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Music is powerful.
There are few people I know that would disagree with that sentiment! Research and science continues to advance and help us understand WHY that is. Can you believe that music can physically alter our brain chemistry? This article, Building a better brain through music, dance and poetry walks through some exciting research uncovering why the arts are essential tools in helping our brains and bodies thrive.
Some of the amazing mentions of music and neurology:
-Being creatively engaged in the arts (think music, dance, poetry) creates new synapses in our brains
-When children make music, their cerebral cortex gets larger (helping them learn new things and grow in various skill areas)
Studies also found the following wellness benefits of music and the arts
IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH
GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN FACING ADVERSITIES
INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND SUCCESS
We have all experienced music and the arts impacting us in positive (but perhaps "hard to describe") ways. Now we can access meaningful research with reliable scientific and medical tests (think EEG testing, MRI) that glimpses into the changes happening in our brains and bodies.
Try this: Next time you are singing along to your favorite song, playing an instrument or dancing, take a moment to reflect on how you feel before, during and after. Chances are you will begin to notice how these acts can create small (or large!) shifts in how we feel.
References:
Hamilton, Jon. “Building a Better Brain through Music, Dance and Poetry.” NPR, NPR, 3 Apr. 2023, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/04/03/1167494088/your-brain-on-art-music-dance-poetry?utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&mibextid=tejx2t&fbclid=IwAR1b01o8Mb9LRY3pRSd5xxy3xpZH6bDbcWrKUD9t23qt0hnvL53xwnl5p8o.