Renée Fleming, renowned opera singer and a five-time Grammy winner, delves into the therapeutic effects of music and arts on health in her new book, "Music and Mind." The book, which includes contributions from scientists, artists, and healthcare professionals, explores the profound impact of music on human health and well-being.
Fleming, a 2023 Kennedy Center honoree, said during research for her book, she found that there are particularly strong benefits of introducing music early in children's lives.
"There's a whole section on music education for children, which is really important," Fleming said.
She highlighted a chapter by neuroscientist Dan Levitin that details how music engages complex brain circuitry more than any other activity, enhancing language processing and spatial-temporal reasoning.
Fleming's interest in the cognitive benefits of music was sparked during her time attending presentations at the National Institutes of Health by scientists, therapists, and researchers.
"After about five years, I said I wanted to share this with the public. So this is kind of my gift to the field," she said.
The book has 41 chapters, allowing readers to select topics of personal interest.
"You can just pick and choose what subjects you like," said Fleming.
The renowned soprano shared a story from the introduction of the book written by Francis Collins. The story recounted an unexpected singing session at a dinner party attended by three Supreme Court justices.
"It was a bit tense, happening right after the marriage equality ruling. The justices weren't interacting much that night. However, things changed after we all sang together," she recalled.
Discussing the current state of music therapy, Fleming highlighted the varying insurance coverage across states. She emphasized the growing recognition of music therapy's benefits and the necessity for a standardized approach to promote its wider adoption.
"The field of music therapy is still evolving in terms of meeting the scientific standards required for broader acceptance," she explained.
