Want to enhance higher brain function in children? Encourage their brain development and intellectual ability? Provide an on-going workout for their smart muscles which could give lifelong health benefits, including recreation, relaxation, and enjoyment?
Two words: Piano Lessons.
About 10 years ago, a study published in Neurological Research (Feb 1997) demonstrated that piano instruction is superior to computer instruction for enhancing abstract reasoning skills in preschoolers. The study was conducted by a psychologist, Dr Frances Rauscher of the University of Wisconsin, and a physicist, Dr Gordon Shaw of the University of California at Irvine. I think it is interesting that the study was not conducted by music teachers or musicians, but by professionals in other disciplines. My guess is that these two professors have found that music is very important in their lives.
In the experiment, 4 groups of preschoolers received 4 different types of instruction. One group received piano lessons, a second group took singing lessons, a third group received computer instruction, and a fourth group received no lessons. All children were given a test at the end of the instruction to measure their spatial-temporal abilities. These are the reasoning skills for science, math, chess, engineering, puzzle solving. The group that took piano instruction scored 34% higher than any of the others.
Yes, I know, I was one of those kids who hated to practice. My oldest son loves music, but hated to practice. My youngest has an aptitude for it, and genuinely enjoys playing and practicing. True to the results of this study, he is the most analytical member of our family and does well at games of strategy.
What my family has discovered is that even if you are not much of a pianist, the act of learning to play gives your brain a boost and enhances your enjoyment of musical activities throughout your life. I find that much of my ability to learn new computer applications is similar to the process of learning to play piano. (I have more of an aptitude for computer than for playing the piano) I also play guitar and have sung in professional choirs, but the process is not the same. There is something about the physical connection between hand, ear, eye, and brain involved in learning to play piano which stimulates learning in general.
As for my oldest, who hated to practice, now that he does not “have to”, he still plays for his own enjoyment – and relaxation. He would not have the skill to do this if he had not been disciplined to learn earlier – because he would not have bothered as an adult to learn piano as a new skill. What he learned as a child, he has carried forward, and is having fun with it!