TLDR: Solfège, or solfeggio, is a music learning method. It involves reading, singing, and marking the rhythm using one hand. Like all forms of music-making, it uses many different parts of the brain.
Table of Contents
Solfeggio
solfeggio | sɒlˈfɛdʒiəʊ | noun (plural solfeggi | sɒlˈfɛdʒi |) Music an exercise in singing using sol-fa syllables.
Neuromusic:
Key concepts
Neuro + music is a portmanteau that combines neuroscience and music. Therefore, it is the study of the relationship of the brain, the mind, and music. If you want to read some other posts about Neuromusic, please look at the category.
Music and the brain
On a neurological level, interpreting music is a busy, busy activity. We are simultaneously:
- sight reading (interpreting the stuff on the staff)
- singing (vocalization)
- listening (pitch)
- marking time (rhythm)
- learning (planning for study/attending class)
Sight reading
The optical area of the brain is located at the back, in the occipital lobe. The visual cortex processes information from the eyes, relayed through the thalamus. Musical notes seem to be processed in much the same way as words (letters).
Singing
Singing uses muscles and breath. The motor cortex of the frontal lobe governs muscle movement. Breathing uses the phrenic nerve for diaphragm control, but also motor neurons to control all the other little bit like the intercostal muscles, the muscles around the larynx and hyoid bone, and the tongue. Wernicke’s region is involved in the precise control of the mouth and tongue to pronounce syllables. This is on the temporal lobe.
When we sing with language – be it phrases or do-re-mi, we are using words. Therefore Broca’s region on the frontal lobe, but a little to the side, is involved.
Listening
The temporal lobe, on the side of the head, is responsible for interpretation of language, something that is super important in this method of music study.
However, hearing itself is governed by the ascending auditory pathway, which is made of “vestibulocochlear axons” (axons are parts of nerves). They pass from the cochlea (in the ear) to the ascending (incoming) auditory pathway, and transmit information to the vestibulocochlear nerve.
Marking time
The cerebellum is used for rhythm, meter, and tempo. We also call on the motor cortex once again to handle the asymmetrical hand and arm movement. The movement of arm depends on the time signature, and is quite challenging to keep steady and accurate.
Planning/learning
The frontal lobe is involved in planning, learning, and pretty much everything to do with pursuing a long term course of study. In terms of cognition, this is where is all happens.
I have always been passionate about study. As I age, I am better at discerning what I really want to study, formulating a plan of action, and then seeing it through to completion. I believe that my long years of yoga practice have served me in this, but will save that for another story.
Conclusion
Clearly, this post on barely touches on the vast subject that is the Neuromusic of solfeo, as we call it is Spanish. There is much more to learn, and explore. I will keep going, and would love it if you’d join me.
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Music is the universal language of mankind – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
