Are You a Musician?

[Josh (Josh Cohen)]

How many people here have studied music? Did you study music while younger? Do you still play today? What instrument do you play? Do you think that musical training has been helpful to you outside of the music itself?

Check out some of these studies:

• Musical training can increase blood flow in the brain
• Musical training shapes brain anatomy, affects function
• Just a few years of early musical training benefits the brain later in life
• Early music lessons boost brain development
• Music training has biological impact on aging process
• More evidence that musical training protects the brain

[Nagime]

@Josh

Did you study music while younger?

Yes

@Josh

Do you still play today?

No, unless visualizing audio/sound counts.

@Josh

Do you think that musical training has been helpful to you outside of the music itself?

Not significantly. The main benefit is that I was able to vaguely learn how music works. I did not get to spend much time playing instruments but instead had to learn musical notes. Out of all the music I have done, I have at best only spent 10 days of schooling with an actual instrument.

On the other hand, unrelated to this, I have played rhythm games and learnt a lot of songs off the top of my head just from exposure. This has had significant benefits outside of it’s context only.

[Liam (William L.)]

Did you study music while younger?
Yes.
Do you still play today?
No.
Do you think that musical training has been helpful to you outside of the music itself?
Yes.