Links to Articles “what are professionals saying”

Sally Dancy

Jul 31

2 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

Check out this season’s Articles and what professionals in a variety of fields say about music, education, development, early childhood, more …

How music enhances imagination and story experience https://communitynews.org/science-tech/princeton-study-music-brain-activity-imagined-narratives/?fbclid=IwdGRleAVN79FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAWZkaWQWURG6LTb19SMXDGSxBQqm56CUGjbFqnNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5xVJz2RDX22p4yvsFVrdtIARBx3oQ37gPjZJ_8W2DDvWp7yF1vVxxbx3ffeQ_aem_R9ZXHlgU8DFb75BFJlnmJQ

Brain scans of the brain with improvisation and memorization highlight that both are important to stimulate and develop different parts of the brain. https://theconversation.com/what-i-found-when-i-scanned-the-brains-of-kids-creating-tunes-on-the-piano-287279?fbclid=IwdGRleAVEiVFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAWZkaWQWUQqVBy7ySzf0J-qyd-3737-VTubWgXNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4uiWtq4JCBWhYBeePv_42_oGaQUc_KrU3dXUc5RMLnWWbWtTL0pWnendMfXw_aem_OT_dib4Du7oJvTLeJ71BPQ

Pre verbal infants, who are not yet familiar with language rules, classify speech according to pitch & rhythm to understand meaninghttps://www.biggerbetterbrains.com.au/research-updates?fbclid=IwdGRleAVEighleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAWZkaWQWUQo6JELBDsUHg7mX13EMS8-fVdpXVnNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR536yCo4J6oGrQv3_1vSvIK-qIC1DCNnFh7n1-tEjKuhkKB89_jUpm0aCxsMQ_aem_butLkVKZD2WjJs161gCkVw

Discovery Magazine discusses synchrony and how music plays a role

https://www.discovermagazine.com/feel-like-you-re-on-the-same-wavelength-with-someone-synchrony-is-real-and-may-be-strengthened-49304?fbclid=IwdGRleAUhRCFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAWZkaWQWUO9-BU2R7wLQOYKbvmdg964zJJwjknNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6_cWviG1OAtGzMgUImmlQ0tg9fMRCxfMAF5P4GIQQFRmDOW5skt1IX0-gegg_aem__UIJ5QSoeEvlAsF_w0CGkQ

Just published in Scientific American is some new research about music and brain health. Strengthening neural pathways and helping with physiological psychological responses.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-music-is-a-powerful-tool-to-quiet-stress-in-the-brain/

With all the great recordings and sound systems what’s the point of LIVE music? Because humans can tell the difference. Humans are social beings, so the effect on the brain and body is amplified when in person. This is amplified even more when you participate in the music in some way (like dancing, singing, playing along). Here is an article talking about the scientific research partnership between Northeastern University and the New England Conservatory.

https://news.northeastern.edu/2026/05/27/music-effect-brain-research/?fbclid=IwdGRleAUH0hpwZG9mAWZkaWQWUNy1c4dkGYKNYUVhQWxntiSa9ngl52V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR77GiNwpoInUs4XjSs2yGAEy60N0rbfL6xiUZSgGfk-amYd-w9CzPu3MxDWig_aem_3mv3hPfbf-UdPjtLOvdgNw

Why is it more than OK for kids to stay in extracurriculars that they aren’t “good” at? The reason I put quotes around the word good is that it’s subjective and harmful to label/judge activities like this. The arts -I include sports in the arts - have a lot of life skills important for everyone not just the future field professional. As an arts educator who also did a lot of coaching, I find the use of subjects like music, art, & sport for learning life skills as incredibly important! Here’s a Parent’s Magazine article on the subject…

https://www.parents.com/why-its-ok-for-kids-to-stay-in-extracurriculars-they-arent-good-at-12024642?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a8d134ce8fc730001e8e9e3&utm_campaign=parents&utm_content=bestof_past6mons&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwdGRleAUH1PpwZG9mAWZkaWQWUNwJIP46woKBQ_tVKHLcEZn8N2PTjWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6-Y_zm2agAdCWC0IQCL30AcLWdAbTjj42w-7B7flNDRWMC7Usvr4Ysa5YciQ_aem_l4eA_hAezaUQ8SsZCaRyaA

Music has been shown to increase attention spans. Here is an article from psypost