Category Archives: Benefits of Music Lessons

Benefits of Private Music Lessons You Never Considered

Benefits of private music lessons.Private music lessons have long been celebrated for their ability to nurture individual talents and shape aspiring musicians into accomplished artists. While the traditional advantages of personalized attention and skill refinement are widely acknowledged, many of the benefits of private music lessons are often overlooked. Beyond technical proficiency and musical prowess, private music lessons offer many advantages that reach deep into personal development, cognitive growth, and well-being. This article delves into the underestimated aspects of private music instruction, shedding light on how private music lessons can enrich students’ lives.

Individualized Attention

Private music lessons can provide highly focused attention, adapted to meet each student’s unique needs and preferred learning tempo. This individualized approach enables music teachers to address challenges effectively, emphasize strengths, and ensure that students grasp concepts thoroughly. As a result, music students experience a more efficient and enriching learning journey.

Personalized Curriculum

Music instructors can tailor a curriculum to a student’s specific aspirations, musical tastes, and proficiency level. A personalized curriculum ensures that students can remain engaged and motivated while working on music that resonates with them. Music teachers can facilitate a more effective and enjoyable learning experience by aligning the lessons with students’ goals.

Faster Progress

Individualized instruction during one-on-one music lessons can result in accelerated music skill development, outpacing the progress typically seen in group lessons. The focused attention from the instructor allows for targeted guidance, immediate feedback, and personalized practice strategies, which contribute to faster improvement. This teaching approach caters to the student’s strengths and growth areas, fostering a more efficient learning curve.

Flexible Schedule

Private music lessons offer the advantage of flexible scheduling that accommodates the availability of both the music student and the music teacher. This flexibility allows for optimal time management and helps ensure that music lessons fit into busy schedules without causing conflicts. As a result, students can engage in consistent learning while maintaining a balance with other commitments, making the most of their musical education.

Enhanced Technique

Private music instructors can provide comprehensive guidance to refine playing techniques to a high standard. Through personalized music instruction, music students gain valuable insights into proper hand positioning, body posture, and nuanced techniques specific to their chosen instrument. This meticulous attention to detail enhances the quality of their performance, promoting a solid foundation for musical proficiency.

Building Confidence

Consistent feedback and positive reinforcement from a music teacher can significantly elevate a student’s self-assurance and enthusiasm for learning. By acknowledging progress and addressing areas for improvement, students feel supported in their music education, which in turn bolsters their belief in their capabilities. This helps to foster a resilient motivation to practice and excel, creating a positive cycle of growth and achievement.

Focused Practice

Private music instructors are skilled at recognizing areas where students may face challenges and can offer precise practice strategies tailored to address these weaknesses. Instructors ensure efficient progress and prevent frustration by pinpointing specific difficulties and tailoring exercises to overcome them. This strategic approach empowers students to work on their shortcomings effectively, leading to a well-rounded and more confident musical education.

Attention to Repertoire

Private music lessons allow students to delve into the music they enjoy, fostering engagement and sustained motivation. This allows them to connect with the music they’re learning, resulting in more dedicated practice and a heightened sense of accomplishment. Private music teachers who cater to their students’ interests cultivate a genuine enthusiasm that propels students to achieve higher proficiency for the musical instruments they are learning.

Musical Exploration

Private music lessons allow music students to explore various musical genres and styles. This versatility allows them to broaden their musical horizons and discover new types of music they may otherwise never have been exposed to. Music teachers can create an environment where students can develop a well-rounded appreciation for diverse musical expressions, enriching their overall musical journey.

Performance Skills

Private music lessons can develop a student’s stage presence and confidence. Students gain the skills to perform in front of audiences during recitals and competitions, helping them overcome performance anxiety. This comprehensive preparation enhances their musical abilities, gives them the self-confidence to shine on stage, and it also helps empower them to speak in public.

Goal Setting

Music teachers provide valuable guidance to students as they set realistic and attainable goals, offering a sense of purpose and direction in their musical journey. Students learn the skill of breaking down larger objectives into manageable steps. Additionally, students and teachers can measure their progress along the way. Learning to set and meet goals is a valuable skill that will empower students in music and every aspect of their lives.

Problem-Solving

Music teachers provide valuable guidance to students as they set realistic and attainable goals, offering a sense of purpose and direction in their musical journey. Students learn the skill of breaking down larger objectives into manageable steps. Additionally, students and teachers can measure their progress along the way. Learning to set and meet goals is a valuable skill that will empower students in music and every aspect of their lives.

Musical Theory

Private music lessons offer the opportunity for comprehensive music theory instruction, helping music students learn the intricacies of musical structure and composition. By understanding concepts such as harmony, rhythm, and chord progressions, music students gain a deeper appreciation for the mechanics of music. This enriches their playing and equips them with a well-rounded musical foundation that can be applied across various genres and creative endeavors.

Constructive Feedback

Receiving immediate feedback from a seasoned instructor is invaluable for rectifying mistakes and honing skills. Music students learn how to accept constructive feedback and improve. Because private music lessons provide timely feedback, students can correct issues early, fostering a more efficient learning process. This ensures that students build a strong foundation and continue to progress effectively in their musical journey.

Long-Term Commitment

The ongoing guidance of a private music instructor can build a lasting dedication to learning music. By receiving continuous support, private music students develop a sense of accountability and connection to their learning journey. This sustained mentorship fosters a deeper appreciation for music. This helps them commit to their musical pursuits over the long term, ultimately reaping the rewards of their dedication and hard work.

Personal Connection

The relationship between a student and a good music teacher can evolve into a meaningful mentorship, fostering a profound understanding and passion for music. Through shared experiences, guidance, and mutual respect, students gain insights beyond technical skills, developing a more holistic appreciation for their musical instrument. This mentorship enriches their musical journey and encourages them to explore music with a sense of curiosity and emotional connection.

Adaptation to Learning Styles

Private music teachers can adapt their teaching methods to align with the student’s preferred learning style. By recognizing whether a student is visual, auditory, or kinesthetic in their learning approach, music teachers can tailor their instruction for optimal comprehension and engagement. This personalized approach enhances music students’ abilities to absorb and apply new concepts, fostering more effective and enjoyable music lessons.

Cultivating Discipline

Consistent participation in music lessons and adherence to music practice schedules cultivate discipline and time management skills. The structured routine of regular private music lessons encourages students to prioritize their musical education, teaching a sense of responsibility and commitment. As students spend time practicing their musical instruments and learning music, they enhance their musical abilities and develop transferable skills that contribute to success in various aspects of life.

Educational Foundation

Private music lessons establish a robust framework for students who aspire to pursue a future in music education or performance. The individualized attention, comprehensive skill development, and in-depth understanding gained through private music lessons are a building block for advanced studies and professional endeavors. By honing technical proficiency, musical interpretation, and stage presence, private music lessons equip students with the tools and confidence necessary to excel in the competitive music world, whether as educators, performers, or both.

Conclusion

Remember that the benefits of taking private music lessons may vary based on the student’s goals, the teacher’s expertise, and the commitment put into practice. As we’ve explained, the benefits extend far beyond the confines of musical skill development. While refining techniques and musicality are undoubtedly crucial, the hidden gems lie in the personal connections, self-discovery, and enhanced cognitive abilities that happen through one-on-one music lessons. From instilling discipline and perseverance to offering a platform for self-expression and creativity, private music lessons can create well-rounded individuals with a deeper appreciation for art, a stronger sense of identity, and a lifelong passion for learning.

Music Education Research: A Timeline of Studies Showing the Benefits

 


1995-June

KL DEBOER, RT SHEALY

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENTS SHOW IMPROVED CLINICAL AND PERCEPTUAL SKILLS FROM VOICE LESSONS

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to determine if voice lessons could have an effect on their clinical and perceptual skills.

Details about the study

Two groups of 10 speech-language pathology graduate students were each given 7 weeks of singing lessons to determine whether voice lessons could have an effect on their clinical and perceptual skills. Pre-, mid-, and post-tests to measure various skills were designed and implemented.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that the singing lessons were effective in improving pitch perception, breath control, and legato production or easy onset. This study suggests that it makes sense to integrate curricula vocal training with speech-language pathology.

Citation

DeBoer, K. L., & Shealy, R. T. (1995). The effect of voice lessons on the clinical and perceptual skills of graduate students in speech-language pathology. Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation, 9(2), 118–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0892-1997(05)80244-9


1997-February

F H RAUSCHER, G L SHAW, L J LEVINE, E L WRIGHT, W R DENNIS, R L NEWCOMB

SPATIAL-TEMPORAL REASONING IN CHILDREN ENHANCED BY MUSIC LESSONS

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to test the hypothesis that music training enhances young children’s spatial-temporal reasoning.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on 78 preschool children. 34 students received piano keyboard music lessons, 20 students received private computer lessons, and 24 children provided other nonspecified controls. Four standardized, age-calibrated, spatial reasoning tests were given before and after training; one test assessed spatial-temporal reasoning and three tests assessed spatial recognition.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that this suggests that music training produces long-term modifications in underlying neural circuitry in regions not primarily concerned with music. The researchers reported that there was a significant improvement on the spatial-temporal test portion for the group that received keyboard musical training, but there was not a significant improvement for the keyboard group, or any other group, on the spatial recognition test. The magnitude of the spatial-temporal improvement from keyboard training was greater than one standard deviation of the standardized test and lasted at least one day, a duration traditionally classified as long-term.

Citation

Rauscher, F. H., Shaw, G. L., Levine, L. J., Wright, E. L., Dennis, W. R., & Newcomb, R. L. (1997). Music training causes long-term enhancement of preschool children’s spatial-temporal reasoning. Neurological research, 19(1), 2–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616412.1997.11740765


1999-January (est)

JM CHEEK, L R SMITH

IMPROVED MATHEMATICAL TEST SCORES RESULTING FROM STUDENTS TAKING MUSIC LESSONS

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers studied mathematic test scores from Iowa basic skills tests. There were two sub-studies conducted. The first sub-study compared the mathematics test scores of students who were given private music lessons versus those who were not given private music lessons. The second sub-study compared the scores of students who received keyboard music lessons versus those who did not receive keyboard music lessons.

Details about the study

The researchers in this article studied the test results from students on the Iowa test of basic skills. They studied the test scores of 8th graders. Their main focus was on mathematic test scores.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that students who had private lessons for two or more years performed significantly better on the composite mathematics portion of the ITBS than did students who did not have private lessons. They also concluded that students who received lessons on the keyboard had significantly higher ITBS mathematics scores than did students whose lessons did not involve the keyboard.

Citation

Cheek, J. M., & Smith, L. R. (1999). Music training and mathematics achievement. Adolescence, 34(136), 759–761.


2000-January

FRANCES H. RAUSCHER, MARY ANN ZUPAN

CHILDREN’S SPATIAL-TEMPORAL PERFORMANCE IS ENHANCED BY MUSIC LESSONS

What the study wanted to learn

The study wanted to learn if keyboard music lessons resulted in improved performance on spatial-temporal tasks and memorization skills for young children.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on 62 kindergartners. The children were assigned to one of two conditions, keyboard or no music. All children were pretested with two spatial-temporal tasks and one pictorial memory task. The keyboard group was provided with 20-min lessons two times per week in groups of approximately ten children. Children were then retested at two 4-month intervals.

Conclusion

The study showed that kindergarten children that received keyboard instruction scored significantly higher than the children who received no instruction on both spatial-temporal tasks after four months of lessons, and the difference was even greater after eight months of lessons.

Citation

Frances H Rauscher, Mary Anne Zupan. (2000). Classroom keyboard instruction improves kindergarten children’s spatial-temporal performance: A field experiment. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, Volume 15, Issue 2, Pages 215-228,
ISSN 0885-2006.


2000-November (est)

THE JOURNAL OF AESTHETIC EDUCATION

STUDY SHOWS THAT LEARNING TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT ENHANCES SPATIAL REASONING

What the study wanted to learn

The study wanted to find how music lessons affect spatial reasoning, which is the ability to think about and manipulate objects in three dimensions.

Details about the study

This meta-analytic review analyzes 15 studies that concluded improved spatial reasoning skills resulted from music instruction in preschool and elementary children. The studies were conducted on preschool and elementary children over several years, with multiple findings.

Conclusion

This analysis provides support for the hypothesis that not only spatial-temporal, but also other spatial tasks requiring spatial memory, spatial recognition, mental rotation, and/or spatial visualization may be enhanced by music instruction. It concluded that music instruction does appear to enhance spatial-temporal performance for preschool and elementary-age children, at least while instruction occurs and at least up through two years of instruction.

Citation

Hetland, L. (2000). Listening to Music Enhances Spatial-Temporal Reasoning: Evidence for the “Mozart Effect.” Journal of Aesthetic Education, 34(3/4), 105–148. https://doi.org/10.2307/3333640

2006-January

COSTA-GIOMI, EUGENIA

FINE MOTOR ABILITIES IMPROVED IN CHILDREN WHO TOOK MUSIC LESSONS

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to determine if practicing a musical instrument would lead to improved fine motor skills.

Details about the study

The researchers divided children into two groups (number of children not given). One group received two years of piano instruction, and the other group did not receive any music instruction.

Conclusion

The researchers discovered that the group of children who took piano lessons for two years significantly improved fine motor skills. The study stated, “Music performance requires accurate and quick motor reactions to visual, aural, and kinesthetic stimuli. When performers practice their instruments, they receive immediate and consistent aural feedback about their motor response to such stimuli.”

Citation

Costa-Giomi, Eugenia. (2006). Does Music Instruction Improve Fine Motor Abilities? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1060. 262-4. 10.1196/annals.1360.053.


2006-February

PUHAN, M. A., SUAREZ, A., LO CASCIO, C., ZAHN, A., HEITZ, M., & BRAENDLI, O

PLAYING THE DIDGERIDO HELPS ALLEVIATE THE SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP APNEA

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to study the effects of didgeridoo playing on daytime sleepiness and other sleep-related issues by reducing the collapsibility of the upper airways in patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and snoring.

Details about the study

The researchers used a randomized control trial in this study. Twenty-five sleep apnea patients, all over 18 years of age, were the participants in this study. The participants were divided into two groups. The first group received didgeridoo lessons for four months. The second group was on the waiting list for didgeridoo lessons. Participants in the didgeridoo group practiced an average of 5.9 days a week for 25.3 minutes.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that regular didgeridoo playing is an effective treatment alternative well accepted by patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The reason appears to be related to how didgeridoo playing exercises the upper airways.

Citation

Puhan, M. A., Suarez, A., Lo Cascio, C., Zahn, A., Heitz, M., & Braendli, O. (2006). Didgeridoo playing as alternative treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: randomised controlled trial. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 332(7536), 266–270. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38705.470590.55

2006-May

E. GLENN SCHELLENBERG, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO AT MISSISSAUGA

THE MANY BENEFITS MUSIC LESSONS HAVE ON SCHOOL GRADES AND OVERALL IQ

What the study wanted to learn

The study wanted to learn if long-term music lessons significantly affected IQ and academic performance in different age groups (young children and young adults).

Details about the study

The study was conducted on two groups of students: College freshmen, and children ranging in age from 6 to 11 years of age. The children were evaluated on their academic achievements, school grades, and an IQ test. In the children’s group, more than half had taken music lessons in some fashion. The college freshmen group was given an IQ test and also presented their high school grades. The college freshmen group also disclosed the number of years they had received music instruction, and how many years they consistently played an instrument.

Conclusion

The study results for the younger group showed that for every month of music instruction, there was an increase in IQ of one-sixth of a point. The study implied that six years of music lessons was associated with an increase in IQ of 7.5 points compared to children who never received music lessons. The results for the college students showed that six years of playing music regularly as a child predicted an increase of two points in IQ over their peers. For the college freshmen who received music lessons, there was an increase in perceptual organization, working memory, and average high school grades.

Citation

Schellenberg, E. G. (2006). Long-term positive associations between music lessons and IQ. Journal of educational psychology, 98(2), 457.


2008-November

JAYNE M. STANDLEY

BENEFITS OF MUSIC LESSONS ON READING IMPROVEMENT

What the study wanted to learn

The researcher wanted to study whether or not music lessons help children with reading and comprehension.

Details about the study

This article highlighted the meta-analysis of 30 studies using a variety of music interventions to affect reading skills.

Conclusion

The researcher found that the music activities that pair alphabet recognition with phonetic patterns, incorporate word segmentation and sound blending skills, and promote rapid decoding skills are effective in enhancing reading instruction. Benefits are greater when the special music reading activities are added to an existing music education curriculum. The research concluded that all schedules of intervention are equally effective regardless of whether daily, intense, short-term, or weekly periodic interventions spread across the school year.

Citation

Standley, J. M. (2008). Does Music Instruction Help Children Learn to Read? Evidence of a Meta-Analysis. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 27(1), 17–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/8755123308322270

2009-January

GRUNWALD ASSOCIATES LLC

THE MANY BENEFITS OF SINGING IN A CHOIR

What the study wanted to learn

The study examined the perceived benefits of singing for adults, including mental health and civic engagement. The study was built on a 2009 Chorus Impact Study focused on children and adults. This specific study pertained to the lives of older adults.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on over 2,000 singers in choruses of all kinds, 500 members of the general public, 500 parents, and 300 K-12 educators from throughout the United States using online surveys.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that there are four main takeaways from this study. 1. Choral singing continues to be the most popular form of participation in the performing arts. 2. Adults who sing in choruses are remarkably good citizens. 3. Children who sing in choruses have academic success and valuable life skills. 4. The decline in choral singing opportunities for children and youth is a key area of concern.

Citation

Grunwald Associates, LLC. (2009). The Chorus Impact Study: How Children, Adults, and Communities Benefit from Choruses.

2009-January

DARBY E. SOUTHGATE, VINCENT J. ROSIGNO

CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT ENHANCED BY MUSIC LESSONS

What the study wanted to learn

The study sought to determine whether or not there was an association between music involvement and academic achievement for school-aged children.

Details about the study

The study used three measures of music participation: in school, outside of school, and parental involvement with concert attendance.

Conclusion

The study concluded that music participation, both inside and outside of school, is associated with improved academic achievement for children and teenagers.

Citation

Southgate D. E., Roscigno V. J. (2009). The impact of music on childhood and adolescent achievement. Social Science Quarterly, 90(1), 4–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6237.2009.00598.x

2011-May

BRENDA HANNA-PLADDY AND ALICIA MACKAY

BETTER BRAIN FUNCTIONING AT ANY AGE FROM LEARNING TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT

What the study wanted to learn

The study sought to identify whether music instruction could enhance successful cognitive aging. Cognitive aging is the decline in cognitive processing as people age.

Details about the study

Seventy older healthy adults (ages 60–83) varying in musical activity completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. The groups (nonmusicians, low and high activity musicians). Nonmusicians were grouped on age, education, and history of physical exercise. Musicians were grouped by age of instrumental acquisition and formal years of musical training. Musicians were classified in the low (1–9 years) or high (>10 years) activity group based on years of musical experience throughout their life span.

Conclusion

The results of this study revealed that elderly participants with at least ten years of musical experience performed better in nonverbal memory and other mental processes than non-musicians. The study suggested that music lessons appear to cause an increase in verbal working memory and improved brain functioning at any age. The studies also demonstrate that the benefits of learning and playing an instrument are not completely dependent on the level of education the musician has achieved. Various benefits of learning an instrument occur at any age in life.

Citation

Hanna-Pladdy, B., & MacKay, A. (2011). The relation between instrumental musical activity and cognitive aging. Neuropsychology, 25(3), 378–386. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021895


2012-January

BENJAMIN RICH ZENDEL, CLAUDE ALAIN

MUSIC LESSONS HELP REDUCE THE DECLINE IN HEARING AS WE AGE

What the study wanted to learn

People may have a harder time hearing small details in sounds when they get older. This makes it harder for them to understand people when there’s a lot of noise around. The researchers wanted to see if people who learn music when they’re young have an advantage and don’t lose as much of their hearing abilities as they age.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on two groups of individuals: 74 lifelong musicians, and 89 nonmusicians ranging in age from 18 to 91.

Conclusion

The study found that musicians have an advantage in certain listening tasks, even as they age. This means that they can still hear things well even as they age. Musicians also have an advantage in understanding and processing sounds in their brains. The study showed that both musicians and non-musicians had similar declines in hearing sensitivity as they got older, but musicians had less decline in how their brain processes sound.

Citation

Zendel, B. R., & Alain, C. (2012). Musicians experience less age-related decline in central auditory processing. Psychology and aging, 27(2), 410–417. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024816


2012-August

NINA KRAUS, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

EVEN A FEW YEARS OF MUSIC LESSONS MAKES YOU A BETTER LISTENER IN ADULTHOOD

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to learn if just a few years of music lessons early in life could improve listening skills later in life.

Details about the study

The researchers in this study compared the benefits of three groups: those with some music lessons, those with many years of music lessons, and those with no music lessons. Many prior studies looked at the benefits of long-term musical instruction, but they didn’t analyze the benefits of just a few years of music instruction. For both of the groups with experience, the average age at which they started playing an instrument was roughly nine years old. Participants were placed in a soundproof booth, and electrodes were placed on their heads that could read signals emitted by their auditory brainstems.

Conclusion

By measuring signals emitted by the auditory brainstems of the participants, the researchers found that although the signals detected from the most experienced musicians showed the most robust response to the sounds, participants with just one to five years of music lesson experience showed significantly greater cognitive ability as compared to the group with no music instructional experience. The researchers concluded that playing music for just a few years as a child seems to be linked with better listening skills much later on.

Citation

A Little Goes a Long Way: How the Adult Brain Is Shaped by Musical Training in Childhood
Erika SkoeNina Kraus,

2012-September

SWATHI SWAMINATHAN, JINI K. GOPINATH

THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC LESSONS ON ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers in this study wanted to determine whether or not music lessons had an effect on learning a second language, and more specifically, English as a second language.

Details about the study

In this study, primary school children were divided into two groups: Those taking music lessons, and those who did not. The participants in the study were tested on the verbal subscales of the Malin’s Intelligence Scale for Indian Children (MISIC) and an English word-reading test.

Conclusion

The results showed that the musically trained participants performed significantly better on the tests of comprehension and vocabulary. The researchers concluded that this result is in line with the hypothesis that music and language share processing resources, as a result of which transfer of learning takes place.

Citation

Swaminathan, S., Gopinath, J.K. Music Training and Second-Language English Comprehension and Vocabulary Skills in Indian Children. Psychol Stud 58, 164–170 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-013-0180-3


2013-February

PÄIVI-SISKO EEROLA, TUOMAS EEROLA, UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ, FINLAND

EXTENDED MUSIC EDUCATION ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF SCHOOL LIFE

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to learn how music lessons affected children socially.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on children ranging from the age of 8 to 17. Outcomes were measured at age 17 and include cognitive skills, school marks, personality traits (conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness, and perceived control), time-use, ambition, and optimism about future success.

Conclusion

The researchers in this study found that musical instruction did provide measurable social benefits. They concluded that pupils in the classes with extended music education were generally more satisfied with school life than pupils in the classes with a normal music education curriculum. They also discovered that students in the EM classes also found that school provided them with achievement and opportunity more often than the pupils in the N classes. The most striking differences between these groups were found in the classroom climate, a novel factor designed for this study.

Citation

Päivi-Sisko Eerola & Tuomas Eerola (2014) Extended music education enhances the quality of school life, Music Education Research, 16:1, 88-104, DOI: 10.1080/14613808.2013.829428


2013-June

EUGENIA COSTA-GIOMI

MUSIC LESSONS AND THE POSITIVE EFFECT ON SELF-ESTEEM

What the study wanted to learn

The study wanted to measure how music lessons affect children’s self-esteem.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on 117 fourth-grade children attending public schools in Montreal. They were divided into two groups. The first group (63), received individual piano lessons weekly for three years. The second group (54), did not receive any music instruction. Participants were administered tests of self-esteem, academic achievement, cognitive abilities, musical abilities, and motor proficiency at the beginning of the project and throughout the three years of piano instruction.

Conclusion

The study found that piano instruction had a positive effect on children’s self-esteem and school music marks. The study demonstrated that there are specific benefits associated with piano instruction. The increase in self-esteem in the children who completed three years of piano instruction was significant while the changes in self-esteem of those who never participated in piano instruction or who dropped out of the lessons were negligible.

Citation

Psychology of Music Copyright © 2004, Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research vol 32(2):139-152[0305-7356(200404)32:2 139-152]. www.sagepublications.com


2013-September

THE GERMAN SOCIO-ECONOMIC PANEL STUDY AT DIW BERLIN

HOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF COGNITIVE SKILLS IS ENHANCED BY LEARNING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to learn if children who take music lessons at an early age experienced neurological benefits from music lessons.

Details about the study

The longitudinal study was conducted on children who received music lessons as compared to those who did not. The study was not measuring one specific benefit. Rather, it was looking at a wide array of possible benefits from music lessons. This study examines how long-term music training during childhood and youth affects the development of cognitive skills, school grades, personality, time use, and ambition using representative data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

Conclusion

This extensive longitudinal study showcases the many neurological benefits for children from taking music lessons at a young age. The study found that kids who take music lessons have improved cognitive skills and school grades and tend to be more conscientious, open, and ambitious.

The following is a list of the many benefits of taking music lessons at a young age:

  1. Improved reading and verbal skills
  2. Improved mathematical and spatial-temporal reasoning
  3. Improved grades
  4. Improved IQ
  5. Improved language acquisition
  6. Improved listening skills
  7. Slows the effects of aging
  8. Strengthens your motor cortex
  9. Improved working memory
  10. Improved long-term memory for visual stimuli
  11. Better anxiety management
  12. Enhanced self-confidence and self-esteem
  13. Improved creativity

Citation

Hille, Adrian. “How learning a musical instrument affects the development of” 25 Sept. 2013, www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.429221.de/www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.429221.de/diw_sp0591.pdf. Accessed 28 May 2023.

2013-October

MASOUD AZIZINEZHAD, MASOUD HASHEMI, AND SOHRAB DARVISHI

ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH MUSIC AND ITS EFFECT ON INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

What the study wanted to learn

The aim of this paper is to consider what we know about the ways that transfer can occur in relation to the skills developed through active engagement with music and how they may impact on the intellectual, social and personal development of children and young people.

Details about the study

The paper is a synthesis of many studies conducted on the effects of musical training and lessons on the development of young people. No new individual study was conducted.

Conclusion

The various benefits of music lessons on the brain are summarized as follows: In early childhood, there appear to be benefits for the development of perceptual skills, which affect learning a language and impact literacy. Music lessons appear to help people develop rhythmic coordination. Music lessons were shown to enhance fine motor skills. Those who took music lessons had improved spatial reasoning, which is related to some of the skills required in mathematics. Musical training enhanced people’s self-perception, self-esteem, and self-confidence.

Citation

Azizinezhad, Masoud & Hashemi, Masoud & Darvishi, Sohrab. (2013). Music as an Education-related Service to Promote Learning and Skills Acquisition. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences. 93. 142-145. 10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.09.167.


2013-November

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

STUDY SHOWS MUSIC LESSONS EARLY IN LIFE HELPS OLDER PEOPLE PROCESS SPEECH BETTER LATER IN THEIR LIVES

What the study wanted to learn

Researchers wanted to learn how music lessons in early life affected people later in their lives. A person’s nervous system deteriorates as they age, resulting in elderly people having difficulty understanding and picking up on fast-changing speech. The researchers wanted to find out if people who took music lessons during their lives performed better in understanding speech, especially in challenging environments.

Details about the study

Forty-four older adults, ages 55–76, were used in the study. All subjects had normal hearing. The participants were divided into three groups based on the amount of music training they had in their lives. To compare groups’ neural representations of speech, scalp electrodes were used to measure auditory brainstem responses to different sounds.

Conclusion

A greater amount of music training early in life was associated with the most efficient auditory function, even decades after music lessons stopped. The researchers believe it may be that early music instruction instills a fixed change in the central auditory system that is retained throughout life. This study shows that children who accomplish as little as 20 days of music training will experience improved verbal IQ scores and enhanced executive function of the brain.

Citation

Older Adults Benefit from Music Training Early in Life: Biological Evidence for Long-Term Training-Driven Plasticity, Travis White-Schwoch, Kali Woodruff Carr, Samira Anderson, Dana L. Strait, Nina Kraus, Journal of Neuroscience 6 November 2013, 33 (45) 17667-17674; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2560-13.2013

2013-November

ARNAUD CABANAC, LEONID PERLOVSKY, MARIE-CLAUDE BONNIOT, MICHAEL CABANAC.

STUDYING MUSIC RESULTS IN BETTER GRADES IN ALL SUBJECTS

What the study wanted to learn

The study wanted to find out if students’ grades improved if they chose to take a music elective.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on students from a secondary school in the province of Québec, Canada. The students were members of the International Baccalaureate program. They were selected in their first year of secondary school based on their high grades in previous years. Music was compulsory during the first two years of their secondary school curriculum, with two courses taking nine days per period.

Conclusion

The study showed that the students’ average grades who had chosen a music course in their curriculum were higher than those who had not chosen music as an optional course. It also demonstrated that students taking music lessons achieve better performance in many academic subjects. The study stated that students who studied music performed better, even if those who had not studied music had equally high initial achievements.

Citation

Perlovsky, L., Bonniot-Cabanac, M., & Cabanac, M. (2013). Music and academic performance. Behavioural Brain Research, 256, 257-260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2013.08.023

2014-June

JENNIFER ZUK, CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN, ARNOLD KENYON, & NADINE GAAB

THE LINK BETWEEN MUSICAL TRAINING AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS SKILLS

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to investigate the relationship between musical training and executive function (EF) in children and adults. Executive functions encompass several cognitive processes that allow for independent and self-regulated behavior, such as inhibition, problem-solving, goal-directed behavior, maintenance of information in working memory, and cognitive flexibility.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on 30 adults between 18 and 35 and 27 children between 9 and 12. Half of the participants were “musical.” The adult musicians either were seeking or had obtained a performance degree and practiced at least eight hours a week. The children had been taking private instrumental lessons for an average of 5.2 years.

Conclusion

In this study, researchers found that there were differences in brain activation between child musicians and non-musicians. They found more activation in areas of the brain called the “CEO regions.” These are the frontal regions of the brain associated with executive function. The study revealed that musicians exhibited higher cognitive flexibility than non-musicians. The study also showed that adult musicians showed a more proficient working memory. The child musicians exhibited faster processing speed than their non-musician peers.

Citation

Zuk J, Benjamin C, Kenyon A, Gaab N (2014) Behavioral and Neural Correlates of Executive Functioning in Musicians and Non-Musicians. PLoS ONE 9(6):
e99868. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0099868

2014
September
Musical lessons aide in the development of the brain

JAMES J. HUDZIAK, MD, MATTHEW D. ALBAUGH, PHD, SIMON DUCHARME, MD, ALAN C. EVANS, PHD

MUSICAL LESSONS AIDE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRAIN

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to assess the extent to which playing a musical instrument is associated with cortical thickness development among healthy youths. Cortical thickness is positively associated with general intelligence.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on 232 youths, ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old. Age, gender, total brain volume, and scanner were controlled for in analyses. Participants underwent MRI scanning and behavioral testing on up to 3 separate visits, occurring at 2-year intervals.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that playing a musical instrument was associated with more rapid cortical thickness maturation within areas implicated in motor planning and coordination, visuospatial ability, and emotion and impulse regulation. Brain matter increased through music lessons. The researchers also concluded that there were benefits in anxiety management and emotional control.

2014
September
Music lessons improve processing of sound and improve speech

NINA KRAUS

MUSIC LESSONS IMPROVE PROCESSING OF SOUND AND IMPROVE SPEECH

What the study wanted to learn

The study set out to analyze the effects of music lessons on sound and speech recognition.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on 50 children, ranging from 6 to 9 years old. The children were put into two groups: 1) children with one year of music lessons and 2) children with two years of music lessons.

Conclusion

The researcher discovered that learning to play an instrument strengthens the brain’s ability to capture the depth and richness of speech sounds. She also shows that music lessons improve the brain’s ability to process pitch, timing, and timbre, which helps children comprehend and process language much more efficiently.

2014
November
Musicians have much more well-developed long-term memories than non-musicians

HEEKYEONG PARK, JAMES SCHAEFFER, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS – ARLINGTON

MUSICIANS HAVE MUCH MORE WELL-DEVELOPED LONG-TERM MEMORIES THAN NON-MUSICIANS

What the study wanted to learn

The study sought to discover the link between musical expertise and long-term memory by studying the brains of professional musicians.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on 15 non-musicians and 14 trained musicians. The trained musicians had been playing classical music for more than 15 years. The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) technology to measure electrical activity of neurons in the subjects’ brains and noted processing differences in the frontal and parietal lobe responses.

Conclusion

The study found that the classically music trained participants performed far better than non-musicians on working memory tests. They also discovered that on long term memory tests, musicians registered increased sensitivity with regards to memory for pictures. Non-musicians did not demonstrate this.

2014
December
Musical training has a biological effect on children’s developing nervous systems

NINA KRAUS, JANE HORNICKEL, DANA L. STRAIT, JESSICA SLATER AND ELAINE THOMPSON NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

MUSICAL TRAINING HAS A BIOLOGICAL EFFECT ON CHILDREN’S DEVELOPING NERVOUS SYSTEMS

What the study wanted to learn

The study sought to discover if community music programs enhance brain function, especially for at-risk children.

Details about the study

The researchers teamed up with the Harmony Project, a community music program serving low-income children in Los Angeles. Children between the ages of 6 and 9 participated in the study. The research team traveled to Los Angeles to evaluate them as they enrolled in Harmony Project’s programs and returned each summer for the following two years to evaluate them longitudinally. Researchers use a neural probe that allowed them to gauge speech processing.

Conclusion

The researchers found that students who played instruments in class had more improved neural processing than the children who attended the music appreciation group. This demonstrated that children who took music lessons had a biological effect on their developing nervous systems. The effects were not the same for children who just listened to music without taking music lessons.

2014
December
The multitude of benefits from taking music lessons throughout an individuals lifetime

SUSAN HALLAM, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

THE MULTITUDE OF BENEFITS FROM TAKING MUSIC LESSONS THROUGHOUT AN INDIVIDUAL’S LIFETIME

What the study wanted to learn

The paper wanted to analyze empirical evidence relating to the effects of active engagement with music on the intellectual, social and personal development of children and young people.

Details about the study

This article highlights many studies and research conducted over many years. It draws on research using the most advanced technologies to study the brain, in addition to quantitative and qualitative psychological and educational studies. No new research was conducted.

Conclusion

The article is a broad report of many studies and research that show the multifaceted benefits of receiving music instruction over the course of one’s life. The many benefits include:

  1. Development of perceptual skills that affect learning a language and impact literacy
  2. Improved rhythmic co-ordination
  3. Improved fine motor co-ordination
  4. Improved spatial reasoning

 

2015
January
Students with 4 years of arts and music lessons score significantly higher on SAT scores

AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS

STUDENTS WITH 4 YEARS OF ARTS AND MUSIC LESSONS SCORE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER ON SAT SCORES

What the study wanted to learn

The study wanted to determine if children who took music lessons in high school scored higher on SAT tests.

Details about the study

The study looked at data from The College Board from 1999-2015. The students in the study belonged to one of two groups. The first group comprised students who took music lessons for 4 years in high school. The second group consisted of students who took a half year or less of music instruction.

Conclusion

The researchers found overwhelming evidence that students who took 4 years of high school music lessons outperformed the nonmusic lesson students on their SAT scores. The critical reading and mathematics portion of the SAT were included, and the writing section of the SAT was excluded. Every year from 1999-2015 demonstrated the SAT score advantage for students taking music lessons.

2015
April
The many benefits of musical lessons for neuro-education and neuro-rehabilitation

CLÉMENT FRANÇOIS, JENNIFER GRAU-SÁNCHEZ, ESTHER DUARTE, ANTONI RODRIGUEZ-FORNELLS

THE MANY BENEFITS OF MUSICAL LESSONS FOR NEURO-EDUCATION AND NEURO-REHABILITATION

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to learn the effects of musical training on neuro-education and neuro-rehabilitation by analyzing previous studies.

Details about the study

This report is a comprehensive review of multiple studies done over many years. The researchers have summarized several studies with a couple of themes in mind. No individual study was conducted by the authors. The researchers in this article focus on the recent gains in the fields of cognitive science, psychology, and neuroscience and their contributions to our knowledge of brain function.

Conclusion

The researchers created a report that highlighted several studies that all showed the positive effects of music lessons on various areas of brain functioning. In the first section of their report, they highlighted several studies showing that learning to play a musical instrument can induce substantial neuroplastic changes in cortical and subcortical regions of motor, auditory and speech processing networks in a healthy population. In the second section of their report, they provided an overview of the evidence showing that musical training can be an alternative, low-cost and effective method for the treatment of language-based learning impaired populations. In the third section of their report, they provided the results of studies showing that training with musical instruments can have positive effects on motor, emotional, and cognitive deficits observed in patients with non-communicable diseases such as stroke or Parkinson’s Disease. All of these studies and results help favor the idea that the structural, multimodal, and emotional properties of musical training can play an important role in developing new, creative, and cost-effective intervention programs for education and rehabilitation in the near future.

2015
October
The positive effects music lessons

E. GLENN SCHELLENBERG, KATHLEEN A. CORRIGALL, SEBASTIAN P. DYS, TINA MALTI

GROUP MUSIC TRAINING AND CHILDREN’S PROSOCIAL SKILLS

What the study wanted to learn

The researcher wanted to investigate if group music training in childhood is associated with prosocial skills.

Details about the study

Children in 3rd or 4th grade who attended 10 months of music lessons taught in groups were compared to a control group of children matched for socio-economic status.

Conclusion

Music group training in childhood is associated with increased prosocial skills. Results show that children who took 10 months of group music lessons had larger increases in sympathy and prosocial behavior compared to a control group matched for socio-economic status. The effect was only seen in children with poor prosocial skills initially and was evident even with compulsory lessons, suggesting group music training can improve prosocial skills.

2016
June
Study reveals that children with musical training tend to focus and tune out distractions better

BELGIAN RESEARCHERS MARIE-EVE JORET, FILIP GERMEYS, YORI GIDRON

STUDY REVEALS THAT CHILDREN WITH MUSICAL TRAINING TEND TO FOCUS AND TUNE OUT DISTRACTIONS BETTER

What the study wanted to learn

The study wanted to find out if musical training affects a person’s (specifically children’s) ability to focus.

Details about the study

This study measured and compared “cognitive inhibition” in children who did and did not have music training. Cognitive inhibition is a person’s ability to concentrate and tune out distractions. The study was conducted by Belgian researchers and was performed on 9 to 12-year-olds with and without musical training.

Conclusion

The study showed that children with musical training performed significantly better in tasks that required focus. The likely reason is music practice requires focus, and practicing a musical instrument daily trains a child to focus on other tasks, as well.

2017
January
Learning to play an instrument is much more beneficial than just listening to music

JOHN DANI

LEARNING TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT IS MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL THAN JUST LISTENING TO MUSIC

What the study wanted to learn

The study was conducted to verify the hypothesis that receiving music lessons is more beneficial than merely listening to music.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on people ranging from 60 to 85 who began taking piano lessons.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that after six months, those who had received piano lessons showed more gains in memory, verbal fluency, the speed at which they processed information, planning ability, and other cognitive functions, as compared with those who had not received music lessons.

2017
February
Short term instrumental music training improves working memory in children

XIA GUO, CHIE OHSAWA, AKIKO SUZUKI, KAORU SEKIYAMA

SHORT TERM INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING IMPROVES WORKING MEMORY IN CHILDREN

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers in this study wanted to analyze the effects of short-term musical training, versus all of the previous studies that have focused on long-term instrumental training.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on 40 children, ranging in age from 6 to 8 years old. The children were placed in one of two groups: One group received a 6-week (12-session) keyboard harmonica curriculum, and the other received no training. One interesting note – the musical training did not use traditional instrumental training, the curriculum did not use musical scores to emphasize creating an association between sound (auditory modality) and finger movement (somatomotor system). The researchers used cognitive measurements including verbal ability, processing speed, working memory, and inhibitory control, which were administered before and after the curriculum in both groups.

Conclusion

After the 6-week-study, the researchers reported an improvement in working memory. The working memory results were very evident, suggesting that even a short period of instrumental training will improve working memory.

2017
October
The Role and Meaning of Music for Older Adults with Dementia

M. ELLIOT, P. GARDNER, M. NARUSHIMA, L. MCCLEARY

THE ROLE AND MEANING OF MUSIC FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA

What the study wanted to learn

From an insider’s perspective, this multiple case study explored the role and meaning of music for individuals with dementia who are aging in place.

Details about the study

The study was conducted using semi-structured interviews, observations, and videos of older adults with dementia. The study’s central theme is a connection, with three types of “connectors” – self, partner, and music – as subthemes. Connection to self involves present moment awareness, accessing memories, and self-expression. Connection to partner builds on self-connection and spending time together with music. Lastly, the connection to music builds on the previous two subthemes and the desire to keep things normal. This study provides insight into the growing body of interdisciplinary literature dedicated to dementia, music, aging in place, and contemplative practices, as well as implications for aging and caring for someone with dementia.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that music offers organization of thoughts, and acts as an anchor to the present moment for individuals with dementia. Music also acts as a catalyst for connection between the person with dementia and their partner, through embodied selfhood. Lastly, our findings support the positive aspects of the experience of music and dementia (enhanced feelings of well-being, increased social interactions, heightened sense of empowerment and control).

2018
February
Improvements in Executive functions of the brain from taking music lessons

ARTHUR C. JASCHKE, HENKJAN HONING, ERIK J. A. SCHERDER

IMPROVEMENTS IN EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN FROM TAKING MUSIC LESSONS

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to study the effects of long-term music education on cognitive abilities and academic achievement in children.

Details about the study

The study was conducted on 174 primary school children. Participants were randomized into two music intervention groups, one active visual arts group, and a no arts control group. Neuropsychological tests assessed verbal intelligence and executive functions. Additionally, a national pupil monitor provided data on academic performance.

Conclusion

The study’s results indicate a positive influence of long-term music education on cognitive abilities such as inhibition and planning. This study supports a far transfer effect from music education to academic achievement mediated by executive sub-functions. Test scores on inhibition, planning, and verbal intelligence increased significantly in the children who received music instruction.

2018
June
Study shows that speech benefits from music lessons

MIT (MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY)

STUDY LINKS MUSIC LESSONS WITH BETTER LANGUAGE SKILLS

What the study wanted to learn

The study wanted to determine whether music lessons improve general cognitive ability, leading to better language proficiency, or if the effect of music is more specific to language processing.

Details about the study

This study was conducted in Beijing, China. The children were 4 or 5 years old. Their native language was Mandarin. The 74 children participating in the study were divided into three groups: one that received 45-minute piano lessons three times a week; one that received extra reading instruction for the same period of time; and one that received neither intervention. After six months, the researchers tested the children and analyzed the results.

Conclusion

The study found that learning music helps to improve language skills. The study concluded that music lessons are as useful (perhaps more useful) than additional reading lessons. Researchers have found that piano lessons have a specific effect on kindergartners’ ability to distinguish different pitches, which translates into an improvement in discriminating between words.

2019
June
High school students who take music lessons perform better academically than those who do not take music lessons.

GUHN, M., EMERSON, S. D., & GOUZOUASIS, P.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO TAKE MUSIC LESSONS PERFORM BETTER ACADEMICALLY THAN THOSE WHO DO NOT TAKE MUSIC LESSONS

What the study wanted to learn

Researchers wanted an extensive look into the positive effects of music lessons and their correlation to enhanced academic achievement.

Details about the study

The study corrected for prior performance and socioeconomic factors. The study was conducted on over 100,000 students at public high schools across the province of British Columbia. The students graduated between the years of 2012 to 2015. More than 15,000 were taking music lessons during their years in high school.

Conclusion

The study concluded that high school students who take music lessons perform much better academically in English, Science, and Math. The researchers also discovered that those who took music lessons outperformed those students who just sang in a choir. Possible explanations for this cause and effect were given, but the study did not specifically address the cause for the increase in academic achievement, just that the results showed a strong correlation.

2020
June
Financial benefits for college from taking music lessons in adolescence

THOMAS E. KLOSS, DONGKUK LIM

FINANCIAL BENEFITS FOR COLLEGE FROM TAKING MUSIC LESSONS IN ADOLESCENCE

What the study wanted to learn

The researchers wanted to explore the relationship between the costs of private music lessons and college scholarships received.

Details about the study

The researchers controlled for three socioeconomic factors – parent income level, parent education level, and parent’s music background. The study was conducted by administering a survey to 126 music ensemble students at two state universities. The students were asked to describe the costs and benefits of music lessons and report how much music-related college scholarship money they were receiving.

Conclusion

The researchers report in this study that there is a positive correlation between the total amount spent on music lessons prior to college and the total amount a student receives for financial assistance for college. The data showed that for every dollar spent by the student on pre-college music lessons, they received 11 cents for music merit-based scholarship in their freshmen year at college.

What social benefits come from music education?

Music artMusic education is more than just learning to play an instrument or sing. It’s also a powerful tool for promoting social and emotional development in children. Research has shown that music lessons can help children develop a wide range of social skills, from teamwork and communication to problem-solving and self-expression. In fact, we created a timeline of studies showing the many benefits of music lessons. In this article, we will focus on how music lessons can help children develop better social skills and how they contribute to their overall social development. We will also discuss the specific social benefits of music education, the social skills promoted by music and movement, and how music can enhance school readiness and socioemotional skills. Lastly, we’ll share and cite several studies supporting the claim that music lessons help develop social skills.

How do Music Lessons Help with Social Skills?

Music band concert kids and social benefitsChildren learn important social skills when learning to play an instrument. The benefits are magnified if children continue learning music in a band, orchestra, symphony, or choir. The group or ensemble setting helps them develop social skills because they learn to listen to one another and adjust their playing to fit in with the group. The following is a list of social skills that students develop when they learn to play a musical instrument.
  • Collaboration: Music lessons often involve working with others, such as in a band or ensemble, which can help children learn how to collaborate and work together effectively.
  • Communication: Learning to play an instrument requires clear communication between the student and the teacher and within a group setting, which can help children develop strong communication skills.
  • Leadership: Children who take music lessons may have the opportunity to lead a band or ensemble, which can help them develop leadership skills.
  • Self-expression: Playing music allows children to express themselves creatively, which can help them develop a sense of self-expression and self-confidence.
  • Empathy: Playing music with others requires understanding and responding to the needs and feelings of others, which can help children develop empathy.
  • Listening: Music lessons require active listening, which can help children develop their listening skills.
  • Patience: Learning to play an instrument can be challenging and requires patience and persistence, which can help children develop patience and persistence in other areas of their lives.
  • Respect: Music lessons often involve learning to play with others, which requires respecting others’ ideas and contributions, which can help children develop respect for others.
  • Cultural awareness: Learning about different types of music and the cultures they come from can help children develop an appreciation for and understanding of different cultures, which can be an essential social skill.
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What are examples of studies showing the relationship between music education and better social skills?

These are some examples of studies that have investigated the relationship between music education and social skills development in children.
  • A study published in the International Journal of Music Education in 2018 found that participation in music education can improve social skills in children, including teamwork, cooperation, and communication. The study surveyed over 300 students who were involved in music education and found that they had better social skills than their peers who were not involved in music education. (Reference: “The Relationship between Music Education and Social Skills in Children: A Survey Study,” International Journal of Music Education, 2018)
  • A study published in the Journal of Research in Music Education in 2013 found that music education can help children develop social skills such as cooperation, empathy, and self-esteem. The study surveyed over 300 students and found that those who were involved in music education had higher levels of social skills than their peers who were not involved in music education. (Reference: “The Relationship of Music Participation to Social Skills in Children and Adolescents,” Journal of Research in Music Education, 2013)
  • A study published in the Journal of Music Therapy in 2008 found that music therapy can improve social skills in children with autism. The study found that children who participated in music therapy had significant improvements in social skills, including communication and social interaction, compared to children who did not receive music therapy. (Reference: “Music Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders,” Journal of Music Therapy, 2008)
  • A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology in 2002 found that participation in music education can improve social skills in children, including teamwork, cooperation, and communication. The study surveyed over 500 students who were involved in music education and found that they had better social skills than their peers who were not involved in music education. (Reference: “The Effects of Music Education on Social Skills,” Journal of Educational Psychology, 2002)
Music education has a wide range of social benefits that extend beyond just learning to play an instrument. It can help to improve self-esteem, confidence, and teamwork skills, as well as foster creativity, cultural understanding, and empathy. Overall, music education has the potential to impact individuals and communities in a variety of ways and is an essential aspect of a well-rounded education.