Is there such a thing as a music mind? (where some people have better memory with music than others)?

Some people can play and understand music almost instantaneously whereas some just can’t seem to get the concept. Some take years and some never get it. Does it have anything to do with how people think? Can we tune our brains to be musically inclined?

In Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence, music is one of the seven. Most people call that “talent,” and it works just as you describe. The theory of multiple intelligences is not universally accepted, and there are new types of intelligences being added to the original list of seven.

I think we can “tune our brains” through practice and the right learning/teaching approach. Anyone can teach “naturals,” a great teacher can translate the material to whatever intelligences you already have.

Just a few examples: People who are good at math, for instance, are often able to translate that type of thinking to understanding music theory. And people who are athletic or kinesthetically gifted have an advantage in learning the posture and holds for an instrument without needing to be told how to do it. Other people understand technique and color without having to study. Visual learners have the advantage in reading music.

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7 comments to Is there such a thing as a music mind? (where some people have better memory with music than others)?

  • blacklabelsociety

    yea i think some people just have a natural talent where others have to bust butt to get it nailed down
    References :

  • commloan

    There are considered 7 Intelligences. Music is one of them. Math is another. Logic. Spacial. I can't think of the rest… Google it.
    References :

  • DBK

    Yes. I have a musical mind. It has always just been second nature to me. When I was 10, I just picked up a pair of drum sticks and started playing. Other things, such as advanced Mathematics, I just can't grasp.
    References :

  • GMM

    In Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligence, music is one of the seven. Most people call that "talent," and it works just as you describe. The theory of multiple intelligences is not universally accepted, and there are new types of intelligences being added to the original list of seven.

    I think we can "tune our brains" through practice and the right learning/teaching approach. Anyone can teach "naturals," a great teacher can translate the material to whatever intelligences you already have.

    Just a few examples: People who are good at math, for instance, are often able to translate that type of thinking to understanding music theory. And people who are athletic or kinesthetically gifted have an advantage in learning the posture and holds for an instrument without needing to be told how to do it. Other people understand technique and color without having to study. Visual learners have the advantage in reading music.
    References :
    Smith, M. K. (2002) 'Howard Gardner and multiple intelligences', the encyclopedia of informal education,
    http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm
    http://www.cookps.act.edu.au/mi_musical.htm

  • Boffo

    It all begins with rhythm…if you haven't got it, it doesn't matter how much technical stuff you know…(example: John Lee Hooker)
    References :

  • littlebit17

    Well, Howard Gardner has his theory, but there are also three types of learning styles which are visual-learning by seeing, auditory-learning by hearing, and kinestic-hands on learning. Most of us are dominate in one.
    References :
    http://www.chaminade.org/inspire/learnstl.htm

  • Jarrod

    I have a musical mind but I am bad at math. So I think the whole idea of people who are good at music must be good at math is false.

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