The Impact of Music on Human Development and Well-Being

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Editorial

17 June 2020

Editorial: The Impact of Music on Human Development and Well-Being

Graham F. Welch

,

Michele Biasutti

,

Jennifer MacRitchie

,

Gary E. McPherson

and

Evangelos Himonides

184,880 views

36 citations

Editors

5

Full Professor Michele Biasutti

University of Padua

Graham Frederick Welch

Institute of Education, University College London

Jennifer MacRitchie

The University of Sheffield

Gary Edward McPherson

The University of Melbourne

Evangelos Himonides

University College London

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About

Music is one of the most universal ways of expression in human life. Music is present in the everyday lives of people of all ages and from all cultures around the world. Music represents an enjoyable activity in and of itself, but its influence goes beyond simple amusement. Listening to music, singing, playing, composing, and improvising are very common activities for many people: they not only allow one to express personal inner states and feelings, but also brings many positive effects to people engaged in them. Many benefits of musical activity have been recognized in recent times: research in music sciences has identified several dimensions of human life (cognitive, psychological, social, and emotional) which seem to be positively affected by music.

The impact that musical activity has on human life can be found in different processes. One of them is represented by the transfer of learning from the musical to other cognitive domains. The transfer of learning implies that skills acquired in a specific cognitive domain can be transferred and also used in other domains of human activity. Abilities that have been developed through musical training may also be effectively used in other cognitive tasks.

Considering the social component of musical activity, music may also have an impact on social skills and social inclusion, supporting the participation of the individual in collective and collaborative musical events. The promotion of social participation through music can foster many kinds of inclusion, in a wide perspective including intercultural, intergenerational, and disability issues.

All of these aspects seem to confirm the relevant impact and the educational implications that music may have on human development, at all ages, and also for people with special needs. The aim of this Research Topic is to present original articles that investigate and discuss the cognitive, psychological, behavioral, social and educational benefits of music, highlighting the crucial role of musical activity in human development and well-being.

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Editors

Full Professor Michele Biasutti

University of Padua

Graham Frederick Welch

Institute of Education, University College London

Jennifer MacRitchie

The University of Sheffield

Gary Edward McPherson

The University of Melbourne

Evangelos Himonides

University College London

Impact

896,542 Total views

471,439 Article views

58,080 Article downloads

367,023 Topic views

Published In

Frontiers in Psychology

Performance Science

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