Future and Innovation
Neuroscience and Music Education Forum
Dr Anita Collins presented on how playing an instrument benefits your brain.
Thursday at Barker saw two fascinating presentations from Dr Anita Collins, as she shared her extensive knowledge of Neuroscience and Music; examining the connections with learning. Her presentation picked up on the themes presented in her highly acclaimed TedEd talk and video "How playing an instrument benefits your brain" which has been viewed 3,500,000 times!
The afternoon session explored the connections with executive functioning through to language acquisition, while the evening saw parents engaged in the facts about the 'full body' workout that playing music provides for children from the time they are born, continuing throughout their lives.
Dr Collins discussed a wide range of research as she responded to questions from the floor. She discussed how playing music related to enjoyment and well being, while the underlying message illuminated the fact that the 'music brain' is central to all of the other functions we do in our lives and pivotal in the development of our memory.
The interest and comments from both the teachers and parents affirmed the importance of using music as a means to develop life-long learning and independence amongst students in all classrooms. Dr Collins suggested that all babies should be handed a musical instrument as they departed hospital after birth, an interesting idea to conceptualise!
The Barker Institute is indebted to Dr Anita Collins for her contribution to our community. We thank her for her insightful comments and breadth of understanding, which allowed all participants to grasp a clear and meaningful understanding of the connections between Neuroscience and Music.
Dr Brad Merrick
Brad Merrick is the immediate past Director of the Barker Institute & Director of Research in Learning at Barker. He has a keen interest in emerging technologies, professional learning and creative pedagogy. His doctorate investigated the relationship between student self-efficacy and self-regulation in creative learning environments. His professional experience in education has also involved casual academic roles at the University of Sydney, University of NSW, UWS and the UQ. He has held the post of President of the Australian Society of Music Education and also sits on the Committee of the International Commission for Music in School Teacher Education. He is now a Senior Lecturer (Music and the Arts Education) at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne.
