““A music-rich experience for children of singing, listening and moving is really bringing a very serious benefit to children as they progress into more formal learning,” says Mary Luehrisen, executive director of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation, a not-for-profit association that promotes the benefits of making music.”

This article discusses the many ways that music facilitates learning in other disciplines.

Music, according to the article, aids in processing language (as can be seen in scans of the human brain). Language skills are also directly linked to social skills. Therefore, “Musical experience strengthens the capacity to be verbally competent.”

Also discussed in the article are the ways Music can help increase IQ, help children visualize linked information better, is a proven factor in improving test scores... but also emphasized is that fact that it is important not to try to oversell the idea that music makes you smarter. Instead, they suggest seeing it this way, “Music makes your kid interesting and happy, and smart will come later. It enriches his or her appetite for things that bring you pleasure and for the friends you meet.”

I found this article very interesting. I’ve always heard people talk about the various statistics behind music and brain function, IQ and test scores, but it was interesting to see it laid out this way.

I highly agree, however, with the importance of not overemphasizing that “music makes you smart”. Advertising music as some kind of magical remedy to make your children instantly better at all things scholastic is setting them up for failure. I like that instead they mention that music is an interest, it is something that IS interesting, and it is something that makes individuals interesting. It gives students an opportunity to be involved, learn discipline and time management with practicing, and things like that. These type of skills are what help students develop their study habits in the same way, and therefore, help them learn more.