How Music Primes the Brain for Learning
This article covers several books recently written about the cognitive benefits of music, as well as specific educational and SEL benefits.
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Musical Participation and Positive Youth Development in Middle School
This Fender and USC-sponsored study examined positive youth development (PYD), school connectedness (SC), and hopeful future expectations (HFE) in middle school students (N = 120) with four levels of musical participation in school-based and extracurricular music programs. They examined many variable and also noted that students from lower socio-economic circumstances benefited more, showing the importance of access to music education.
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Effect of Music Therapy as a Non-Pharmacological Measure Applied to Alzheimer’s Disease Patients: A Systematic Review
This article took an interesting angle: in addition to examining how music therapy could help with reducing some symptoms of people living with Alzheimer’s disease, it also examined how music can help their caregivers. The researchers looked at 16 studies across a variety of geographies, sample sizes (though researchers said most were small), and control group vs no control group.
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Promises of Music in Education?
The article examines the evolving educational landscape, emphasizing the increasing need for skills like problem-solving and social abilities. It focuses on the potential of music in supporting learning, reviewing evidence from various settings. The discussion covers formal music training showing structural brain changes in children engaged in music. Intervention studies highlight improved cognitive and language skills following intensive music training.
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A Population-Level Analysis of Associations Between School Music Participation and Academic Achievement
The study is a population level analysis (n = 112,916) examining relationships between music education and mathematics, science and Engligh achievement in highschool. It also controlled for factors such as language/cultural background and socioeconomic status. School music achievement positively related to scores on all subjects; such relationships were stronger for achievement in instrumental music compared with vocal music.
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The Transformative Power of Music in Mental Well-being
This is a recent blog post from the American Psychiatric Association that covers mental health, diversity, socio-economic issues and the power of music to help those who are suffering. The blog post brings in research to support its discussion topics and pulls together Dr.
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Long-Term Impacts of Early Musical Abilities on Academic Achievement: A Longitudinal Study
This longitudinal study tracked 76 students in Hungary over a seven year period to determine the value of developing early music abilities on academic success. Tests were administered to students in 1st grade and then again in Grade 7.
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Extended Music Education Enhances The Quality of School Life
The claim of whether music education can create social benefits in the school environment was tested in 10 Finnish schools with an extended music curricular class and control classes. The quality of school life (QSL) was assessed by a representative sample (N=735) of pupils at years 3 and 6 (9- and 12-years-olds).
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How Music Heals Us, Even When It’s Sad. By a Neuroscientist Leading a New Study of Musical Therapy
This article is a fascinating review of the history of music therapy and the ongoing developments into better understanding and utilitizing music therapy to assist with many aspects of physical, mental and emotional health along with traditional therapies.
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Impact of Music Education on Mental Health of Higher Education Students: Moderating Role of Emotional Intelligence
This research was conducted among 265 music education graduate students in Chinese universities in 2022, using emotional intelligence as a moderating factor. Results showed that musicians and music students with a high level of emotional intelligence have a better chance of not just performing well in school, college and university or in the music industry, but also of maintaining mental health and improving it.
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