No, children don’t get smarter because of Mozart. Yes, music lessons improve reading skills. No, for most of us, music does not help us focus. Yes, music significantly reduces anxiety and depression in Alzheimer’s patients…
These and many dozens of other «yes» and «no», behind which there are serious scientific research and experiments, have been collected in her book by the British psychologist Victoria Williamson. She has been running a music psychology website (musicpsychology.co.uk) for ten years and stays up to date with the latest work on the impact of music on people of all ages and professions, on our memory, behavior, physical and mental well-being. “Music is not a magic pill,” the author clarifies. “But it can be an important vehicle for communication, support, comfort and inspiration.”
Mann, Ivanov & Ferber, 240 pp., 2015.