A new report examines which students are accessing extra-curricular activities and the long-term outcomes of students who do participate.
Category: 2. Ages
Music can be key to breaking down social barriers and creating connection and bonding
A team of social neuroscientists from Bar-Ilan University and the University of Chicago developed a model of the brain that focuses on what happens when
A lifetime of being musical may improve our brain health [England, 2024, 1,107 participants, 3 years]
A new study by the University of Exeter has found a connection between brain health in old age and playing a musical instrument.
Study looks at benefits of music education through a ‘Positive Youth Development’ lens
A study published by the University of Southern California (USC) explored the impact of music education programmes on middle school students (teens), including a programme of extra-curricular online popular music education. The study examined the impact of music on the five key areas of Positive Youth Development (PYD).
Playing an instrument could improve long-term cognitive ability [Scotland, 366 adults]
A study of older adults who’d taken part in cognitive ability assessments, indicates that people with more experience of playing a musical instrument were likely to show greater gains in cognitive ability.
Long-term vocal and piano training improves brain connectivity (Taiwan study)
A study published in Human Brain Mapping suggests that long-term vocal and piano training can improve white matter plasticity in emotion and language networks, and strengthen connections among emotion-related regions of the brain. Vocal training in particular reshaped the vocal motor control, sensory feedback, and language processing networks.
The benefits of music education for child development in a post-Covid world [Australia]
A new publication by the University of Adelaide highlights the benefits of music education for child development and well-being, particularly following the impact of the pandemic.
Find out about the benefits of drumming
The Data Drummer website has a research section that, summarises the wellbeing benefits of drumming: from improving general cognitive health, to helping control impulsive behaviour to reducing the symptoms of trauma.
Musical rhythms help children with speech and language difficulties [France, 33 students]
A new study led by a Western Sydney University researcher has found that musical rhythms can help children with speech and language processing difficulties.
Combining maths with music leads to higher scores in maths
Children do better at maths when music is a key part of their lessons according to research by Dr. Ayça Akin, from Antalya Belek University.
Researchers in Japan find link between music and visual arts activities and academic performance
A longitudinal study in Japan has revealed that participation in extracurricular activities in both music and visual arts is positively associated with improvements in general academic performance.
National Open Youth Orchestra publishes major report
The report describes and evaluates the work of the world’s first disabled-led youth orchestra – essential reading for music educators looking to develop their understanding of inclusive music-making.