Research Updates
Here at Bigger Better Brains we believe that through educating yourself, you can then educate and affect positive change in your community.
With all of the research in the field of neuromusical science, our BBB Research section serves as a content hub for you. We regularly share findings and break down the latest research to educate and inspire discussion. We hope you enjoy this page on our website and share BBB news with your colleagues, parents and students.
Are pianists at an advantage when learning surgical skills?
In a recent article in the journal Music and Medicine, a team of researchers studied a group of pianists to see if the benefits of learning piano translated into benefits when learning complex and refined motor skills in another domain, specifically surgical skills.
What do parents need to know about music and the brain?
Is this you…? I teach music. TICK. I want to keep my students for longer. TICK. I am struggling to keep my students for longer. YEP. We can’t wait to share 4 things that will get parents on your side and help you keep your students for longer!
Orff-based music training induces plasticity in the developing brain
Which music education method is best? This is a question we receive often at BBB and the answer is, we are not sure yet. The reason why we aren’t sure just yet is that there has not been an exhaustive amount of research on any one method of music teaching.
Singing and reciting rhymes can have a positive effect on babies’ language development
Do you have a favourite song or rhyme that you sang to your baby? Or do you remember a song that was sung to you when you were very young? Well it turns out that the more we are sung to or hear language in a rhyming style, the more sensitive our brains are to language, the larger our vocabulary will be and the earlier we could learn how to moderate our moods.
Fireworks 005 - BBB Educators continue to inspire
Issue 005 of Fireworks, the BBB magazine is now available to all BBB+ members. Packed with BBB success stories and updates, a new opinion piece written by Dr Anita Collins, and so much more. Fireworks will inspire and motivate you to advocate for music education.
Fireworks 004 - Advocacy in Action
Hello from BBB and welcome to our fourth Fireworks magazine! In this edition we are excited to share updates on our upcoming Live Courses, we check in with BBB community members who are making waves in the music education and advocation realms, and Anita ponders the concept of a musical lens.
Fireworks 003 - Fuel your passion
It's 2023 and this year is all about breaking the barriers between music and classroom teachers. We also want school leaders to truly understand the powerful impact music learning has on student development.
Fireworks 002 - Be inspired by BBB Educators
Issue 002 of Fireworks, the BBB magazine is now available to all BBB+ members. Packed with BBB success stories and updates, a community interview, pieces written by Dr Anita Collins, and so much more. Fireworks will inspire and motivate you to advocate for music education.
Fireworks 001 – The BBB Magazine
Introducing Fireworks, our brand-new quarterly magazine for BBB+ members. Packed with BBB success stories and updates, a community interview, pieces written by Dr Anita Collins, and so much more. Fireworks will inspire and motivate you to advocate for music education.
Music learning and literacy
“It’s about how we spend the money”. That was the catch cry of a number of politicians this week when the preliminary results from NAPLAN were released. Senator Birmingham was referring to the disappointing return on their investment in education. So Senator, what are we spending the money on?
Does music training improve a child’s maths and reading skills?
A great article from Dr Nina Kraus, one of the leading researchers in the neural encoding of speech and music.
The evidence behind everything you teach, in one book
From Dr Anita Collins, music educator and creator of the TED-Ed video watched 17+ million times, translating the world's neuroscience research into the case for music education and the strategies to bring it into your teaching.
You already know music changes your students. The Music Advantage gives you the research that proves it. Because Anita explains the science through real-life stories, it reads like a good conversation rather than a textbook. Use it to advocate for your program, win over parents and leadership, and sharpen what you do in the classroom.
WHAT YOU GET
The complete book, 260 pages
Easy to read: the neuroscience explained through real classroom and family stories
Practical strategies you can apply across any age you teach, from birth to the teenage years
CHOOSE YOUR EDITION
Global edition: for readers outside the US
US edition: US terminology and examples
Signed copy: personally signed by Dr Anita Collins [while stocks last]
HOW TEACHERS USE IT
Advocacy: make the evidence-based case to school leadership for funding and keeping your program
Parent conversations: answer "is it really worth it?" with authority at enrolment and parent nights
In the classroom: practical strategies, from clapping to help a struggling reader, to ensemble play for concentration and social skills
Professional development: deepen your grasp of the "why" behind your teaching, or read it as a department
WHY IT WORKS
Written by Dr Anita Collins and grounded in research from leading neuromusical scientists worldwide, so when you make the case for music you are standing on the science, not opinion. And the real-life stories mean you will actually enjoy reading it.
"This book is my bible. I have so many highlights and pages flagged that I can use with parents and for quotes in emails." Kirsten, Music Teacher.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Which edition should I choose? Global for outside the US, US edition for US spelling and examples.
Is it a hard read? Not at all. Anita uses real-life stories to make the science clear and enjoyable.
What ages does it cover? Birth to the 18 years, useful whatever level you teach.
Add to cart NOW. Put the evidence for music behind your program today.
KEEP THE ADVOCACY GOING
BBB+ gives music teachers everything they need to make the case for music all year round:
A new advocacy toolkit every month
A library of 500+ tools and resources
Exclusive student exercises and advocacy materials
Member discounts
See what members get HERE