Book Description:
The theme of this book is how to transmit topical knowledge and recent findings in neurosciences to the needs of music educators. The authors offer a comprehensive view of neuromusical research and its potential applications to music learning. They take into consideration that (1) knowledge as such is not transferable; we cannot force children to learn or push synapses to grow. We can only provide a stimulating environment and environmental conditions that enhance and support learning, and (2) knowledge acquisition is governed by factors that are not fully under conscious control and can hardly be influenced externally. Nevertheless, children learn and are extremely curious and eager to learn. Their cortex is the organ where new experiences and knowledge are processed by interconnected neurons (mental representations) which become activated when a similar sensorial input is perceived. Since musicians have become a favoured model of brain plasticity in neurosciences, pedagogical expectations arose that education could benefit from music, and that neurosciences could underpin this assumption with solid and robust research data.

Table of Contents:
Preface pp. i-x

Chapter 1 - Neuromusical Research – An Overview of the Literature, pp. 1-25;
(Richard D. Edwards, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY and Donald A. Hodges, Univ. of N.C., Greensboro, USA)

Chapter 2 - Born to Learn: Early Learning Optimizes Brain Function, pp. 27-51;
(Anna Katharina Braun, and Joerg Bock, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Germany)

Chapter 3 - Music Learning in Childhood. Early Developments of a Musical Brain and Body, pp. 53-99;
(John W. Flohr, Texas Woman's Univ., Texas and Colwyn Trevarthen, Univ. of Edinburgh, UK)

Chapter 4 - Neural Correlates of Music Learning and Understanding, pp. 101-120;
(Gottfried Schlaug, Beth Israel Deaconess Med. Center and Harvard Med. School, Boston, MA and Marc Bangert, Neuroimaging Lab, BIDMC and Harvard Med. School, Boston, USA)

Chapter 5 - Motor Learning and Instrumental Training, pp. 121-142;
(Eckart Altenmueller, Univ. of Music and Drama, Hanover, Germany and Gary E. McPherson, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA)

Chapter 6 - Neuroscience of Music and Emotion, pp. 143-167;
(Gunter Kreutz, Royal Northen College of Music, Manchester, UK and Martin Lotze, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Univ., Greifswald, Germany)

Chapter 7 - Unpacking the Impact of Music on Intelligence,
pp. 169-198;
(James S. Catterall, Univ. of Calif., USA and Frances H. Rauscher, Univ. of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, USA)

Chapter 8 - Neuroscientific Aspects of Giftedness and Musical Talent, pp. 199-227;
(Marianne Hassler, Univ. Tuebingen, Germany and Leon K. Miller, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, USA)

Chapter 9 - Music Learning of Individuals with Disabilities and Mental Disorders, pp. 229-262;
(Eckart Altenmueller, Univ. of Music and Drama, Hanover, Germany)

Chapter 10 - The Neurobiology of Learning: New Approaches to Music Pedagogy., pp. 263-295;
Conclusions and Implications (Wilfried Gruhn, Univ. of Music, Freiburg and Grodon Inst. for Early Childhood Music Learning, Germany and Frances H. Rauscher, Univ. of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, USA)

Glossary pp.283-292

About The Contributors pp.293-300

Index pp.301-322