Playing a Musical Instrument is Good For Your Brain

his morning I posted on the power of vocal music. This afternoon's blog #2 of the day is about the power of playing a musical instrument to the neural growth in your brain.

Playing a musical instrument is not just a creative hobby, it’s one of the most powerful full-brain workouts known to science. Research shows that musicians engage more areas of the brain simultaneously than almost any other activity. When you play, multiple brain regions involved in hearing, movement, coordination, memory, emotion, and pattern recognition are activated and forced to communicate rapidly.

This intense neural activation leads to the creation of stronger and denser connections across both the left (logical) and right (creative) hemispheres of the brain. Over time, this enhances cognitive flexibility, problem-solving, emotional regulation, focus, and long-term memory. Studies have even found that consistent instrument practice increases the size of the corpus callosum, the bridge that connects the two brain hemispheres, improving communication speed across the brain.

Moreover, learning and performing music strengthens neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire and adapt, making it easier to learn new skills even outside of music. This is why musicians often excel in language learning, pattern identification, and multitasking.

Playing an instrument can also protect the brain from age-related decline, improve mental health by reducing stress, and boost dopamine levels, which enhance motivation and joy.

In simple terms, making music doesn’t just sound good, it builds a smarter, stronger, and more resilient brain.

Meanwhile, 

Your Thoughts Are Rewiring Your Brain Right Now

A groundbreaking new study has revealed that self-talk, the way we speak to ourselves, can physically change the structure of the brain, for better or worse. This discovery proves that our inner dialogue isn’t just mental noise; it’s a powerful force shaping how we think, feel, and even heal.

Scientists found that positive self-talk can strengthen neural connections linked to confidence, focus, and emotional stability. When you encourage yourself, your brain responds by releasing chemicals that enhance learning, memory, and motivation. Over time, these repeated thoughts literally rewire your neural pathways, reinforcing optimism and resilience.

But there’s a darker side too. Negative self-talk, filled with criticism or fear, can activate stress circuits in the brain, increasing levels of cortisol and shrinking areas linked to emotional control. In other words, how you speak to yourself can either build your mind, or slowly break it down.

This research highlights a powerful truth: the brain listens. Every word you think or say becomes a signal your brain takes seriously, shaping your reality at the cellular level. It’s like sculpting your own mind with the chisel of thought.

The implications are profound. With mindful awareness and intentional positivity, we can literally train our brains to become calmer, stronger, and more compassionate. It’s not magic, it’s neuroscience.

So the next time you talk to yourself, remember: your brain is listening. Choose words that heal, not harm. Because the story you tell yourself today becomes the person you live as tomorrow.

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Meanwhile, Put this in Your Calendar:

The Three are My Favorite Music Performers of All Time...

Domingo, HAUSER & Dimash – World Premiere in Budapest, 18 April 2026 _ TICKET SALES FROM 10AM (CET), SATURDAY, 13 DECEMBER! https://broadway.hu/.../domingo-hauser-dimash-koncert.../

On 18 April 2026, Budapest will host an extraordinary musical event as Placido Domingo, HAUSER, and Dimash Qudaibergen share the stage for the first time. This one-night-only world premiere brings together three exceptional artists whose combined artistry represents a rare moment in contemporary music.

The evening will present exclusive new arrangements and special joint performances created specifically for this project. An international creative team is preparing a production built on innovative visual design and state-of-the-art acoustic technology to deliver an immersive concert experience.

We proudly present Eugene Kohn as a guest conductor for this event. With over 50 years of experience as a correpetitor and conductor, he has worked with legends such as Maria Callas, Plácido Domingo, and Andrea Bocelli.

Musical direction is led by Péter Pejtsik, Liszt Award–winning composer and conductor, known for his work across classical, crossover, and symphonic rock. A full symphonic orchestra, supported by a rhythm section, will provide a rich foundation for the three artists’ unique musical identities.

Domingo brings unmatched operatic legacy, HAUSER his signature crossover style and electrifying presence, and Dimash Qudaibergen his extraordinary vocal range and global following. Their collaboration marks a meeting of distinctive artistic worlds, creating a performance of exceptional significance.

MVM Dome Budapest – 18 April 2026

A concert that will become part of musical history.

My Food For Thought For Today:

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The Healing Power of Song and Music

The Healing Power of Song: How Singing Has Enriched My Life from College to THD

There is something magical about singing, something deeper than melody, harmony, or pitch. Long before I ever read studies about antibodies, immune boosts, or stress reduction, I felt what singing could do. And looking back now, singing has been a quiet but constant thread woven through every stage of my life.

College Years: My First Stage

My love affair with singing truly began in my college years, when I joined the choir. I was young, eager, curious, and full of energy. Singing with a group felt electrifying, there is nothing like the vibration of dozens of voices coming together with one purpose. The camaraderie, the discipline of rehearsals, and the joy of performing opened a part of my heart I didn’t know existed.

Married Life: Harmony in Faith and Love

Years later, singing took on a new meaning. During my married life, I sang in our church choir alongside Macrine (RIP), my late spouse for over 63 years. Our Sundays were sacred. It wasn’t just music.  it was worship, community, and partnership.

Standing next to her, lifting our voices in the same hymns, remains one of my most treasured memories. Choir practice became our mid-week bonding, a reminder that even amidst work, parenting, and responsibilities, we still had a shared song to carry us through.

Learning the Craft: Six Months of Voice Lessons

Top Photo: Macrine and My Voice Recital :  Bottom Photo: Sunset and the Landscaping of our House Backyard with the Pinole Hills at the background

At one point, I even took six months of formal voice lessons. As a beginner, I learned breathing techniques, vocal placement, posture, and confidence. And yes, the nerves and excitement of singing at my teacher’s recital! I wasn’t aiming to become a professional; I simply wanted to grow. Those lessons gave me courage, structure, and appreciation for the vocal instrument we all carry. In this recital, I was first to sing because I was the most inexperience student. I asked my vocal teacher, why I was first in the program.  She told me because, I was the best. The statement immediate erased my stage bright, and I sang my two songs with Gusto and Bravado.  I will never forget the memories of my first public singing experience.    

Today at THD: Karaoke, Community, and Pure Joy

Now here in THD, singing continues to be one of my greatest joys. Whether it’s a karaoke night, a sing-along gathering, or simply humming a familiar tune in my room, music keeps me energized and connected.

There’s something beautiful about a group of seniors grabbing a microphone and belting out old favorites. We may laugh at missed notes or forgotten lyrics, but the joy is real and shared.

The Science Is Catching Up to What We Already Know

Interestingly, modern research shows what many lifelong singers feel intuitively: music is medicine.

Studies suggest that singing can:

• Boost immune function, including increasing levels of certain protective antibodies like SIgA

• Reduce cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone

• Improve lung function and breath control

• Strengthen memory and mental sharpness

• Enhance social connection, combating loneliness and isolation

• Lift mood through endorphins and dopamine release

In other words, singing doesn’t just feel good, it is good for you and your immune system.

Why Singing Matters at Every Age

Singing is a gift you can enjoy whether you’re 9 or 91. You don’t need perfect pitch or formal training. You don’t even need a microphone, just the willingness to let your voice rise.

For me, singing has been:

• A source of friendships

• A form of worship

• A stress reliever

• A memory-keeper

• A way to stay connected to Macrine

• A joyful part of my daily life here at THD

Every time I sing a song from my past, I am transported, to college halls, to church pews, to a recital stage, to evenings at home.

A Life Lived in Song

As I reflect on my musical journey, I am grateful. Singing has carried me through decades. It has comforted me in loss, uplifted me in celebration, and kept my spirit young.

So if you ever wonder whether singing is worth doing, whether you're in a choir, a church, or a karaoke room, my answer is simple:

Yes. Sing. Sing loudly. Sing often. Let your heart lead the melody.

Because singing doesn’t just fill the room, it fills the soul and the heart.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview on Singing: 

Music heals by positively impacting the brain and body through neurological and biochemical processes, affecting physical, emotional, and cognitive health. It can lower stress by reducing cortisol and releasing dopamine, improve pain perception, and stimulate memory and motor skills. Music therapy is used in clinical settings to address conditions like stroke, Parkinson's, and anxiety by harnessing these effects. 

Emotional and cognitive healing

• Reduces stress and anxiety: 

  Upbeat music can release dopamine, while relaxing music lowers cortisol (the stress hormone), which in turn lowers heart rate and blood pressure. 
• Processes emotions: 

  Music provides an outlet for expression and can help individuals process difficult emotions, with even sad music having a cathartic effect. 
• Boosts memory and cognitive function: 

  Songs connected to memories can activate the brain's pleasure center, and learning to play music can enhance cognitive skills, learning, and motor control. 
• Improves mood: 

  Music can increase dopamine, the "feel-good" chemical, and is used to improve mood and provide a sense of empowerment. 

Physical healing

• Aids pain relief: 

  Music therapy can decrease pain perception, reduce the need for pain medication, and improve quality of life for those with chronic or acute pain. 
• Supports recovery: 

  It can aid in post-stroke recovery, help with symptoms in neurological disorders like Parkinson's, and has been shown to reduce seizures in some children with epilepsy. 
• Calms the body: 

  Music can lower heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. 
• Reduces side effects of medical treatment: 

  Listening to music can reduce anxiety and nausea associated with treatments like chemotherapy. 

How music therapy works

• Receptive therapy: Listening to carefully selected music to guide mood or promote relaxation. 
• Active therapy: Creating music through singing, drumming, or playing instruments to engage with and heal the brain. 
• Neurologic music therapy: Specialized techniques used in hospitals and rehabilitation centers to help patients recover from brain injuries and neurological disorders by building new neural pathways

Lastly, I enjoyed very much the concert presented by our local singing group

"Stay at Tone Moms", Thursday Afternoon at 2:30PM

Their Silent Night Sing-Along Repertoire was the hit of the Afternoon Performance. They were here last year, but their repertoire this year was more beautiful and unforgettable.   Kudos to Vanessa, Our New Activity Manager. Photos of the group after their performance taken by Vanessa will be posted as soon as I receive it .    

 

THD December Birthday Residents Party

Yesterday, Wednesday at 3PM, THD hosted a Party for Residents with December Birthdays ( see two Brochures Above). There were 10 residents who attended out of the 18 in the List. We have three birthday cakes. At first there was no beverage serve, but when I jokingly mention, we  should have champagne, Our efficient Hosts ( Vanessa, Deanna, Barbara and Jenny) were very happy to serve us the drinks along with our cake. Barbara then asked everyone to say a few words of wisdom. The we talked about our country of birth. Not to my surprised, several countries outside the US were mentioned such as Hong Kong, the Philippines, Germany  and the UK. It affirmed the fact that the US is a country of Immigrants.  

Here are the four photos that Jenny Shively took during the Party.

Barbara asked each of Us- About our words of Wisdom. I said only one word-Gratitude   

Me, Steve and wife Jan Holzman, talking about Chicago, my blogs and my Weekly Massages. Steve and Janice are new residents, only here at THD for about 2 months. They originally came from Connecticut.  

Meanwhile, The following photos, I took recently featuring the simple but elegant Christmas Decorations of the Public Venues Here at THD.

Lastly, here are some photos of my simple Christmas Decor in My Apartment Here at THD

Last, but Not Least, My Photo of the Day- My Great Grand son, Beau David with my Grand Daughter Elaine and her husband Kyle Joseph of Portland, Oregon

 

   

Downtown Walnut Creek and Its 120 Restaurants

Downtown Walnut Creek really does feel like an outdoor food court with a sky, with more than 120 restaurants packed into a walkable few blocks, a surprising number of them offering flavors from far beyond California. It is one of those suburbs where the dining scene has grown so quickly that many locals still think of it as “mall food plus a steakhouse,” even as new ethnic spots and fusions quietly remake the landscape.​

A downtown that eats like a city

What defines downtown Walnut Creek today is density: more than 120 restaurants and cafés, plus bars, wine bars, and dessert shops, all layered around Broadway Plaza and the side streets leading to Civic Park. Sidewalk patios fill early on sunny evenings, and the Wednesday farmers’ market on Locust Street turns the whole area into an open‑air dining room, blurring the line between shopping district and food destination.​

At its core, the downtown still leans heavily on American, Italian, and “California comfort” cooking, burgers, wood‑fired pizza, small plates, and cocktails but that is only the surface. Look a bit closer at the menus and signboards and a different story appears: Burmese tea leaf salads, Peruvian ceviche, Middle Eastern kebabs, and Caribbean‑Latin small plates now coexist with wine bars and brunch spots.​

Where the world shows up on the plate

One way to understand this downtown is to stroll a single stretch of North Main Street and count how many countries you can “visit” before you hit the next crosswalk. Within just a few blocks you will find Burmese specialties at Burma 2, where tea leaf salads and rich curries introduce many East Bay diners to flavors that are still rare in most of the country. A short walk away, LITA channels Miami and the Latin Caribbean with plantain‑centered dishes and rum‑forward cocktails, framing Walnut Creek through the lens of a tropical, pan‑Latin city rather than a quiet suburb.​

Zooming out a bit, you can trace a whole informal “ethnic arc” around downtown: Thai at small, family‑run places like Kacha Thai Bistro; Middle Eastern and Mediterranean grills serving kebabs, hummus, and falafel; and Spanish‑leaning tapas at spots such as Telefèric Barcelona, where rooftop dining and shared plates offer a European social rhythm in the middle of Contra Costa County. Add in Japanese sushi bars, Korean‑influenced kitchens, and Mexican taquerias mentioned by locals, and downtown Walnut Creek starts to look less like a single cuisine hub and more like a sampler of the broader Bay Area food culture.​

Not just “ethnic,” but evolving

What makes the picture more interesting is the growing number of restaurants that blur the old categories entirely. A place like WC Kitchen & Bar, for example, advertises itself as American cuisine infused with Indian and Asian flavors, signaling that “ethnic” food is no longer confined to one side street but woven directly into the local definition of American dining. Menus like this might pair familiar formats, burgers, bowls, shareable appetizers with spice blends, sauces, and ingredients that come from South Asia or East Asia, easing diners into a more global palate without asking them to abandon comfort food.​

This kind of fusion mirrors what residents describe seeing in the broader East Bay: more authentic ethnic markets and eateries appearing year after year, with food becoming a casual way to encounter languages and cultures that might once have seemed far removed from suburbia. Walnut Creek’s restaurant boom reflects not only disposable income and retail development, but also a quiet demographic shift more Asian and Hispanic residents, more globally traveled professionals who expect to see their own cravings and traditions represented downtown.​

A few examples at a glance

Here is a small, illustrative snapshot of downtown Walnut Creek’s restaurant mix, focusing on places that showcase global flavors:

Restaurant	Primary influence	Notable features
Burma 2	Burmese	Tea leaf salads, curries, and noodle dishes introducing a still‑rare cuisine. ​
LITA	Latin Caribbean / Miami	Plantain‑forward small plates, cocktails, and a social, design‑driven space. ​
Kacha Thai Bistro	Thai	Family‑run, “real Thai” cooking with an emphasis on bold flavors and hospitality. ​
Telefèric Barcelona	Spanish / Catalan	Tapas, paella, and a rooftop setting that imports a slice of Spain to downtown. ​
Various kebab & mezze spots	Middle Eastern / Mediterranean	Kebabs, grilled meats, and mezze listed among the city’s best Middle Eastern options. ​

For a blogger, this concentration of restaurants offers an easy structure for a series: one post could follow an “evening in Burma and Barcelona” without leaving North Main, another could map a progressive dinner from Thai to Caribbean to a French‑style wine bar. Downtown Walnut Creek may not yet have the name recognition of Oakland or San Francisco in food circles, but with more than 120 places to eat and a steadily growing roster of ethnic and fusion kitchens, it increasingly feels like a small, walkable world tour waiting to be written about and tasted.​

Sometimes, I wonder how these restaurants can financially  survive with so much competition and concentration in one specific area. My dear readers, do you have any idea on my train of thoughts?  

Meanwhile, Do You know why there are no Filipino restaurants in Walnut Creek?

While dedicated, full-service Filipino restaurants have historically been underrepresented in Walnut Creek's main downtown area, this is beginning to change, and several options exist nearby

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The reasons for the general lack of Filipino restaurants in specific upscale downtown areas like Walnut Creek often relate to a combination of factors:

• High Commercial Rent: Rents in downtown Walnut Creek are notoriously high, which can be a significant barrier for smaller or independent restaurants. The high overhead favors large chains or established fine-dining concepts with proven financial models.
• Cuisine Popularity and Market Demand: While Filipino cuisine is gaining popularity, it has historically faced challenges in broad mainstream appeal compared to other Asian cuisines like Chinese or Thai. Restaurants often open where there is a perceived high demand from the local population.
• Geographic Concentration: The Filipino-American population in the Bay Area is highly concentrated in other areas, such as Daly City, South San Francisco, and parts of the East Bay like Concord and Pittsburg, which naturally leads to more Filipino dining options in those specific communities.
• Alternative Dining Formats: Many Filipino food businesses in the East Bay operate as more casual "turo-turo" (point-point) style take-out spots within supermarkets or food courts, which have lower overhead than full-service restaurants in prime downtown locations. 

These articles offer advice on finding Filipino food options in and around Walnut Creek, including popular nearby restaurants and market stalls:

THE BEST Filipino Food in Concord (Updated 2025)

1. Seafood City. 3.9. (13 reviews) Specialty Food Market, Filipino$$ - $$$ Closed now. I also shopped for their fresh Asian vegeta...

Tripadvisor

Are there any good Filipino restaurants in Concord area?

I would agree not a lot of Filipino restaurants on this side of the Bay Area. Mainly take out places. Daly City and SSF have good ...

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Nearby Filipino Dining Options

Despite the lack of many traditional full-service spots directly in the downtown core, you do have options in and around Walnut Creek: 

• Maymay's Cravings Asian Snack Bar
   This spot is located on Locust Street in Walnut Creek and offers Filipino desserts, snacks (onigiri), and an instant ramen bar. Reviewers have expressed excitement for "Filipino comfort food in Walnut Creek".
• Tropa Modern Filipino
   Located a short drive away in Lafayette, this is a more modern, sit-down restaurant offering refined Filipino dishes like adobo ribs and lechon.
• Isla Grand Restaurant
   In nearby Pleasant Hill, Isla Grand is a family-friendly Filipino eatery known for authentic dishes like sisig and crispy pata.
• Oriental Food Market
   Located in Concord, this is a market that also offers tasty Filipino take-out food in a casual, karinderya (eatery) style setting.
• Seafood City Supermarket
   The food court in the Concord Seafood City features well-known Filipino chains like Jollibee, Red Ribbon Bakeshop, and Grill City. 
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• Personal Recommendation: Tropa Modern Filipino in Lafayette, CA 
• My Food For Thought for Today:
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