How Music Helps Learning
Recently I read an interesting article about music on the Psychology Today website. I think it is worth summarizing it here. The title of the article is The Principles Of Learning Any Skill, with a subheading Music is a promising tool for improving cognition and promoting well-being.
Getting older doesn’t mean giving up on learning new things – in fact, it’s one of the best ways to keep your brain sharp. Research shows that learning music in later life can offset age-related cognitive decline and may even turn back the clock on your brain by about 10 years.
The good news? It’s never too late to start playing an instrument. Here are eight evidence-based principles to guide your musical journey, whether you’re 55, 75, or anywhere in between.
1. Practice Purposefully, Not Frantically
Slow down. Thoughtful, deliberate practice beats rushed repetition every time. When you work slowly, complex skills become simpler. Your brain needs time to process and integrate new information – speeding through material doesn’t help you perform better.
2. Set Clear, Meaningful Goals
Know where you’re going and why it matters to you. Without a clear goal, your practice lacks direction and impact. Whether it’s learning one song, playing for 15 minutes daily, or performing for family, having something specific to work toward fuels your motivation and gives meaning to your efforts.
3. Take Small Steps Toward Big Goals
Break down ambitious goals into baby steps. Want to learn piano? Start with five notes. These incremental achievements make progress feel achievable and build momentum without overwhelming you. Nothing motivates like the power of small wins.
4. Build Mental Representations
Before you can play something well, you need to hear it in your mind. Mental representations – knowing how a piece should sound – allow you to monitor your progress and guide your fingers toward the right outcome. Listen actively, then recreate what you hear.
5. Embrace Repetition
Skills that start requiring intense mental effort eventually become automatic with enough practice. Each repetition moves the skill deeper into your subconscious, freeing up your brain to focus on musical expression rather than just hitting the right notes. This automaticity is empowering – it means you’re truly learning.
6. Space Out Your Practice
Don’t cram. One of the most effective learning strategies is spreading practice over time. Your brain needs intervals between sessions to transform new information into long-term memory. Three 20-minute sessions throughout the week beat one grueling hour-long session.
7. Find Your Motivation
Music-making is fundamentally pleasurable, and for many, the act itself is rewarding—not just the end result. Yes, building skill requires concentrated effort and repetition, but improvement is your reward. The joy of seeing yourself get better is one of the most powerful motivators there is.
8. Adopt a Growth Mindset
Abilities aren’t fixed – they improve with effort, especially for older adults. Remember: we’re all bad at everything before we’re good at it. Believing that you can grow and improve, regardless of age, is crucial to your success.
The Brain-Health Bonus
Musical training isn’t just about making beautiful sounds – it’s a comprehensive cognitive workout. It strengthens concentrated attention, memory, self-discipline, and confidence while increasing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter closely linked to cognitive performance.
Learning music in later life is a promising intervention to maintain a sharp mind. To stay mentally fit as we age, we need new challenges – and music provides exactly that.
Ready to start your musical journey? Remember: slow, purposeful practice with clear goals and a growth mindset will get you there. Your brain- and your future self – will thank you.
Want to learn more about music for brain health and wellbeing? Explore more research-backed insights on the Musicably blog.
Photo by Volodymyr Melnik
