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Music—an art form whose medium is a combination of sound and silence, melody and harmony, temp and meter, timbre and texture. For many people in many cultures the world over, and perhaps since the advent of human congress, music is an important part of life. Although music has been referred to as a universal language, there is still no single, intercultural, universal concept that defines what music might be. Perhaps some of its beauty lies in its personalization in the individual human brain.
 Music can be used to enhance brain development, communication, care, function, learning, memory, relationships, and so on. It can also cause problems for some brains depending on the type of music, its content, volume, and pitch.
I have loved music for as far back as I have conscious memory. My aunt said that when my mother learned she was going to have a child, she chose several specific activities that she conscientiously performed for the remainder of her pregnancy. These daily activities included thirty minutes of playing the piano and singing to her developing fetus. Perhaps my gestational exposure to music shaped my enjoyment of this medium.
Early in childhood I begged to learn to play the piano and finally began taking lessons when I turned four, which undoubtedly represented a sacrifice for my less-than-flush parents because they also purchased a spinet on which I could practice. Certainly, my life has been dramatically different from what it might have been had my parents not believed in the advantages of the study of music for their children. It turns out they were right and I remain indebted to both of them!
Use these Brain References to stimulate and validate your interest in the brain and music. |
Brain Music