Realizations Inc

How music can benefit your brain, health, and aging process

More than 300 years ago the French composer François Couperin recommended that children should begin studying instruments by the age of 6 or 7. He was right! Is studying music for children only? No! It can be of benefit at any age. In fact, it may be the fastest way to build skills in all four chunks of the thinking brain or cerebrum. The study of music offers the type of challenging stimulation that can retard and sometimes even prevent the onset of symptoms commonly associated with the aging process (e.g., senility). In other words, it's rarely too late to begin!

SEMINAR DESCRIPTION

More than 300 years ago the French composer Francois Couperin recommended that children should begin studying instruments by the age of 6 or 7. He was right! Recent PET Scans (Positron Emission Tomography) have confirmed that the corpus callosum (the highway of nerves connecting the two sides of the brain) is 15% larger in adults who started playing the piano before the age of eight as compared with those who started later. Potentially this could result in a huge increase in the flow of information. Other studies found absolute or perfect pitch among 95% of individuals who started music study at age four or younger but in only 5% of those who began between age twelve and age fourteen. Children who receive music lessons were found to do better in arithmetic than a control group without music education. And on and on...

But is studying music for children only? No! It can be of benefit at any age. In fact, it may be the fastest way to build skills in all four divisions of the cerebrum. Music lessons offer the type of challenging stimulation that can retard and sometimes even prevent the onset of symptoms commonly associated with the aging process (e.g., senility). In other words, it's rarely too late to begin! Perception and performance is correlated with Taylor's "Who Am I?" Pyramid model. Information about relative energy expenditures during musical activities is highlighted.

Part 1:  Universality and benefits in six key areas that can accrue from the study of music
Part 2:  The triune brain, triune ear, and the impact of downshifting
Part 3:  Gender differences and impact of extraversion, ambiversion, and introversion
Part 4:  Sensory Preference (with Sensory Preference Assessment) and innate brain lead  

SUGGESTED TIME FRAME

The seminar consists of four 50-minute sessions, with additional time for discussion, if desired. Each section can be presented by itelf.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Audiences who want to learn more about how the study of music can impact the brain, learning, and wellness, as well as factors that impact the perception and performance of music.

SEMINAR OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the seminar, participants should be able to:

• List six benefits that can accrue from the study of music
• Describe the relationship between a study of music and the development of the brain
• Identify three potential advantages to beginning the study of music at an early age
• Correlate perception and performance with each of the four key factors