Anita Collins: How playing an instrument benefits your brain

How playing an instrument benefits your brain

When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout. What's going on? Educator Anita Collins explains the fireworks that go off in musicians' brains when they play and examines some of the long-term positive effects of this mental workout. (Directed by Sharon Colman Graham, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Peter Gosling)

Picking up an instrument sparks a cascade of brain activity, far beyond simply listening to music. Neuroscientists have observed that playing music lights up nearly every region of the brain in complex, rapid-fire sequences, much like a mental fireworks display. This full-brain workout strengthens not just musical ability, but memory, problem-solving, and emotional awareness. Studies show that structured music practice uniquely enhances brain connectivity and cognitive skills unlike any other activity.