Over two decades ago researchers in the US began studying the link between learning ‘to read music and play the piano’, and ability in Math and Science.
This led to a ten year UCLA study comparing results for young students taking music versus students taking computer classes. Students learning to read music and play the piano scored significantly higher on Math and Science assessments.
Researchers then went on to prove that learning to read music and play the piano has other cognitive benefits. Hong Kong university of China discovered that not only does the regimen of learning to read and play music increase the rate of learning new vocabulary, but it results in a permanent increase in the learning rate. If the music learning process stops, the increased capacity is retained. If the challenging music program starts again, the rate of learning increases further.
This makes sense. Consider that reading music requires the student to look at music notation (an abstract symbol set) and decode it. Playing music requires that decoded information to be used to guide ten fingers on the piano keyboard. The brain is operating challenging receptive and productive processes simultaneously, which is good exercise for the cerebral cortex, and it soon causes permanent changes in this important area of the brain.
One recent MIT study determined that the cerebral cortex of a concert pianist is enlarged by 30% on average compared to people that are considered intellectuals, but who did not have instrumental music education. Another CA study found that 75% of Silicon Valley CEO’s had instrumental music education as a child.
There are several less-tangible, but important advantages to learning to read music and play an instrument. In one Chicago High School the dropout rate improved dramatically, two short years after a challenging music program was introduced to all students.
Cognitive specialists agree, people are designed to be musical, and to develop that ability is an important advantage, most significant if this is started at an early age. Musicians acknowledge an important spiritual and motivational side to music.
The combination of these benefits is very interesting when considering music learning as a treatment for various conditions that affect both learning and behaviour. Consider Autism, ADHD, or even brain trauma, stroke or aneurism. For these individuals, learning to read music and play the piano can be a very important source of successes, increasing rates of learning and improving behaviour.
Many of these studies involved large numbers of young children learning to play an instrument and clearly required special conditions. It’s very difficult to implement a challenging, multi-year instrumental music program with a significant number of students because of the cost and space traditionally associated with instrumental programs. Traditional methods are simply too expensive to consider providing this beneficial development to all children at a particular school. As a result, normally 5-10 percent of the school population receives an instrumental music education.
MusIQ Club Enables Reliable Results
MusIQ Club classes are effective and very enjoyable. Learning to read music and play an instrument is a long-term challenge, and both teachers and parents are an important part of the learning process. MusIQ Club interactive software provides special feedback during practice that allows students to continue learning and developing skills, an advantage over traditional practice. Enjoying practice has a big effect on learning outcomes, even in the short term.
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