Music and Our Brain

Music listening and music making involve multiple brain pathways. Musicking engages multiple levels of brain activity to produce highly organised actions. 

The frontal lobes provide short moments of attention for us to connect tones into melody and engage in decision-making. The motor cortices coordinate motor functions such as fine motor movement and the motor aspects of speech. Sensory information from music is processed and integrated into our sensory cortices and helps us to react to our surroundings. Music activities engage regions of the brain in an extensive way that is considered beneficial to our functioning and well-being.

Using Music in Occupational Therapy

In a therapy context, music is an enjoyable and motivating activity for children, it is also applicable in different environments and suitable for a wide range of clientele. Training activities embedded in music are considered fun and enjoyable, and at the same time, functional and meaningful.  

Using music in play activities is beneficial in building joint attention and facilitating transitional activities. Music that is built around interaction can also enhance the therapeutic relationshipca. Besides, music can provide sensory experiences for children such as auditory, visual, vestibular, tactile and proprioceptive sensations. Music elements such as rhythm, dynamics, tones, pitches, and patterns are beneficial in motor skills development, emotional regulation, and cognitive development. 

Things to try with your kids

To build joint attention:
Stop and Go game with ukulele and tambourine 

To encourage gross motor movement:
Dancing and Marching with songs e.g. the ants go marching

To encourage fine motor movement:
Playing finger puppets with songs e.g. 5 Little Ducks

To facilitate emotional regulation:
Drumming with different emotions e.g. If you’re happy and you know it

To work on memory:
Playing on a keyboard with visual cues

To facilitate transition:
Sing a pack away song

Bonnie So