News & Research

Stories of Impact – Rhythm, Culture and Community Wellbeing at School

BSEM draws on evidence to advocate for the use of patterned, rhythmic physical movement activities to support students’ healing, growth and learning at school. In this interview, Lamine reflects on using rhythm and culture to engage young people, facilitate community and improve wellbeing.

How Music Bonds Us Together

Listening to music and singing together has been show in several studies to directly impact neuro-chemicals in the brain, many of which play a role in closeness and connection.

Interview: Professor Sarah Wilson talks about Music and Neuroplasticity

ABC Classic FM's Vanessa Hughes explores the intersection of music and science. In this interview she talks to Professor Sarah Wilson from the University of Melbourne about the impacts of music on the brain and why it makes us feel so good. ‘Music has a remarkable ability to activate the reward networks of the brain’.

Empathy and Resilience, Responsibility and Self-Care:

These articles can provide insights into effective methods of creating a healthy, productive and positive classroom or school climate — and many include examples of how schools and programs around the country are doing that. 

Recreational Drumming: A Creative Arts Intervention Strategy

Recreational music-making has been shown to decrease stress and increase feelings of well-being and empowerment among diverse groups. This study examined the impact of recreational drumming among social work students on measures of well-being, empowerment, and connectedness. 

Brain correlates of music-evoked emotions

Musical activity is directly related to the fulfilment of basic human needs, such as communication, cooperation and social attachment. Supporting social functions was probably an important adaptive function of music in the evolution of humans.