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According to New Scientist, there is increasing evidence that it is training that makes the musician, rather than an innate gift.
New research carried out at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville has shown that areas of the brain responsive to musical syntax and timbre become more animated for musicians when they are listening to their own type of instrument.
I’ve noticed something relating to this in my teenage son who spends a couple of hours a day on his electric guitar. When listening to rock or metal music he can deconstruct what is going on between different guitar players and pick up what each is playing. To me it’s just a combination of musical noise and I find it extremely difficult to distinguish between different instruments let alone distinctions between the same instruments.
Anyway, the researchers attribute this increased brain activity to intense musical training. If musical ability was a genetic issue, brain scans would be similar for all musicians listening to music, whatever the instrument.
The conclusion is that whilst musicians have a different brain it’s unlikely they were born that way.
It’s not only as a doting mother that I find this interesting. Working as a hypnotherapist I’m fascinated by the mind’s ability to create new patterns of thought, and to enhance existing abilities. If while relaxed you are mentally rehearsing a piece of music you want to play, you will be reinforcing a particular pattern of thought related to the accomplishment you are working on. At brain cell level, connections between neurons are being repeatedly stimulated and thus the piece of music will flow more and more naturally.
In addition, you are also creating a positive image for your subconscious mind to follow, especially if you consider the pleasant emotions you feel on successful completion of your task.
This doesn’t just work for music, but is a technique used by athletes, dancers and just about anyone who has something they want to perform more effectively.
The mind is far more malleable than you think….it’s our limiting beliefs that get in the way. More about that another time.
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