As neuroscience has determined through decades of research, multiple areas light up in the brain when we to listen to music. In a split second we are able to process the sound, determine melody and rhythm, and put it back together into a unified musical experience.

So what happens in the brain when you go from active listener to active participate? By studying the brain in real time, technology such as FMRI and PET scanners have determined what goes on inside the brain when we're playing an instrument. Scientists have found that while listening to music uses multiple areas of the brain, playing music is the equivalent to a full body workout.

This is great news for all advocates of music education, and provides an interesting perspective to anyone actively learning an instrument. You’re not just getting better at playing music – you’re becoming a better human!