Lecturer Artur Jaschke on the Impact of making music and the complexity of scientific evidence in Trouw

The Dutch newspaper Trouw published an article about the positive effects of making music on health and wellbeing, as well as the challenges of scientifically proving these effects. "Music isn’t a pill. Just as you can scientifically determine whether a medicine works, it’s just as challenging to do so with music," says Artur Jaschke, lecturer in Music-Based Therapies and Interventions.

You’re doing it for the development of your brain, for your wellbeing—not for aesthetics. You don’t have to play at the Concertgebouw.

In the Trouw article, Jaschke encourages everyone, regardless of age or experience, to (learn to) play an instrument. Making music oneself stimulates the brain even more intensely than simply listening to it and contributes to both physical and emotional health.

Jaschke goes on to explain in Trouw why proving the positive effects of music scientifically is so difficult.

Music and wellbeing

For years, Jaschke's professorship has been conducting innovative research into how music can be used to support people’s health and wellbeing. The value of music in therapeutic settings is increasingly recognised. ArtEZ has been at the forefront of advancing knowledge in the field of music therapy for over 20 years.