Well, yes it does according to Duane Shinn, EzineArticles.com Expert Author. How it does this though, varies according to age and whether one is listening, playing, or singing.
“Music educators touch on all the intelligences whenever they and their students are involved in music making,” said Cynthia Verost, music educator and performer. She may not be totally sold on the Mozart Effect, but does agree that music, especially if started before the age of 10, can have considerable learning advantages.
The Mozart Effect created numerous controversies when the studies were released. Shinn stated that it did seem to improve certain brain functions, but the study was done only on adults and the effects lasted only for a few minutes.
“The very act of reading right to left is reinforced when a person follows a piece of music” affecting their visual senses, Verost said.
Verost is not alone in her beliefs. Instrumental practice can boost things such as coordination, concentration, and memory to help advance eyesight and hearing, according to Dr. Frank Wilson, at the University of California, School of Medicine in San Francisco.
As far as verbal or linguistic abilities, “Singing in different languages allows students to focus on shaping sounds and to become familiar with the vocabulary of a language. Singing will help a child with speech problems properly use tongue, lips, and breathing [and enable] ESL students [to] become familiar with a new language ,” Verost said.
Studies performed on younger candidates, by psychologist Petr Janata, Gottfried Schlaug, Herman Steinmetz, and Dr. Frank Wilson, all came to a similar conclusion, that music does affect the brain’s memory and motor ability.
Although most of these studies were based on playing or listening to music, developing these skills at a younger age does have a more enhanced result. Consequently, Wilson believes music instruction is essential for developing the brain to its fullest ability.
“The message with music education is, start early, make it mandatory, provide instruction, add choices, and support it throughout a student’s education,” according to a review of Eric Jensen’s book by R.B. in the Harvard Education Review.
Jensen has uncovered connections between music and IQ. He states that some of the highest mathematics and science scores in the world are attained by countries where music education is required as part of the major disciplines.
Verost agrees that mathematic abilities are greatly enhanced by music in that “Subdividing rhythms is the most obvious application of this mode of thinking. Asking students to identify the sequencing in a melody also addresses this intelligence.”
In addition to music’s effect on intelligence, is its effect on mood. According to studies performed by Maratos, Gold, Wang, and Crawford, music can fight depression, soothe stress, calm heart rates, boost immunity, and lower feelings of pain.
“I’ve been a scientist since I was 25 years old, I’m now 79,” said John McBroom, chemist, author, and retired executive VP of several major chemical companies. “We scientists have shown that playing certain melodies release endorphins just like chocolate, good booze, sex, etc.”, and sets off neurons in the brain that improve mental powers.

Music has always been a pastime of McBroom’s and the one constant in his life. “Whenever I had a tough problem to solve, it was always easier with an old 78 or 45 to listen to and ease my way through the problem,” McBroom said. Music eases strain and helps thoughts flood back into one’s consciousness.

So the next time someone thinks taking time to enjoy favorite tunes is wasteful, listeners are not only increasing their brains’ abilities, but just might be healing their bodies as well.

By Cheryl Arrabito