What role does music play in childhood development? How can playing music improve your mental processing?
There are many benefits of music on the brain, and neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin explains them in his book I Heard There Was a Secret Chord. From releasing oxytocin to generating empathy, music can have profound impacts on humans.
Here’s a look at the top three benefits of music.
The Benefits of Music in Everyday Life
Music shapes our lives in three powerful ways: It supports healthy childhood development, builds empathy between people, and enhances overall well-being. We’ll explore each of the benefits of music on the brain.
1. Healthy Childhood Development
Levitin explains how, from infancy onward, music plays a vital role in child development. For example, when parents sing to their babies, the released oxytocin and prolactin help infants form secure attachments, learn to regulate emotions, and develop trust. These interactions teach babies how to self-soothe and connect with others, while also reducing stress for parents and strengthening the parent-child bond.
(Shortform note: Beyond hormonal effects, different types of singing serve distinct developmental purposes: Lullabies help regulate infant physiological states, improving heart rate stability and reducing stress hormones like cortisol, while more animated playsongs promote cognitive engagement and social development through their rhythmic patterns and interactive nature. These complementary benefits highlight how parental singing provides a spectrum of developmental advantages beyond just the hormonal responses Levitin describes.)
Levitin argues music also plays a role in creating a healthy home environment. Research suggests when families listen to music together rather than through personal headphones, they spend more time in shared spaces, feel closer to one another, and report greater happiness.
(Shortform note: A study in the Journal of Family Communication that listening to music with your adolescent children can be particularly impactful during a typically challenging stage of development. Researchers identified three ways music creates this positive impact: It encourages physical synchronization through dancing or singing together, it sparks meaningful conversations about the music and associated memories, and it creates shared emotional experiences that build empathy between parents and teens.)
2. Increased Empathy
Finally, Levitin discusses how music can build empathy. Brain imaging studies reveal that when people listen to the same music, their neural responses synchronize, processing the music in similar patterns. For example, when the music swells, both listeners’ brains respond to the rising intensity; when it softens, both experience the shift to a calmer state. The music acts as an emotional conductor, guiding listeners through the same peaks and valleys of feeling, even if they interpret those feelings differently. Research shows that just 20 minutes of listening to music together can generate levels of empathy between strangers equivalent to a three-year friendship.
(Shortform note: Music not only builds empathy; empathy also shapes how we experience music. An fMRI study found that highly empathetic people show increased activation in both reward centers and social processing areas when listening to music, unlike less empathetic individuals who primarily activated auditory processing regions. Highly empathetic listeners also appeared to approach unfamiliar or initially disliked music with more curiosity and patience—similar to the mindset they’d have when meeting someone new—and were better able to regulate initial negative reactions.)
Music is so powerful an empathy-builder, Levitin writes, that it’s also useful for conflict mediation. He cites The Resonance Project (TRP) as an example. This organization brings small musical ensembles to aid in difficult diplomatic negotiations. In one test case, Israeli and Palestinian dialogue participants in California listened to live piano duets with flute or cello during their discussions. The participants reported deep feelings of connection and a heightened ability to imagine solutions, demonstrating how strategically placed live music can facilitate conflict resolution.
(Shortform note: The TRP explains that it uses three criteria to choose music for conflict mediation. The music must be intellectually engaging, emotionally resonant, or groundbreaking in some way. Intellectually engaging music, like Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1, features complex patterns that help parties move beyond emotional reactions. Emotionally resonant music such as Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 creates space for genuine feelings and empathy to emerge. Groundbreaking music, exemplified by Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time, introduces new perspectives by breaking traditional boundaries, encouraging creative conflict resolutions.)
3. Improved Well-Being
While listening to music has clear benefits for individuals and groups, Levitin explains that actively playing an instrument (or singing) can be even more impactful. According to his research, learning a musical instrument enhances cognitive and emotional well-being at every stage of life. Children who play music develop stronger communication abilities and neural connections, while older adults show improved fine motor skills and mental processing after just one year of piano lessons.
(Shortform note: These cognitive and emotional benefits span all age groups, as demonstrated by programs like El Sistema and New Horizons Musical Association. Founded in 1975 by José Antonio Abreu, El Sistema provides free classical training to disadvantaged Venezuelan children, resulting in higher academic achievement and improved social skills among its 700,000+ participants. For older adults, the New Horizons program offers seniors with no prior musical experience the opportunity to join a band or orchestra. Research shows participants experience reduced isolation, improved cognitive function, and enhanced quality of life through active music-making.)
