Overview

We make or listen to music for the powerful effect it has on our emotions, and we can't imagine our lives without music. Yet we tend to know nothing about the intricate networks that neurons create throughout our brains to make music possible. The Musical Brain explores fascinating discoveries about the brain and music, often told through the stories of musicians whose lives have been impacted by the extraordinary ability of our brains to learn and adapt. Neuroscientists have been studying musicians and the process of making music since the early 1990s and have discovered a staggering amount of information about how the brain processes music. There have been many books discussing neuroscience and music, but this is the first to relate the research in a practical way to those individuals who make or teach music. Research in mirror neurons, neuroplasticity, imagery, learning and memory, the musical abilities of babies, and the cognitive advantage of studying music can offer valuable insights into how and when we should begin the study of music, how we can practice and teach more effectively, how we can perform with greater confidence, and can help us understand why experiencing music together is so important in our lives. An accompanying website provides links to interviews, performance clips, demonstrations, photos, and essays involving the concepts or musicians discussed in the book.

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9780197584170

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Reviews

"Finally! ...a book about music and neuroscience written by a musician and music teacher. Svard's perspective can help musicians play better, music teachers teach better, and music students learn better. * Nina Kraus, professor and neurobiologist, Northwestern University, author of ""Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World"" * In 'The Musical Brain,' Lois Svard weaves together a comprehensive tapestry of neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, and biology to explore the many ways in which music is a fundamental component of human experience. The author's skill as an educator is evident in the way she distills complex research into concise and descriptive writing to provide readers with engaging real-life stories. This inviting book will be of great interest to any performer, teacher, or curious music lover. * Vanessa Cornett, Director of Keyboard Studies, Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy, University of St. Thomas, author of ""The Mindful Musician: Mental Skills for Peak Performance"" * Written with clarity and wisdom, packed with compelling accounts of neurological research on music, this superb book is relevant, timely and important. Svard makes the convincing case that music is * in so many vital ways *"

Finally! ...a book about music and neuroscience written by a musician and music teacher. Svard's perspective can help musicians play better, music teachers teach better, and music students learn better. * Nina Kraus, professor and neurobiologist, Northwestern University, author of Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World * In 'The Musical Brain,' Lois Svard weaves together a comprehensive tapestry of neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, and biology to explore the many ways in which music is a fundamental component of human experience. The author's skill as an educator is evident in the way she distills complex research into concise and descriptive writing to provide readers with engaging real-life stories. This inviting book will be of great interest to any performer, teacher, or curious music lover. * Vanessa Cornett, Director of Keyboard Studies, Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy, University of St. Thomas, author of The Mindful Musician: Mental Skills for Peak Performance * Written with clarity and wisdom, packed with compelling accounts of neurological research on music, this superb book is relevant, timely and important. Svard makes the convincing case that music is * in so many vital ways *

Author Information

Pianist Lois Svard is known for her performances and recordings of works by American experimental composers. She has also written and lectured extensively about the applications of neuroscience research for the study and performance of music. She is Professor Emerita of Music at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and is the author of the blog The Musician's Brain about music, the brain, and learning.

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