Music can have tons of positive benefits on our health. So much so that many people like to think that listening to certain types of music can actually make you smarter. Especially if it's classical music!
In 1993, Frances Rauscher, Gordon Shaw, and Catherine Ky did an investigation on the effects of listening to Mozart on a person's spatial reasoning.
The results were since then highly fabricated, and the creators of the original study have stressed that listening to Mozart has no effect on a person's general intelligence.
Still, people want to know how they can boost their IQs fast by listening to a few songs, and I'm here to tell you that it simply doesn't work that way.
Sure, music can have many beneficial properties that are evident with the latest strides we have made in the field of music therapy. Still, it takes more than listening to a certain type of music to impact your brain positively.
You might not be able to boost your smarts, but you can focus better with music, calm anxieties, and even help your way through problem-solving and brain development, depending on how involved you are getting with the music.
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If you want to increase your focus and productivity at the moment, certain genres may be able to help you. Yes, listening to classical music can do some good for you here, but any uplifting musical style with not a lot of focus on lyrical content can help you focus.
Focus can lead you to make much wiser choices! Music that helps you focus can also help calm anxious thoughts that could be taking away from your brainpower.
Many people like to listen to lofi hip hop, jazz, electronica, and ambient music while they work or study and have seen very positive effects.
Is the music making them more intelligent? Absolutely not. Is the music helping them to focus and have a more productive session? Very possible!
Do note that what style of music works for you could have the opposite for someone else. In this regard, try out different genres and see which makes you think with clarity the most. You may be more comfortable listening to music with lyrics, while it may distract someone else.
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Many studies have shown that taking lessons to learn an instrument and understand music theory can positively affect the developing brain.
According to a new study from Researchers at Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute, musicians and people who are bilingual have trained their brains to be more efficient.
They found out that musicians and bilingual people used fewer brain resources when carrying out a memory test.
When young kids integrate the science of music with their studies as they grow up, it can help with speech recognition, motor skills in brain areas that control instrument-related muscles and body parts.
It can enhance socio-emotional awareness, which is the ability to identify, manage, and express emotions constructively.
The key to making the benefits of music work for you lies in your involvement in the creative process. You can't just listen to music and expect it to make your brain work harder and smarter.
You will need to fully immerse yourself by learning how to sing or play an instrument, perform music live, study the theory of music, and create music of your own.
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There is still so much more to learn about the human brain and its connection to music. Being as complex and mysterious as it is, the brain still has many secrets that scientists are on the way to discovering.
If you want music to help you or your child's brain to work smarter, consider going all in and starting with some music lessons provided by a professional.
Just be sure to manage your expectations, and don't expect magic to happen to your brain overnight! If you don't want to go that far, you can still clear your head for the genius that is already somewhere in your brain with any genre of calming music.
As a session singer, writer, and producer that has worked with over 200 clients to provide high-quality jingles, singles, and features, Yona spends her time creating and marketing new music and helpful resources for creators. Her recent collaborations include work with PBS Sound Field, Tribe of Noise, and the National Black Chamber of Commerce. Check out Yona’s latest releases on her Spotify, her Youtube and share if you like it!
If you are in need of singer, songwriter or song producer services, see what Yona Marie can offer you on her services page. As an Amazon Associate, Yona Marie earns from qualifying purchases. Amazon and other affiliate products are recommended to genuinely help readers and keep this site up and running as well.
