Look, Listen, and Learn: How the Arts Build Better Brains

Carrie Kennedy
Jan 8
4 min read

We know that learning in and through the arts can help children become curious, confident thinkers. So why are these subjects so often overlooked? In this post, we’ll discuss how people often misunderstand the value of the arts, and we’ll explore how the arts can help strengthen our thinking in four ways.

Most people see the arts as a way to use the imagination to create, explore, and have fun. And this is certainly true; the arts do allow for wonderful exploration and play. But when a child is learning about music, the visual arts, the performing arts, or creative writing, they’re also immersed in a discipline. The arts are structured, valued systems of thinking that encourage problem solving, and they also teach vital cognitive and behavioral skills. In short, the arts are a fun way to help build better brains.

“Art is an opportunity. Let us not miss it.”

— David Perkins

Professor David Perkins is a strong advocate for the arts. And through his research on creativity, he found that the arts are an incredible way to address “shortcut” thinking and replace it with intelligent thinking. In his book The Intelligent Eye: Learning to Think by Looking at Art, he starts by listing four common thinking shortcuts:

When our thinking is hasty, we hurry through a process and often reach the wrong conclusion.
When our thinking is narrow, we’re only considering things from one perspective.
When our thinking is fuzzy, we miss the small but important details.
When our thinking is sprawling, our thoughts aren’t organized.

Perkins then goes on to explain that when children are taught to study and analyze works of art, it can directly impact their thinking and reasoning. Below are examples of how the arts—in all their forms—can build better brains:

The arts combat rushed thinking with focused thinking.

When a child is drawing, engaged in a good book, or practicing scales on a piano, their brains are hard at work. Instead of hasty or rushed thinking, they’re slowing down to focus on an unfolding process. This deep and purposeful thinking fosters better memory and a richer understanding of material.

The arts discourage narrow thinking and replace it with creative thinking.

Learning about art history, coming up with a new way to build something, or listening to a different kind of music opens a child’s thinking. And exploring the cultures of the world through the arts encourages children to see things from different perspectives.

The arts eliminate fuzzy thinking by celebrating details.

When a child is memorizing lines for a play, listening to the lyrics of a song, or watching the reactions on an actor’s face, they’re learning the importance of details. Noticing subtle differences and paying attention to cause and effect helps their brains make strong, clear connections to these experiences.

The arts help organize sprawling thoughts.

The word compose comes from roots that mean “to place together.” So whether a child is composing a creative story, studying the composition in a painting, or learning about a classical composer, they’re learning how the creative process requires artists to collect, organize, and present their ideas.

Yes, the arts encourage big, loose, experimental play. But they also celebrate clear, purposeful thinking and problem solving. So presenting the arts as engaging, imaginative disciplines helps children’s brains learn to embrace creative challenges. And they may just stop looking for the shortcuts!

Other resources:

David N. Perkins, The Intelligent Eye: Learning to Think by Looking at Art, J. Paul Getty Museum, 1994.

“Learning to Think” and the Artifact Creative curriculum:

The team at Artifact Creative encourages all learners to explore the arts and have fun with creative self-expression. But our lessons, materials, and activities are also part of a thoughtful curriculum that presents the arts as a serious study. Therefore, we approach the value of an arts education in very much the same way that David Perkins does. Our comprehensive, well-planned courses help students think creatively and critically, and we celebrate the arts for their ability to help students organize and understand their own thoughts as well as the ideas in their communities and the world around them.

About the author:

Carrie Kennedy spent almost two decades in classrooms—including teaching art, English, and science— and now serves as the Director of Curriculum Content and Development at Artifact Creative. Kennedy has completed professional developments through Harvard University, including a weeklong Project Zero leadership course where she worked with David Perkins and Howard Gardner.

When students study subjects like music, visual art, theater, literature, dance, creative writing, and history, they learn to make meaningful connections to their own lives and to the world around them. Artifact Creative develops digital and hands-on educational material in these rich areas of the arts and humanities to inspire critical, creative, and compassionate thinking and to serve as an essential foundation for authentic, lifelong learning.

For more information, visit ArtiFactCreative.org or contact Dana.Corradi@ArtiFactCreative.org