Music is magic. Professor of neuropsychology Erik Scherder is researching the effect of music on the brain. He explains how this works.
Listening to music
“Listening to music causes areas in your brain to communicate with each other at a distance; it activates neural networks. You hear something and you move with it. And it touches you, sometimes you even feel a shiver. That is why music enriches body and soul.”
Win-win: making music together
Making music yourself provides even more benefits, because it causes even more activity in the brain. Scherder: “It is a kind of optimum cooperation between motor action, visual action (reading notes, searching for keys), and auditory input. But also: correcting yourself, making adjustments, and, of course, enjoying your progress. It comes in from all sides and that’s what makes it so special.”
As a music assistant, you bring about this special effect.
Energy for two
The Jostiband, for example, generates a great deal of positive energy among assistants and audiences. Scherder: “When I think of the Jostiband, all areas of my brain that bring cheerfulness become active. I went to a few rehearsals and was really impressed. You see people participating with visibly intense pleasure and happiness. What a joy to watch and listen to.”
The enthusiasm of musicians with disabilities is often very contagious. Experience it too and get to work together. For example with the play-along videos.