5/04 The Healing Power of Music

Welcome to Week 14 of Our Brain Fitness Class

The Healing Power of Music Lesson

In past lessons, we have learned how powerfully music can affect the brain and promote positive plasticity. We have learned that listening to music, and more especially, playing a musical instrument, stimulates a multitude of brain processes that promote cognitive health. This week, however, we will focus on the healing power of music—how it can sooth and heal our brain, body, and spirit. Click here to read and view the interactive lesson, or download the Printable Handout here. Here is a PowerPoint summary presentation of the lesson. Then, don't forget to Take the Quiz to see how much you learned.

The BrainHQ Connection

We know that music to make our lives socially, cognitively, physically, emotionally, or developmentally better. In this article we will learn the Top 12 Brain-Based Reasons Why Music as Therapy Works, from the soothing lullabies we heard as babies, to our body's and brain's processing of and reaction to music, to how music improves our cognitive skills. It's worth a read. (be sure to watch the "Beyonce" video link).

Music and the Brain: Further Evidence on The Power of Sound explains and links to many ways/studies that demonstrate music's benefits to the brain. If the links in the article aren't working for you (some seem to be down) you can access them here: Music as a Healing Tool After Brain Injury and How Music Helps to Heal the Injured Brain,

Check out the great infographic on This Is Your Brain on Music from the University of Florida, that visually supports Debbie's wonderful lesson on the Healing Power of Music.

There are actually many wonderful articles about the Powers of Music on the BHQ website. If you'd like to explore more, go to Music and the Brain and click on any article.

Zoom Sessions

Zoom Session: Join us this Wednesday, May 13th. This week our lesson are about two very different sources of healing for the mind, the body and the spirit. Our Basics Lesson will be an introduction to physical exercises for the brain, and the Topics lesson is about the healing power of music- a perfect combination of holistic health tips. Join us for both, if you can. Here’s our schedule of events:

6:30-7:00: For ALL! Q&A time about any of the BHQ exercises or the class website.

7:00-7:30: We will focus on the Weekly Basics Lesson - Exercise and the Brain.

7:30–8:00: We will focus on the Weekly Topics Lesson – The Healing Power of Music

Just click here to follow the instructions on the Home Page by scrolling down to Weekly Zoom Sessions. Or you can go directly to the Zoom site by clicking here.

First time on Zoom? Just follow the instructions on this Home Page to learn how. Returning students click here to connect directly. Try getting on the site early to see how easy it is to get it set up. We begin our BHQ Zoom at 6:30, so try getting on at about 6:15 and call if you have any trouble. You can participate by video and audio, or just listen in by phone. Please let us know if you need help! Call Pat’s cell at 619-818-3953. If you’ve been on Zoom before, you will appreciate this new Zoom Video that Mary created to help you learn about some of the features available to you while on the site. See you on Wednesday.

Enjoy the lessons, and have a brain-healthy week.

Contact Us

Need help? Contact us at:

Pat Mosteller (pmostell@sdccd.edu) Cell 619-818-3953 - Online classes

Mary Burns (mburns@sdccd.edu) - Online classes

Debbie Flores (dsflores@sdccd.edu) - Cell 619-608-9001 --Online classes & Wednesday AM and PM classes at the Kroc Center

Janet Blair ( blusdbits@gmail.com ) - St Pauls Plaza. Contact for Support and Lesson Review

Yael Lorberfeld (ylorberfeld@sdccd.edu) . Mondays at the Kroc Center, Wednesdays at the College Ave Senior Center (Temple Emanu-El), and Friday mornings at the La Jolla JCC.

Marilyn Kessler (marilynk@ifssd.org) - Mondays at the College Ave Senior Center (Temple Emanu-El)