Hearing is merely the passive reception of sound, while listening is active and motivated. According to Dr. Tomatis, when we can listen well, we have the possibility of thinking well. There are now more than 200 Tomatis Centers throughout the world that teach methods developed by Dr. Tomatis to help people listen, learn, and heal. Billie M. Thompson, Ph.D., is the director of two such centers, the Sound Listening and Learning Centers in Pasadena and Phoenix, Arizona. What you listen to does have an impact on your thinking.
Classical music helps people organize their thinking.
She also notes that along with better listening skills come improved communication skills, and often a change in the type of music a person listens to. Music seems to hold a key to some of the mysteries of inner workings of the brain, and researchers will undoubtedly unlock more of the brain's secretes in the future. One area researchers are looking into now is memory retrieval. Music can help gain access to memory, and has been used successfully to treat patients with a variety of neurological disorders. What this all adds up to is a big vote for the classics.