Ep.164 Music and the Brain: The Science of Learning & Practice with Dr Molly Gebrian Part One

Singing Teachers Talk

Dr. Molly Gebrian joins Alexa on the Singing Teachers Talk podcast for the first of a two parter to discuss the neuroscience of learning and its application to teaching and practising. The conversation covers brain organisation, neural pathways, myelin, learning processes, the impact of age on learning, and the importance of understanding brain science for both teachers and students.

KEY MOMENTS

"It just shows that we’re all different, that you can do anything you want."

"The brain is always working as one”

"There are physical changes that have to happen in the brain when we're learning."

"As adults, we need to have focused attention in order to be able to learn."

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

• The work of Hermann Ebbinghaus
• BBC CrowdScience: Why is Learning Stuff Harder as You Get Older? https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct1pqb
• Neuroscience for Teachers by Richard Churches, Eleanor Dommett & Ian Devonshire

ABOUT THE GUEST

Dr. Molly Gebrian is a professional violist and scholar with a background in cognitive neuroscience. Her area of expertise is applying the research on learning and memory to practicing and performing music. She also investigates the intersections between music and language. As a performer, she prioritizes the works of living composers and those who have traditionally been excluded from the culture of classical music. She holds degrees in both music and neuroscience from Oberlin College and Conservatory, New England Conservatory of Music, and Rice University. Previously, she was the viola professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the University of Arizona. After a decade of teaching viola at the collegiate level, she will join the faculty at New England Conservatory of Music in Fall 2024 to teach courses on the science of practicing.
EPISODE RESOURCES

Guest Website:

• www.mollygebrian.com

Social Media:

• Dr. Molly Gebrian - YouTube

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