Music is a powerful form of art used every day on
earth, its performed in many languages, and most importantly it has a strong influence on the
human body and mind. When it comes to
how music effects the brain, it basically is due to the fact that music
equalizes brain waves by slowing the waves down. This takes place on the right side of the
brain because this is where the music lives and is developed in order for us to
be able to hear it. The brain, the most
complex organ of the body, is able to act different to different types of
music. For example, music containing a fast
rhythm and beat will cause the brain waves to move fast, resulting the
body to be alert and energetic.
Music containing a slow rhythm and beat will cause the brain waves to
move slowly, allowing a person to feel relaxed and peaceful. Therefore, music brings everlasting benefits
to your state of mind even when you are done listening.
Not only does music affect the brain waves in the
brain, but it also plays a major role in memory. Simply using music when learning will
boost your ability to memorize the information.
“Also, activities which engage both sides of the brain at the same time,
such as playing an instrument or singing, causes the brain to be more capable
of processing information.” People tend
to sing out loud sentences or words they must remember due to the fact that it
makes it easier to retain the information, rather than just reading it. People recall information much better when
music is played at the same speed as when they originally learned it. Background music has nothing to do with
memorizing information, but since it is involved in your studying environment
it tends to stick with the information being learned. For example, John is in his room studying for
his next big Chemistry test and while doing so he plays “beat it” by Michael
Jackson. The next day while taking the
test he finds that the information he had studied the night before is easier to
remember if he starts to think or hum the song “beat it”. This is because the music was part of his
studying environment and stuck with the chemistry material he had learned,
therefore music can enhance memory abilities.
Last, learning is also associated with how music
affects the brain. Did you know that
Albert Einstein was given a violin by his parents, became good at playing the
violin, and said himself the reason he became one of the smartest men who ever
lived was because of the violin?
Einstein is not the only one who believes this, a lot of well-known people
insist that music (learning to play an instrument) somehow was able to enhance
their learning ability and make them a smart man. Common household music or peaceful music
decreases blood pressure, therefore relaxing the body, and increasing the
ability to learn. Listening to
common/peaceful music before taking a test can improve their score. Overall, the brain learns in rhythm/ beat and music contains both, therefore music allows the brain to learn easier.
