Improvising music could help to improve older people's cognitive skills, such as learning and memory, according to research from the University of Sheffield and Western Sydney University.

The study, led by Dr. Jennifer MacRitchie from the University of Sheffield's School of Languages, Arts and Societies, is the first to compare how different ways of making music—improvisation versus replication—can affect people's learning and cognitive abilities.

Improvisation tasks people with creating a new melody on the spot, whereas replication asks people to repeatedly play a given melody. Findings show both methods can improve older people's brain functions, but learning by improvisation brings enhanced benefits.

Published in the journal Royal Society of Open Science, the research could change the way music is taught as a brain training exercise and help music teachers tailor their programs so that individuals can be supported to develop skills to the best of their ability.

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