when it comes to processing and retaining information – even many years after training.
Other studies referenced by .Mic assert that listening to music can help people cope with emotional distress and even slow the effects of Alzheimer’s.
Read a portion of the article below and read the full article here.
Kind of like eating your vegetables, most of us think that the things that are meant to be good for us when we’re kids can’t possibly feel good, too. When it comes to playing music, though (and arguably a well-prepared kale salad), that’s patently untrue. A recent study found that children taking music lessons grew up to have greater executive function in the brain, which is what enables the processing and retention of information. It didn’t even require them to be good — people who had been playing an instrument even for two years were better at solving problems and regulating behavior. And even when students quit taking lessons, their ability to spot and correct errors was quicker and more advanced than those who never made it to band class. The mental benefits of even a few years were long term. So contrary to school boards everywhere, music benefits reach much farther than having a student band at graduation or even putting on talent shows.
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