Some of the most successful musicians have had this developmental disability: John Lennon of The Beatles, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters, George Gershwin, and more. How did music help them and continue to help thousands of musicians today? Let’s delve into that.
Sharlene Habermeyer, author of Good Music, Brighter Children, witnessed firsthand how impactful music was for her son. As she mentions in one of her articles, “Music strengthens the areas of the brain that, in the child with ADHD, are weak. Studies indicate that when children with ADHD or learning disabilities learn a musical instrument, attention, concentration, impulse control, social functioning, self-esteem, self-expression, motivation, and memory improve.”
National Institutes of Health (NIH) states: “In general terms, this systematic review shows that active (playing music), passive (listening to music), and interactive (music-making with feedback) music therapy are beneficial in reducing ADHD symptomatology and increasing task performance in people with ADHD. Rather than being a distraction, music can help to modulate emotional and cognitive states.”
The Suzuki method, the foundation of which is learning an instrument by ear, is my area of expertise. I was diagnosed with ADHD myself as an adult, and looking back now, I see that music saved me. It greatly helped me with being present, mindful, and calm.
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