Isabelle Peretz holds a chair in research in neurocognition of music at the University of Montreal. During the last three decades, she has turned Montreal into the world capital of the study of the musical brain. A member of the Canadian Royal Society, she has received numerous awards for excellence for her research. Since 2005 she is director of the International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research (BRAMS), of which she is also the founder.
“What advantages can learning music have for us? Does it promote other forms of learning? According to the latest research, a child who is involved in a musical activity stands out on the scholastic front, and has proven to be more altruistic. Does a child need to have a musical ear? What if he sings off-tune? What about the adult that decides to study music, even belatedly, in retirement? Will he be able to make music?

Today, teachers and administrators in school systems are asking these questions of themselves, and of experts. And quite recently, Switzerland invested in quality musical education by incorporating it into its constitution. To what extent does this popular enthusiasm for a musical education have a scientific foundation?

In fact, all human beings are born with a musical brain that enables them to absorb all music in the world. In other words, all human beings are born musicians.” I. P.