Articles
Music and Violin Things
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180517123254.htm
Learning music or speaking another language leads to a more efficient brain.
"These findings show that musicians and bilinguals require less effort to perform the same task, which could also protect them against cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia," says Dr. Claude Alain, first author of the paper and senior scientist at Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute. "Our results also demonstrated that a person's experiences, whether it's learning how to play a musical instrument or another language, can shape how the brain functions and which networks are used."
Musicians and people who are bilingual have long been shown to have a better working memory, the ability to keep things in mind, such as remembering a phone number, a list of instructions or doing mental math.
If the brain is a muscle, then learning to play an instrument and read music is the ultimate exercise.
Two new studies from the Brain and Creativity Institute at USC show that as little as two years of music instruction has multiple benefits. Music training can change both the structure of the brain’s white matter, which carries signals through the brain, and gray matter, which contains most of the brain’s neurons that are active in processing information. Music instruction also boosts engagement of brain networks that are responsible for decision-making and the ability to focus attention and inhibit impulses.
https://aeon.co/essays/ringing-the-chords-of-the-universe-how-music-influenced-science
Interesting article about music, math and physics. I often encourage students to consider doing their science fair projects on something having to do with music or their instruments. There are some great ones in this article.
https://suzukiassociation.org/news/back-to-basics-what-every-teacher-wants-you-2/
This is a great article everyone should read. It talks about practice time, how to get the most out of your lesson, why do we review. Very valuable and useful information.
http://stringsmagazine.com/the-differences-between-dark-and-amber-rosin/
This article answers many of the questions people ask about rosin. How is it made? Why the different colors? And more. The comments are well worth a read too.
https://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie/201810/27513/
This is a fabulous blog post about how proper body usage is essential to playing the violin or viola.
"Frank's "happy ending" notwithstanding, recovering from performance injury is not a straightforward process that concludes as soon as the muscles have healed and the pain has subsided. Rather, Frank and Nelson present injury prevention as a way of life, involving specific measures as well as constant attention to regular habits that could lead to problems."
All about chopping. How to chop? When did chopping start.
ttps://www.smartmusic.com/blog/the-neuroscience-of-deliberate-practice/
What powerful practicing does for your brain. A short, and clear read.
https://www.inc.com/john-rampton/the-benefits-of-playing-music-help-your-brain-more.html?cid=search
If you want a great overview of the many ways music helps your brain, this article has the info for you.
https://bulletproofmusician.com/why-the-progress-in-the-practice-room-seems-to-disappear-overnight/
How to practice most efficiently. Tips backed by science on how to get things to stick faster.
https://medium.com/thrive-global/this-morning-routine-will-save-you-20-hours-per-week-353861ddca74
There are some things in this article that can easily be applied to finding time to practice and getting over the get out the instrument out of the case to get started bump. There is a discussion about what to do instead of willpower to do those things you want to be doing.
