How playing an instrument benefits your brain ...
- Anita Collins - 5 minute youtube video - TED-Ed
July 23, 2018
To whom it may concern,
It is my pleasure to recommend Duane Wolfe for providing his services to your agency. I am a Program Facilitator at the Franklin Centre day program with Community Living Cambridge.
Since February of 2017 Duane has been assisting individuals at the Franklin Centre with his performances and interactive “drum circles”.
Drum Circle is one of the most popular activities at our program and the individuals we support eagerly await Duane’s arrival for weekly sessions with anticipation and excitement. For many individuals it has been their favourite part of each week. Duane is a skilled musician and singer who performs a variety of songs with his “one man band” show while others play along (and sing along) with a variety of drums and other instruments.
Duane’s talents don’t end with his music. His ability to connect with individuals to express themselves through music is a unique talent and gift he shares with others. Individuals have opportunities to request songs, which Duane performs with a personalized touch for each person, changing lyrics for example to reflect a personal passion of the individual’s that Duane has learned about them. It is heart warming to witness the individuals we support develop personal relationships with Duane and experience such happiness when it’s time for “their song”. I have also witnessed so many individuals that typically struggle to interact with others in group settings be able to express themselves and experience the collective and personal celebrations that take place at Duane’s drum circles.
Duane is patient and kind hearted. He goes the extra mile to make sure each individual is included and celebrated. Once in a while there isn’t a song already in his repertoire that an individual connects with. It isn’t uncommon that he returns the following week or the next having learned a new song just for them. On other occasions different programs scheduled at the centre haven’t been able to take place or individuals scheduled in different activities may have needed a change that day. Duane has always welcomed everybody and makes sure everyone gets an instrument and is included in the fun.
As a direct support staff I also participate and have always described drum circle as “pure joy”. It’s also one of my favourite parts of my work week. It’s quite common for spontaneous dancing to happen or somebody gets up to perform their song to the group alongside Duane who welcomes them “to the stage”. It is a privilege to share with the people I support the uplifting experience that Duane and his drum circles provide, as well as the connections that take place and the personal attention and genuine kindness Duane has for each individual.
It is also a privilege to recommend Duane to share his talents with those you support in your agency. Please feel free to contact me. (Please send any reference or info requests to wolfemusicinfo@gmail.com) I would be happy to expand on my recommendation for Duane and the benefits of his services for those we support.
Best wishes,
Jonathan Turnbull
Program Facilitator
Community Living Cambridge.
Why do we live for live music? On the molecular level, research shows that listening to music improves our mental well-being and physical health.
Enjoyment goes far beyond the present moment, as it directly influences the outcome of our hormones and cognitive functioning. While research has suggested that people who play instruments are smarter, there are also plenty of benefits for the music enthusiasts.
Here is a list of 10 benefits to listening to music:
This might seem obvious, but the natural chemical reasoning is pretty incredible to think about. If you are ever in need of an emotional boost, let it be known that it only takes 15 minutes of listening to your favorite tunes to get a natural high. This is because your brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that leads to increased feelings of happiness, excitement, and joy, when you listen to music you like.
2. Music Improves Performance in Running
If that’s what you’re into… Scientists found that runners who listened to fast or slow motivational music ran faster than runners who listened to calm music (or ran without any music at all) in an 800-meter dash. The key to enhancing your running performance lies in the choice of music, that being something that inspires you to move forward.
3. Music Decreases Stress While Increasing Overall Health
Music has a direct effect on our hormones. If you listen to music you enjoy, it decreases levels of the hormone cortisol in your body, counteracting the effects of chronic stress. Stress causes 60% of all illnesses and diseases, so lower levels of stress mean higher chances of overall well-being.
One study even showed that a group of people playing various percussion instruments and singing had boosted immune systems compared to the people who were passively listening; while both groups’ health was positively affected by music, the group playing instruments and/or singing had better results.
For maximum benefits on a stressful day, turn on some music and sing along. Don’t be shy to break out the air-guitar!
4. Music Improves Sleep
Over 30% of Americans suffer from insomnia. A study showed that listening to classical or relaxing music within an hour of going to bed significantly improves sleep, compared to listening to an audiobook or doing nothing before bed. Since we know music can directly influence our hormones, it only makes sense to throw on some Beethoven (or Dark Side of The Moon?) before bed when in need of a good night’s sleep.
5. Music Reduces Depression
Music has a direct effect on our hormones; it can even be considered a natural antidepressant. This is because certain tunes cause the release of serotonin and dopamine (neurotransmitters) in the brain which leads to increased feelings of happiness and well-being. It also releases norepinephrine, which is a hormone that invokes feelings of euphoria.
More than 350 million people suffer from depression around the world, and 90% of them also experience insomnia. The above research also found that symptoms of depression only decreased in the group that listened to classical or relaxing music before going to bed.
Another study demonstrated that certain types of music can be beneficial to patients with depressive symptoms. Interestingly, while classical and relaxing music increased positive moods, techno and heavy metal brought people down even more.
6. Music Helps You Eat Less
According to research, the combination of soft lighting and music leads people to consume less food (and enjoy it more). Music as the next trending diet? Sounds easy enough!
7. Music Elevates Your Mood While Driving
Who isn’t guilty of blasting Phish on the highway? A study found that listening to music positively influences your mood while driving, which obviously leads to safer behavior and less road rage. So be sure to turn up the “Reba” jams!
8. Music Strengthens Learning And Memory
Listening to music can also help you learn and recall information more efficiently, researchers say. Though it depends on the degree to which you like the music and whether or not you play an instrument. A study showed that musicians actually learned better with neutral music, but tested better with music that they liked; whereas non-musicians learned better with positive music but tested better with neutral music. Therefore, the degree of performance differentiates between learning and memory for musicians and non-musicians.
9. Music Increases Verbal Intelligence
A study showed that 90% of children between the ages of 4 and 6 had significantly increased verbal intelligence after only a month of taking music lessons, where they learned about rhythm, pitch, melody, and voice. The results suggest that the music training had a “transfer effect” that increased the children’s ability to comprehend words, and even more, explain their meaning.
Another study showed similar results in musically trained adult women and children that outperformed a group with no music training on verbal memory tests.
10. Music Raises IQ and Academic Performances
Research suggests that taking music lessons predetermines high academic performance and IQ scores in young children. The study surveyed a group of 6-year-olds who took keyboard or vocal lessons in small groups for 36 weeks. The results showed they had significantly larger increases in IQ and standardized educational test results over that time than children who took other extracurricular activities unrelated to music. The singing group showed the most improvement.
In addition to these 10 reasons, there are so many more, including decreases in pain thresholds, the relaxing nature it provides to patients before and after surgery, increasing memory pathways for patients with Alzheimer’s, the improvement of recovery time for patients who suffered a stroke, the ability to keep your brain healthy in old age, to name a few. Music really does serve as a therapy for all, whether as medicine in a hospital or a heartache on a rainy day.
Our scientific understanding of the effects music has on our brains is only starting to take shape; there’s still so much more to learn. So remember, “If you get confused, just listen to the music play!”
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