Once local rock band Retcon gets jamming, the fans at the Unicorn on Stephen Avenue start pushing to the front of the stage. People coming together to dance and rock out to the band’s originals and a cover of the song “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.
Everyone is feeling and sinking into the fast-paced rhythm, and those tempos can have more benefits than simply having a good time.
A 2022 study found rhythm in music plays a “significant predictive role” in impacting a child’s academic success later in life. Following 76 students from grade one to grade seven, the students learned and studied music for varying amounts of time, from one to eight years. Among other predictive indicators, like the mothers’ education and early arithmetic skills, the study revealed rhythm-related abilities were the most significant factor in a child’s academic development towards success.
Gerry Hebert, Jazz YYC operations manager, agrees that being exposed to and learning music benefits people academically.
“It’s something that also involves critical thinking and being able to take instruction and work and coach,” says Herbert.
Not only does it provide discipline, but Herbert argues music can provide a bit of a looking glass into what kind of person you are.
“I think it’s a very social process as well. It helps students to find roles and to have success in different roles. In many ways, learning a band instrument is like learning a bit of a personality.”
Hebert has worked as a musician and music instructor for over 20 years and graduated from University of Calgary with a degree in music education.
Musicians typically are far challenged to work on those cognitive, physical and emotional levels, a lot more than many other activities. And I think that that, you know, overlaps really well with a lot of academic and other skill sets.”
Phil Tremblay is the drummer for Retcon, he thinks learning a musical instrument and experiencing music has more than just academic benefits.
“It’s so fulfilling. Even if you’re playing shows to 20 people. It’s amazing. I’ll quickly compare. So I was a ski racer for a long time, and I won a couple races, but now I get to have that same feeling of winning a race every time I get off stage,” says Tremblay.
Connecting with other musicians is one of Tremblay’s most valued parts of music.
“Some of the most fun nights I’ve had over the past year have been nights where, ‘Oh yeah, we have to play a 30 minute set.’ We’re technically at work, but then once we’re off our set, we get to just hang out and listen to some other great bands and just be friends,” said Tremblay about his bandmates in Retcon.
Hebert echoed Tremblay’s thoughts on the social benefits of music. He recommends to anyone starting their music journey, to gather inspiration from what genres of music they like to listen to.
“It’s amazing how slow, very intentional, deliberate practice consistently will suddenly yield incredible results,” notes Hebert.
