New studies at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are showing that a single chemical messenger may have a dramatic impact on our ability to learn music – and language.

Adenosine, a neuromodulator, is the subject of a study in the June 30 (2017) issue of the journal Science, and was discussed in Medical Xpress as well.

What does this mean?

For starters, it could indicate that the period of youth generally considered “the best time to learn music” – at a young age when neuroplasticity is considered to be greatest – could expand well into adulthood.

The studies, currently being carried out on mice, indicate that adenosine could have a sizable effect on auditory processing. That means any information we take in through our ears could be as easy to digest at age 40 as it as at age 8.

This is very happy news for older music students, of course. Our school, in northern Cincinnati near Sharonville and West Chester, is particularly well suited for adult students.

Have you always wanted to learn an instrument, or learn to sing? Or did you take lessons as a child, but let those lessons fall by the wayside as you grew up? It is truly never too late to engage actively in your musical development. You could accompany your own voice, play on stage in a rock or pop band, or have your family join you in living-room singalongs.

For Cincinnati music lessons at our studio near I-275 – on drums, piano, bass, double bass, guitar, woodwinds, trumpet, violin, viola, and voice — contact Toedtman School of Music by calling 513.772.7900 or using the form below.