Scientists to study how music can help older people

A study into how learning the guitar, piano and other musical instruments can be beneficial to older people is to be carried out.

According to Professor Susan Hallam of the Institute of Education, music has proven benefits for a person's health and wellbeing.

However, she noted that most of the research in this area has been carried out on younger people.

The Music for Life project has therefore been set up to redress the balance and look at how learning and playing a musical instrument can enhance the lives of older age groups.

"We hope our findings will identify the most effective ways to provide older people with access to musical activities so that investment in such services can be better focused," Professor Hallam commented.

She added that music has been scientifically proven to aid concentration, relaxation and influence moods and emotions.

Only this week, researchers at the University of Zurich found that playing a musical instrument could boost a person's cognitive skills.