Singing for the Brain!

I've never really sat and thought of how great an impact music, particularly singing, can have on people. I'd always thought that I just had a connection with singing and enjoyed doing it or that someone enjoyed listening to music because it sounded nice. Can you imagine that singing can be more than just pleasing to the ears, but also helpful for the mind and body?

The Alzheimer's Society in the UK began a program entitled "Singing for the Brain", which allows people with dementia the opportunity to get together to sing and socialize with one another. They have found that these people show signs of improved social function as well as memory as a result of the program. Music not only makes them feel better, but it effects their brain function as well.

In that same token, there are studies on children that show that children who have singing lessons or some other sort of musical instruction and practice have higher IQs and other brain functions, such as hand-and-eye coordination.  One Professor Kodaly said “No other subject can serve the child’s welfare—physical and spiritual—as well as music.” It’s not said what the direct cause is but it all boils down that music can literally make you smarter.

The benefits do not stop with children or people with dementia. Another study, on random adults, was completed that resulted in findings that singing was uplifting, “especially in times of major life changes, depression, and during recovery from illness”. Other adults from the study commented that there were benefits in being able to increase musical knowledge or improving their own cognitive function and memory.

That the music industry has such an important role in many peoples’ lives is amazing! The responsibility of singers and producers increases drastically at this realization. It’s not just about having fun; it becomes about changing lives.