Scholarly Article

Music: Exercise for the Brain

Music Training Enhances Learning & Memory

A neuroscience researcher specializing in the area of communication and the brain has concluded from her studies that music training is like exercise for the brain. Music improves the brain’s “neuroplasticity” (the ability of the brain to change chemically and physically in response to learning) thereby enhancing processing of speech and language. Music training improves motor skills and visual-relationship skills as well as auditory skills—all elements of learning. Music training actually changes the structure of the brain, especially when introduced at an early age.

Musical training improves:

• working memory capacity
• verbal memory
• vocabulary
• listening skills
• reading skills

Musicians and those with musical training can better differentiate, prioritize, and predict what is important in an environment with background noise (i.e. noisy classrooms, daily life.) Music education could therefore especially benefit children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADD and autism.

Formal studies indicate that the greatest benefit occurs with early music education, before the age of 7, and there is greater benefit with long-term training. Music training benefits all, not just those with musical aptitude.

These findings lead me to question the societal implications of early music education access. Are economically advantaged children who attend private schools or well-funded school districts in wealthier communities that provide music education thereby not only academically but also intellectually advantaged? Or can ethnic cultural differences of music integration in early home life compensate for formal education disadvantages in music education? Something to ponder…

Reference article:

Kraus, N. and Chandrasekaran, B. August 2010. Music training for the development of auditory skills. Nature Reviews/ Neuroscience, Volume 11: pgs. 599-605.

Opinionator #1

The NBC Nightly News was absentmindedly on in the background on the evening of Thursday October 20^th as I worked at my computer when I heard the all-too-brief warning from anchor Brian Williams that video footage that was about to be displayed was graphic and violent. Like a passerby to a car wreck I automatically turned to the TV screen, the warning serving more as an invitation for my attention than as a deterrent.

Despite my personal disdain for long-time Lybian dictator Gaddafi, I was disgusted by the brutality of his death caught on cell phone video that was displayed. I’m sure my facial expression may have mirrored that of Hillary Clinton when she saw the video footage on her Blackberry. Moreover and more significantly, I was horrified at the fact that the event was being displayed at 5:30 in the evening on primary network national news, a time when parents of young children often have the evening news on as they cook and eat dinner with family. The brief proceeding warning would have been have insufficient to avert and protect young eyes.

Isn’t footage such as Gaddafi’s death the ‘stuff’ of cable news, not mainstream network news? David McCormick, NBC News vice president for standards, said in the network’s defense, "We want to give our audience the most accurate reports possible without crossing a line into offensive or unnecessarily graphic material. We feel the footage that has aired has met those boundaries, and we're constantly in touch with producers about what is and is not acceptable."( http://news.yahoo.com/graphic-pictures-mark-coverage-gadhafi-death-222122899.html.) I suspect that NBC just didn’t want to be “trumped” by other networks, particularly the increasingly popular cable news programs.

Whether within the bounds of mandatory censorship rules and standards, networks need to take into account their viewership audience and its expectations. Viewers of the major network news do not expect “provocative” and “gritty” reports; for that we turn to cable stations, internet news and blogs.

Message to Brian Williams: it was not your domain.

Music Memories: Interview with my father

Born in 1956, my father was only 11-years-old when the Janis, Jimmy and Jefferson Airplane literally set fire to the fairground stage in his hometown of Monterey. The only thing he recalls was a swell of young people my late grandfather called “rabble rousers from San Francisco” who in his opinion needed “a kick in the ass from the 4^th division”.

Sixty-seven was personally historic point in musical history for my dad—it was the year he purchased his first record player. For the following two or three years he listened to primarily Motown. Some of his favorite artists were girl groups, such as The Supremes, as well as The Temptations and The Jackson Five.

By the time my dad was in high school he was turned on to Santana--a gateway to other rock musicians, such as Eric Clapton, Chicago, Cream, and Creedance Clearwater Revival. He held a special affinity for Bay Area bands, including Creedance Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane and in particular the Doobie Brothers, who he’s seen live four times. He brags that he once partied with band member Brian Johnston backstage at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz.

When it comes to that decisive query—Beatles or The Stones—my dad rolls with the Stones. In fact, if he could choose one band to see live it would be The Stones, with The Who close behind (Tommy is one of his favorite films). He has been to some great concerts, the B-52s and Devo being two of the most memorable. The greatest performer he’s ever seen? Frank Sinatra.

The most recent concert my dad attended was this year’s Monterey Jazz Festival, but when it comes to radio, he’s still tuned in to classic rock stations.

My dad and I have a lot of commonality in our ardor for good music, but what I find most remarkable is our shared interest in supporting local music.

Musicians who play happy music:

David Bowie

Bowie has endured as one of my favorite artists since I was 13. I remember coming home after a bad day at school and listening to "Suffragette City" and waiting for that cathartic line: "Wham, bam, thank you mam!"
Suffragette City

The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips' 2002 concept album, "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots", is as fun as the title suggests. A Japanese super-heroine battles robots threatening the human race. The track "Do You Realize?" is undeniably one of the most simple, poignant and uplifting songs the band has ever recorded.
Do You Realize?

Donovan

I can't think of an occasion when Donovan has ever bummed me out.
Colours

Weezer

Although their second release, "Pinkerton," (my favorite Weezer album) is doom and gloom, their debut album is still buoyant and fun. Their 1994 single"Buddy Holly" has the cutest video of all time.
Buddy Holly

Fleet Foxes

I saw Fleet Foxes play in Big Sur three years ago, before they "broke out". Now I consider it tradition to listen to their albums in the car whenever I'm on my way down to Big Sur. I know the video is kind of sad, but I think it still manages to be an uplifting tune.
White Winter Hymnal