Musical Therapy

Musical Therapy

It is well known that listening to and performing music has cognitive benefits. It is not known, however, what explains these benefits—in virtue of what is music good exercise for the brain? I conjecture that three factors are at work: mathematics, memory, and emotion. Music is mathematical, because of scales and keys, as well as rhythm. It also involves memory, as themes are recalled and lyrics learned (or tunes whistled and hummed). And it is emotionally charged. Your mathematical sense is activated, your memory is exercised, and your emotions are stirred; your brain is abuzz with activity—and in an enjoyable way. Nor are these components separable; it isn’t all bleakly cognitive, drily scholastic. We have here the mathematics-memory-emotion complex. I don’t think it’s surprising that adolescence is a peak cognitive learning period as well as a musical period: music helps in the growth and management of these faculties. I advocate singing in the later years as well as listening to music. Voice lessons are a good idea in retirement.

I also advocate learning games and sports at all stages of life, from childhood onwards. Nothing novel in that suggestion—we have P.E. in schools. Doctors recommend exercise in one’s advanced years, but I suggest learning serious skills, especially those involving rapid movement. Tennis and table tennis are good, as are other racquet sports. The gym isn’t enough. These sports require good sensorimotor coordination and stamina but also mental agility—motor intelligence. Learn the technical aspects of the strokes. Also, hit hard. It should be something you love, or at least like, not a chore you do because the doctor says so. You should also do it with pride.

What about the intellect as such? Here I am a staunch believer in writing—not just reading and playing chess and watching CNN. This can take many forms: writing a diary, writing songs, writing stories, writing poetry, writing philosophy. Expand your vocabulary, work on your punctuation, read with a view to improving your own writing. Don’t just scan the newspaper. Write competitively, as if for money. Develop your own style and voice. Correct other people. Be a writing bore. There’s nothing more embarrassing than being unable to put together a decent sentence. The dictionary is your friend; grammar is your support system. Eloquence is your goal.