In the 1990s, the effect of music on the brain was popularized as the Mozart effect. This theory claimed that listening to music composed by Mozart made kids smarter. The theory that is now accepted is that taking music lessons as a child enhances brain function and structure. Early music lessons encourage brain plasticity, the brain's capacity to change and grow. Just a half-hour music lesson increases blood flow in the left hemisphere of the brain. There's evidence that just a bit of music training goes a long way. Music Education is a rewarding experience which will instill a love of music, one that students will carry with them for the rest of their life. Music education facilitates the understanding of other subjects and enhances the skills in other developing areas. As little as four years of music lessons were found to improve certain brain functions, even when tested 40 years later. When exposure to music training begins before age seven, the brain enhancement that takes place can last a lifetime.
