The Chinese philosopher Confucius said long ago that “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”
For adults, listening to and playing music helps the mind to be alert and remain active eventually helping to sharpen the memory.
Recent research suggests exposure to music may benefit a child's reading age, IQ and the development of certain parts of the brain.
By reading musical notes on a page, your brain subconsciously must convert that note into specific motor patterns while also adding breathing and rhythm to the mix.
Reading music requires counting notes and rhythms and can help your math skills. It also improves your reading and comprehension skills because music involves constant reading and comprehension. When you see black and white notes on a page, you have to recognize what the note name is and translate it to a finger/slide position.
It teaches you discipline, and commitment toward a regular practice and self-growth, and responsibility for time management and organisation.
You develop great listening skills. In order for a group to make beautiful music, each player and section must learn how to listen to each other and play together.
Often music reflects the environment and times of its creation. Therefore, you learn a variety of music types such as classical traditions, folk music, medieval, and other genres. Music itself is history.
Music is an art and a way of expression –just like an artist can paint his/her emotions onto a canvas, so can a musician play a piece with emotion. This has proven to relieve stress and can be a great form of therapy.
When you play with others and for others to listen to, you promote a little bit of happiness and joy around you, in an organic form of expression that humans can't live without- music!
Adapted from source:
