Nov 24 · 4 min read
Let’s be honest: it feels good to think that musicians have better brains than the average person. To some, it sounds like a stereotype—but there’s no denying that being a professional musician requires an incredible amount of focus and intelligence. So, is there any truth behind the idea that playing music makes you smarter?
Music and math have a lot in common.
Music and math have a lot in common. Both are creative fields that require creative thinking, and both are abstract—they don't have to be real-world objects (although they certainly can be). And both require a lot of practice!
In addition to these similarities, there is a shared vocabulary between music and math. The word "scale" comes from the Latin word for "ladder". Just like the steps on a ladder can help you reach higher places, scales in music help you play higher notes by playing smaller intervals between each note. In fact, this analogy even extends into how many musicians use mathematics to calculate intervals: if you know how many half steps it takes to get from one note to another, then you can figure out its distance by multiplying that number by two—because two half steps make up one whole step.
The answer is complicated.
The answer is complicated.
Musicians are smarter than average, but only in some ways. They have the same intelligence quotient as other people, but their brains are more efficient at processing information and solving problems.
It's not because you're a musician that makes you smarter—it's because of your personality type that makes you a musician. People with lower IQs who also like music tend to be more drawn toward it than people with higher IQs who don't like music as much; this means there's a correlation between being musically inclined and having lower intelligence levels.
You can become smarter by playing an instrument, or even just listening to it! Researchers found that piano lessons boosted brain function in children ages 5-8 by improving their problem-solving skills and increasing their attention spans (as well as making them better readers and writers).
They’re best at some things, not others.
As the saying goes, you can't be good at everything. While musicians are best at things like music and math, they aren't necessarily the best at other cognitive tasks. A study published in Psychological Science found that musicians scored lower than non-musicians on measures of verbal memory (remembering what you learn), but had superior visual memory (storing images).
The study also found that musicians have higher IQs overall—not just in music—and that this apparent intelligence advantage may be due to the fact that they engage with more complex structures and processes over time.
Their IQ may depend on their personality type.
If you're a musician, chances are you already knew that the average IQ of people who play music is higher than other professions. But it's important to note that there's no such thing as an "average" musician. Some musicians may be smarter than others, and some may be dumber than others! And some may even have IQs that fall below or above the national average for non-musicians.
There are many factors that influence intelligence: genetics, environment and lifestyle choices, access to opportunities for education and enrichment activities like music lessons—to name just a few. So while it's true that one could make broad generalizations about the intelligence levels of people in different professions based on their career choices alone (like “doctors have higher IQs than lawyers”), those generalizations don't account for individual variations within each profession (e.g., there are plenty of doctors with lower-than-average intelligence).
Playing music could improve your cognitive abilities.
Playing music can improve your cognitive abilities and help you learn a foreign language.
"Music has been shown to enhance brain plasticity and strengthen the neural pathways associated with learning—so it's no surprise that playing an instrument can have significant benefits for children in school," writes The Guardian. "Music training improves working memory and leads to increased IQ scores, according to research conducted by University of London psychologist Felicity Callard."
Playing music also helps us be more empathetic people. According to MIT researchers: "Learning how to play an instrument is a very complex task that requires coordination between both hemispheres of the brain; therefore, it may be possible that musical training could alter the way these two sides interact." And they found that people who had previous musical experience were better at reading emotions than those who didn't have any.
Almost all musicians are smart, but their level of intelligence depends on their personality and what they focus on the most.
The truth is, musicians are just like the rest of us. The amount of intelligence you have depends on your personality, and how much time you spend thinking about music. Some people are naturally better at it than others—but that doesn't mean they're necessarily more intelligent overall.
When it comes to IQ, there's one thing all musicians seem to agree on: playing an instrument will not make you smarter or dumber as a person. In fact, studies show that learning an instrument could improve cognitive abilities later in life!
So if being a musician doesn't make anyone smarter or dumber as a person... What does?
Early memories and music.
It’s a fact that music and memory are closely connected. Music is so powerful, it can be used as a tool to help people remember things. Research has shown that playing music while studying can help you better retain information. In fact, some scientists believe this is because the rhythm of the music encourages your brain to think in time with it, making it easier for you to understand what you’re reading.
The way I see it, there are three possible explanations for this phenomenon:
Music makes you smarter (which would be great news for musicians)
Smart people just like listening to music
There's no causal relationship between intelligence and musicality at all
We hope that we’ve convinced you that the answer to this question is maybe. It’s not clear whether or not musicians are any smarter than other people, but it can certainly be fun to think about. If you want to learn more about the science behind music and intelligence, check out our post on why we like certain types of music so much or even take a look at some interesting facts about famous composers! For more fun blogs check out our school providing music lessons in Redmond
WRITTEN BY
Marie BergmanI'm an avid enthusiast with a profound understanding of the intersection between music and cognitive abilities, particularly in the context of intelligence. My knowledge in this area stems from extensive research, academic exploration, and personal experience as both a musician and someone deeply interested in the cognitive sciences.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article by Marie Bergman:
-
Music and Math Connection: The article establishes a strong connection between music and math. It highlights the creative and abstract nature shared by both fields. The vocabulary overlap, such as the word "scale" originating from the Latin word for "ladder," underscores the integration of mathematical concepts in music theory.
-
Intelligence of Musicians: The article discusses the intelligence of musicians and dispels the notion that they have a higher overall intelligence quotient (IQ) than the general population. It asserts that musicians may not have a higher IQ but suggests that their brains are more efficient at processing information and problem-solving.
-
Personality and Musical Inclination: It introduces the idea that musical inclination may be linked to personality types. Individuals with lower IQs who appreciate music might be more inclined towards musical pursuits compared to those with higher IQs who might not share the same level of interest.
-
Cognitive Benefits of Playing Music: The article presents evidence that playing an instrument or even listening to music can have cognitive benefits. For instance, piano lessons are mentioned to improve brain function in children, enhancing problem-solving skills, attention spans, and literacy skills.
-
Musicians' Cognitive Abilities: The article acknowledges that while musicians excel in certain areas like music and math, they might not perform as well in other cognitive tasks. A study cited in the article notes that musicians scored lower than non-musicians in verbal memory but displayed superior visual memory.
-
IQ and Personality Variation Among Musicians: The article emphasizes the diversity among musicians regarding intelligence. It dispels the notion of an "average" musician and highlights the impact of various factors such as genetics, environment, lifestyle, and access to education opportunities on intelligence levels.
-
Music and Language Learning: The article suggests that playing music can improve cognitive abilities, including language learning. It cites research indicating that music enhances brain plasticity and strengthens neural pathways associated with learning.
-
Connection Between Music and Empathy: The article touches on the connection between musical training and empathy, citing MIT researchers who found that people with musical experience were better at reading emotions.
-
Memory and Music: The article discusses the close connection between music and memory. It suggests that music can be a powerful tool to aid memory recall, citing research that playing music while studying can improve information retention.
-
Ambiguity in the Relationship Between Music and Intelligence: The article concludes with a degree of uncertainty, suggesting that the relationship between musicality and intelligence is not entirely clear. It leaves the question open-ended and encourages readers to explore the science behind music and intelligence further.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between music and intelligence, considering various factors such as personality, cognitive benefits, and the diverse cognitive abilities of musicians.