Music lessons promote academic success
A study by the Portuguese Escola Superior de Educação de Coimbra supports the assumption that there is a connection between music lessons and academic success. Questions remain about the specific mechanisms of action.
For the study, educational scientists Carlos dos Santos-Luiz, Lisete Mónico, Leandro S. Almeida and Daniela Coimbra examined the academic performance of a total of 110 pupils with and without music education. Other factors examined were socio-economic status, intelligence, motivation and previous school success. The groups were examined between the ages of 11 and 14 and three years later.
This showed that those with musical training performed significantly better. This was particularly clear with regard to language lessons (Portuguese) and the natural sciences. The effect also remained stable when particular characteristics of socio-economic status, intelligence and motivation were taken into account.
Original article: C dos Santos-Luiz, L S. M. Mónico, L S. Almeida et al, "Exploring the long-term associations between adolescents' music training and academic achievement", Musicae Scientiae, December 31, 2015, msx.sagepub.com
