Learning music 'can make kids smarter'

Posted by Helen Whitten

Kids who learn to play a musical instrument when they are in school may end up being smarter than their peers, it has been claimed.

Researchers from Long Island University have found schoolkids who are seven and eight years old and are taking twice-weekly piano lessons did better on vocabulary tests than those who were not, Mens Health reports.

"The piano students improved their listening skills with music and that may have helped them hear and store vocabulary words more efficiently for future use," said Dr Joseph Piro, the study's author.

This means youngsters who get access to music education at a young age may go on to develop other abilities as a result.

Dr Piro also noted boys and girls are more likely to take part in music classes if it is in a group setting.

It comes after Paul McManus, chief executive officer of the Music Industries Association, said music has to be part of any balanced curriculum.

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