Music and Critical Thinking

In the area of Music, critical thinking comes into play a majority of the time.  When it comes to Music Theory, one must be able to analysis the chord structure and relation between the notes before being able to understand what is happening throughout the piece.  Being able to understand what is happening in the piece is extremely important because it relates to how the performer is going to perform the piece.  In addition, when it comes to individual instruction, the whole hour is critical thinking.  Of the course of the hour long lesson, the instructor breaks down every technical passage and makes you think of what every limb, muscle, and bone is doing during that passage.  Critically thinking about the basic movements exhausts your brain and really trains you to mentally focus.