Ensemble music programmes have positive effects on character, competence and caring

A study by Florida International University’s Community-Based Research Institute has found that ensemble-based musical instruction in an after school programme has positive effects on the behaviour and development of school-aged children.

Project TREBLE (Testing Resilience in an Ensemble-Based Learning Environment) was conducted by a team of researchers including Michelle Marie Hospital, Staci Leon Morris, Eric F. Wagner and Eva Wales, and looked at how after school group music classes affected students’ overall competence, confidence, caring, character and connection (known as the “5 C’s”).

The study involved 180 children aged 8 to 17 over a three-year period and also included 178 primary caregivers and 24 Miami Music Project (MMP) teaching artists. MMP is a Florida-based non-profit arts and social development organisation which uses the El Sistema music education philosophy. The Ware foundation funded the study as a university-community partnership.

The study found that participants showed significant increases across all 5 C’s, particularly in the areas of character, competence and caring. The study concluded that a rigorous orchestral model of music instruction offers students cognitive benefits as well as social and emotional enhancements.

“Project TREBLE”, said Anna Klimala, executive director of MMP, “helped highlight the benefits of music education with overall skills and positive youth development. We are not concerned with trying to foster more professional musicians; we are concerned with creating citizens and future leaders of our communities through the enhancement of the complex skills used while practicing an instrument and performing in an orchestra-based ensemble.”

Photo (cropped) by Peter Stumpf on Unsplash

SOURCES:
Florida International University: https://news.fiu.edu/2019/02/study-finds-ensemble-music-programs-positively-affect-students-character-competence/130134
Medical Xpress: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-02-ensemble-music-positively-affect-students.html

DETAILS:

BENEFIT:	BEHAVIOUR & COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
TARGET GROUP:	YOUNG PEOPLE
AGE:	8-17 YEARS-OLD
MUSIC TYPE:	ORCHESTRAL (EL SISTEMA)
TYPE OF STUDY:	ACADEMIC RESEARCH
NOs INVOLVED:	180 (382 IN TOTAL)
PERIOD OF STUDY:	3 YEARS
DATE:	2016-18
PLACE:	USA