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Case
Logan Case

Professor Strehle

English 1201.509

12 March 2020

Effects of Playing a Musical Instrument on the Human Brain

Think of all of the places a person goes every day. Now think of how many of those

places play music. Whether it’s at the grocery store, at a restaurant, or in the car music is

everywhere and it is a part of everyone’s life. Music is on TV, movies, and even social media. It’s

hard to live a day of life without hearing music somewhere. I have thought about these things

for many years. Being constantly exposed to not only music but musical instruments has been a

huge part of my life, and I’ve always wondered how it’s been affecting me and many other

people. Every musician knows the feeling of satisfaction that is experienced from playing their

favorite instrument. It’s what keeps drawing people back again and again. Playing an

instrument is fun and it often creates a way for people to express themselves. Music can be

considered a language that many people use to express their feelings. Learning an instrument

can feel like a daunting task but the benefits it provides make it worthwhile. The feeling that

goes along with playing a musical instrument and listening to music has always caught my

interest. I knew that it was affecting people somehow because it has and will always be a part

of life. I have learned that playing a musical instrument has many different benefits and they

are all positive. It is good for all ages, but some ages benefit more than others. Playing a

musical instrument provides mental benefits, for all ages, that can be both immediate and long

term.
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The benefits of playing an instrument can lead to great things such as being the

president. Many past U.S. Presidents have and still do play musical instruments. These

presidents include Abraham Lincoln, who played the violin, Thomas Jefferson, who played the

violin and cello, John Quincy Adams, who played the flute, and many more [ CITATION Nat15 \l

1033 ]. In the past, playing an instrument was a regular thing that many people did. It was

required for school and was often a part of home life. In 1909, piano sales were at their peak

with more than 364,500 pianos sold but that number has dropped drastically in recent years

[ CITATION Hen18 \l 1033 ]. More recently, schools have been cutting out music programs

altogether. Unfortunately, there are some schools that don’t have the money to include these

programs in their curriculums. Other schools cut the music programs because they don’t see it

as a necessary part of a student’s education. This is where many schools have gone wrong and

have been ignorant of the fact that music improves many student’s academic success.

In recent years, there has been a sharp decline in the number of people who have

immense musical talent. This problem can be blamed on both schools and parents. Two

primary sources for learning to play an instrument are both at home and at school. The decline

in musical talent can be seen not only in young people but throughout the music industry. A

study done by Joan Serra, a postdoctoral scholar at the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute

of the Spanish National Research Council, proved that current music is lacking the same quality

that music in the past has had. Much of today’s pop music sounds strangely similar because

most songs consist of the same instruments and electronic sounds. An interview was done with

Billy Joel and he was asked what made him stand out. He responded that his ability to read and

compose music was what made him stand out [ CITATION Hen18 \l 1033 ]. This is a surprising
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response because I would expect all people in the music industry to be able to read and

compose music. Many popular singers don’t write their own songs, and they rely on autotune

to manipulate their voices to appeal to their audience. From my own personal experience with

music, I have learned that a lot of popular music, in current times, is made completely

electronically. Some of the biggest music producers in the music industry have no knowledge of

music theory but they can create a hit song through computer software. Music theory is the

knowledge of musical concepts such as scales, notes, and chords for different instruments.

Learning this basic knowledge is needed to play instruments and should be something that

everyone understands in the music industry. I can directly relate to not completely

understanding music theory because one of my hobbies is creating hip-hop beats on my

computer. I have no knowledge of music theory or piano but yet I can still create chord

progressions and melodies that sound similar to popular music.

Not only can people now create music with no knowledge of music theory, but they can

also create music with no sense of rhythm. I feel that making music has become more about

someone’s level of creativity rather than about their musical talent, specifically in hip-hop

music (which is currently one of the most popular genres of music). Electronic software allows

producers to perfectly keep all of their music in time with the click of a mouse. In order to play

a physical instrument, musicians need natural rhythm and timing. Being a drummer, I have this

natural rhythm and timing which can set someone apart from current people in the music

industry. Sadly, musical talent is declining which not only creates similar sounding music across

the radio, but it also creates much more competition in the music business because of the

number of people who now have the access and ability to make music through computer
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software. To solve the problem of declining musical talent, schools and parents can do many

things to encourage children to participate in music. If learning to play a musical instrument

isn’t encouraged, then the upcoming generations will feel no need to have a connection to

music.

The benefits of participating in a musical activity and more importantly with a musical

instrument leads to a wide variety of benefits for all ages. Playing a musical instrument engages

every part of the central nervous system and it engages both right and left sides of the

brain[ CITATION Sap17 \l 1033 ]. Many instruments require the user’s right and left hands to be

performing different tasks at the same time. While playing an instrument the brain must focus

on the present and the future actions of the limbs[ CITATION Sap17 \l 1033 ]. Using both the

right and left sides of the brain creates a full brain workout that not many other activities

provide. The greatest benefits seem to develop in younger generations. Studies show that

students who play a musical instrument are not only likely to finish school, but they are also

more likely to perform at a higher-grade level than those who do not play an

instrument[ CITATION Gui19 \l 1033 ]. Students will also be more advanced in math, reading,

and verbal abilities[ CITATION Tuc16 \l 1033 ]. Playing an instrument engages visual, auditory,

and emotional parts of the brain which makes for a full brain workout that could become an

essential part of a student’s education[ CITATION Sap17 \l 1033 ].

Both sports and music are activities that students can participate in. Some people may

favor one over the other, but it is shown that music and sports seem to have a relationship and

they do similar things to the brain. A study done by the Department of Movement, Human

Health Sciences, and the University of Rome was done to analyze the effects that both playing
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the drums and playing a sport have on the brain. Playing the drums requires strong rhythmic

ability and endurance[ CITATION Bia17 \l 1033 ]. It is estimated that playing the drums during a

concert performance is similar to the energy output that happens while playing a

sport[ CITATION Bia17 \l 1033 ]. Forty-eight participants were recruited for the study and were

divided into four age and gender-matched groups. Out of these forty-eight participants, there

were twelve athletes, twelve drummers, twelve non-athletes, and twelve non-drummers. The

athletes included fencers, volleyball players, and professional table-tennis players. The non-

drummers included musicians that played piano, guitar, accordion, trumpet, and bass. The non-

athletes were people who do not participate in sports or musical activity. The participants were

seated in front of a screen that would display an image for a short amount of time. They were

instructed to only respond to a certain type of image and not to respond to other images. They

were asked to press the button under their right index finger when the screen displayed the

image that they were instructed to identify and to withhold from pressing the button when any

other image would appear. The results showed that drummers and athletes had the fastest

response times. There weren’t differences in accuracy among the four groups. The results also

showed that brain activity during the study was similar in drummers and athletes. I have

personal experience playing the drums, and I can say that it is a tiring activity. I am often sweaty

and out of breath after I get done playing. It is a similar feeling to participating in a physical

activity. I also am a student-athlete and I can say from personal experience that playing the

drums and playing a sport feel similar. In conclusion, the study suggests that playing the drums

leads to improved motor skills that are comparable to athletes. Not only does drumming

improve coordination and rhythmic skills but it also improves cognitive abilities[ CITATION
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Bia17 \l 1033 ]. Both sports and playing a musical instrument require rhythm and coordination

so there seems to be a special connection between sports and music.

Not many people pay close attention to their fine motor skills in daily life. It might go

unnoticed, but motor skills are necessary to do things such as type a paper, manipulate small

objects, and play a musical instrument[ CITATION Tuc16 \l 1033 ]. A study done by the Center

for Sleep and Cognition and Harvard University was conducted to see the relationship between

playing a musical instrument and improvement in fine motor skills. Another factor that played a

part in the study was sleep but for the purpose of this essay, my research has focused more on

the instrument and fine motor skills relationship. The study took forty right-handed

undergraduate students from Boston area universities. The group of students contained

fourteen males and twenty-six females. Instruments that were allowed for this study included

the piano, flute, alto saxophone, violin, and guitar. All of these instruments require movement

from the fingers and have the potential to improve fine motor skills in the undergraduate

subjects. During the task, the subjects were asked to repeatedly type a five-digit sequence of

numbers with their left (non-dominant) hand as quickly and as accurately as possible. The five-

digit sequence would appear in front of each subject on a screen. The subjects would complete

twelve trials during training and twelve trials at retest. They would receive a thirty-second

break in between each trial. The results showed that musicians were faster (typed more

sequences) than non-musicians throughout the entire study. However, the amount of

improvement shown in both musicians and non-musicians was the same. Fine motor skills are

crucial in people’s daily lives regardless of if it is noticeable or not. Developed fine motor skills

in children predict good academic achievement and enhanced math and reading
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ability[ CITATION Tuc16 \l 1033 ]. There seems to be something unique about having above

average fine motor skills. Early development of these skills can be crucial and has become a

more popular topic over the years. Physiologically, the skills learned by playing an instrument

are related to enhanced brain plasticity and greater interconnection between many different

areas of the brain[ CITATION Tuc16 \l 1033 ]. These areas include auditory, sensorimotor, and

pre-frontal cortices. This means that playing a musical instrument improves auditory skills, fine

motor skills, and improves the prefrontal cortices which are involved in decision making and

social behavior.

Playing an instrument not only affects healthy minds but it also affects the mentally ill.

The rapid increase in children diagnosed with autism creates a perfect opportunity to introduce

instruments to the mentally ill. Music is shown to have a positive effect on young children with

autism. Many children with autism struggle to communicate with their peers and music can be

a collaborative activity that autistic children can use to relate to one another[ CITATION Per20 \l

1033 ]. They can also use musical instruments to express the way they feel[ CITATION Per20 \l

1033 ]. Music can be another language for a lot of individuals, and it is proven to be stress

relieving because of the ability to release one’s feelings. Playing an instrument requires both

left and right sides of the brain to work at the same time which is essential for the autistic

because the right and left sides of their brains are naturally out of sync[ CITATION Per20 \l 1033

]. It is best to introduce musical instruments to the autistic as early as possible because of the

already early diagnosis that autistic children receive[ CITATION Per20 \l 1033 ]. Musical training

helps the autistic to be able to communicate, express their feelings, and improve social skills

among their peers.

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Although playing a musical instrument does greatly affect young people, it also can

greatly affect older people. The immediate effects that playing an instrument offer can be

useful for getting through stressful times or to improve the brain. People sixty years old or older

who play an instrument are shown to have improved memory and verbal fluency[ CITATION

Sap17 \l 1033 ]. They are also shown to process information in a speedier fashion[ CITATION

Sap17 \l 1033 ]. Playing an instrument can be a fun relaxation technique. It is shown to relieve

stress, anxiety, depression, and even lower blood pressure[ CITATION Gui19 \l 1033 ]. Learning

an instrument can bring satisfaction, give someone a sense of achievement, and boost self-

esteem. For the elderly, playing an instrument can be one of the best things they can do for

themselves. Especially if they have a lot of free time and want to learn something new. It may

seem like an overwhelming task to some people but rest assured that anyone can learn to play

an instrument. It doesn’t matter what level of musical talent a person has or if they have any

experience. All it takes is a little concentration and determination.

Many people may have the wrong attitude toward playing a musical instrument. They

may think that listening to music offers the same benefits, but this is not true. Some believe in

“The Mozart Effect” theory which states that listening to classical music offers benefits to the

human brain. While this may be true, to a certain extent, it doesn’t offer the same benefits as

actually playing an instrument. The physical and mental ability it takes to play a physical

instrument offers greater benefits than just simply listening to music. This is because playing an

instrument requires movement and coordination along with rhythm and advanced knowledge

of musical concepts. Just sitting and listening to music does not require any movement or

knowledge and therefore does not give the brain a full workout like playing an instrument does.
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There is nothing to learn or improve on while listening but there is lots to learn and improve on

wile physically playing. Some people may also believe that playing an instrument is insignificant

compared to the many other activities that people could be participating in. For example,

people may think that playing a sport is more important and beneficial than playing an

instrument. While playing a sport might be beneficial, with the reasons previously mentioned,

music can offer the same benefits. People should try harder to consider playing an instrument a

significant part of life because it is an activity that can give lifelong benefits. Sports can offer

physical strength, but music offers mental strength and health that can benefit someone

throughout their entire life. Being a part of the high school band can be just as beneficial as

being a part of the high school football team.

Playing a musical instrument provides many mental benefits that can be both long term

and immediate. Musical training can be essential to a student’s success at school and even in

everyday life. In the past, learning to play an instrument was a regular thing but with the

decline in musical talent across the board there has never been a better time to learn to play an

instrument and gain valuable knowledge about music. Many successful people of the past have

played instruments which could have been the reason for the intelligence that they had. Playing

an instrument engages both the left and right sides of the brain which makes for a complete

brain workout. This is healthy for children and can lead to great success in school. Students who

play an instrument are more likely to finish school and perform at a higher-grade level than

their peers who don’t play an instrument. It engages visual, auditory, and emotional parts of

the brain that are involved in behavior and decision making. Multiple studies have been done to

show that people who play an instrument have better fine motor skills than those who don’t
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play an instrument. This can give an individual an advantage at many things such as typing a

paper or manipulating objects. Fine motor skills are involved in things that people do every day.

There also seems to be a connection between sports and music. Both activities have a similar

effect on the brain. Since it is proven that music can be just as beneficial if not more beneficial

than sports it should be obvious that both should be included in a student’s education. There

should be no reason to be removing music programs from schools because of insignificance.

That is equivalent to saying that a high school is going to remove its sports programs. They are

both equally beneficial and should both be a part of the school. Music and sports enhance

rhythm and coordination skills that are unique to those activities. Drumming is a specific activity

that has the closest correlation to sports. They both require physical activity and coordination.

Music can help make life a little easier for the mentally ill. It allows them to be able to easily

express their feeling and connect with their peers. Music can be a way that the mentally ill

connect and relate to each other. Playing an instrument also greatly affects adults and elderly

people. It enhances memory, improves processing ability, relieves stress, and offers

satisfaction. Playing an instrument is much more beneficial than simply listening to music. Being

involved in the physical activity works the brain in a unique way. The improved academic

success, improved fine motor skills, improved coordination, improved memory, and an overall

improved life are all reasons to start playing a musical instrument now. Not only does it benefit

the brain, but it may be the best decision a person can make. Encouraging the youth to be more

involved in music could be a positive move for not only them but for the world.
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Works Cited

Bianco, V., et al. "Exercise-related cognitive effects on sensory-motor control in athletes and

drummers compared to non-athletes and other musicians." Neuroscience (2017): 39-47.

Government, Australian. Learning Potential. 12 March 2020. 13 March 2020.

Guitar Center. Benefits of Learning to Play a Musical Instrument. 30 August 2019. 13 March

2020.

Henschen, Jon. The Tragic Decline of Music Literacy (and Quality). 16 August 2018. 17 March

2020. <https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/tragic-decline-music-literacy-and-

quality>.

National Education for Music Education. The Most Musical United States Presidents. 13

February 2015. 17 March 2020. <https://nafme.org/the-most-musical-united-states-

presidents/>.

PercussionPlay. Sounds and the Spectrum: The Benefits of Music for Autistic Children. n.d. 29

March 2020. <https://www.percussionplay.com/sounds-and-the-spectrum/>.

Sapega, Sally. "Playing an Instrument: Better for your Brain than Just Listening." 30 January

2017. Penn Medicine News. 13 March 2020.

Tucker, Mathew A., Nam Nquyen and Robert Stickgold. "Experience Playing a Musical

Instrument and Overnight Sleep Enhance Performance on a Sequential Typing Task."

Plos ONE (2016): 1-10.