How does the process of learning music impact our brain? To what extent does it foster curiosity, attention and enhance memory?
How is it linked with reading, learning languages, or mathematical thinking? Does a child need a musical ear to develop musical ability and make progress in music? Is there an age limit for learning music?

At a time when music education is being drastically cut, in connection with a “back to basics” rhetoric spreading over the field of education, there is also a growing interest in demonstrating and experiencing the way music can boost literacy, fine motor skills, memory, but also social behavior, altruism and… happiness!

A world-renowned expert on music and the brain, Isabelle Peretz takes up the joint challenge of enlightening us on the main findings of more than thirty years of neurobiological research on music and education, and translating them, where possible, into actionable recommendations directly applicable to the music room.

Written in both lively and straightforward language, her book details the various ways in which music can transform our brain, for the better. It makes the main findings of the neuroscience of music accessible to all those involved in music education —aspiring musicians, professors, learning adults, parents, or educational advisors.

An indispensable guide to understanding and promoting best practice in musical education.

Dr Isabelle Peretz is a professor of Psychology at University of Montréal, where she holds a Canada Research Chair and a Casavant Chair in neurocognition of music.

1. Cover Page
2. Title Page
3. By The Author
4. Copyright Page
5. Introduction
6. CHAPTER 1 - Musical pleasure
7. CHAPTER 2 - Born musical
8. CHAPTER 3 - Music at the service of schooling
   1. Music makes you smarter
   2. Music and mathematics
   3. Music and reading
   4. Studying with music
9. CHAPTER 4 - Music sculpts the brain
10. CHAPTER 5 - Is there a critical period for music?
11. CHAPTER 6 - Are all equally musical?
12. CHAPTER 7 - Musical genes
13. CHAPTER 8 - The case of absolute pitch
14. CHAPTER 9 - Congenital amusia (tone deafness)
15. CHAPTER 10 - Singing is as natural as speaking
16. CHAPTER 11 - Dance is also music
17. CHAPTER 12 - Music connects us
18. CHAPTER 13 - No age limit
19. CHAPTER 14 - How to learn music
    1. Curiosity
    2. Attention is limited
    3. Memorization
20. CHAPTER 15 - From the lab to the classroom
21. CHAPTER 16 - Recommendations
22. APPENDIX - Evaluation of musical abilities
23. Keywords index
24. References
25. Acknowledgments
26. Contents