Description
Book SynopsisWe make or listen to music for the powerful effect it has on our emotions, and we can''t imagine our lives without music. Yet we tend to know nothing about the intricate networks that neurons create throughout our brains to make music possible. The Musical Brain explores fascinating discoveries about the brain and music, often told through the stories of musicians whose lives have been impacted by the extraordinary ability of our brains to learn and adapt. Neuroscientists have been studying musicians and the process of making music since the early 1990s and have discovered a staggering amount of information about how the brain processes music. There have been many books discussing neuroscience and music, but this is the first to relate the research in a practical way to those individuals who make or teach music. Research in mirror neurons, neuroplasticity, imagery, learning and memory, the musical abilities of babies, and the cognitive advantage of studying music can offer valuable ins
Trade ReviewFinally! ...a book about music and neuroscience written by a musician and music teacher. Svard's perspective can help musicians play better, music teachers teach better, and music students learn better. * Nina Kraus, professor and neurobiologist, Northwestern University, author of "Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World" *
In 'The Musical Brain,' Lois Svard weaves together a comprehensive tapestry of neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, and biology to explore the many ways in which music is a fundamental component of human experience. The author's skill as an educator is evident in the way she distills complex research into concise and descriptive writing to provide readers with engaging real-life stories. This inviting book will be of great interest to any performer, teacher, or curious music lover. * Vanessa Cornett, Director of Keyboard Studies, Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy, University of St. Thomas, author of "The Mindful Musician: Mental Skills for Peak Performance" *
Written with clarity and wisdom, packed with compelling accounts of neurological research on music, this superb book is relevant, timely and important. Svard makes the convincing case that music is * in so many vital ways'who we are.'William Westney, author of "The Perfect Wrong Note: Learning to Trust Your Musical Self" *
Svard's deeply researched book containing many photos and explanatory drawings is an easy read even for the layman and very relatable through her stories of fine musicians. * Mary Nemet, The Stringendo *
Everyone who reads this book will gain a greater appreciation of the miracle of the body and how scientific evidence is confirming what most in the field already know-that music leads to changes in the brain of not just those making music, but also those listening and watching. * Nicole Douglas, Piano Magazine *
[A] fabulous and deeply fascinating book. * Anthony Williams, European Piano Teachers Association Journal *
While the author does go deep into scientific explanation early in the book, it behooves the reader to power through to the end to gain an appreciation of how science and music beautifully support each other. * European Piano Teachers Association *
Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments About the Companion Website 1. Music and Musicians - and Why the Brain Matters 2. Origins of Music 3. Born for Music 4. Learn an instrument - change your brain 5. Learning and memory - two sides of the same coin 6. Practice - it's all about quality 7. Neuroplasticity - Awe-inspiring to Debilitating and Back Again 8. Imagery - Music in the Mind's Eye, Ear, Body 9. Seeing Sound, Hearing Movement - Music and Mirror Neurons 10. Does Music Really Make You Smarter? Epilogue: Thoughts on Music and Society Glossary
