Expert: David Froom - 1/7/2006

Question
My name is Maggie and I am an eighth grader at Lake Denoon Middle School in Muskego, Wisconsin. I am doing a research project on how classical music affects student achievement for my science class. If possible, I was wondering if you could please answer a few of the following questions:

1.   In your opinion, does playing or performing classical music affect and/or improve student achievement?

2.   When you are doing math or playing/performing classical music, are you using the same part of your brain? If so, which part?

3.   Do students who take band or music classes that play or perform classical music achieve better in school than those who do not take band or music classes?

Thank you.  

Answer
Hi Maggie,

You asked:

1. In your opinion, does playing or performing classical music affect and/or improve student achievement?

I do not think this is a question that calls for an opinion, but rather some tests to determine if such a proposition is true.

2. When you are doing math or playing/performing classical music, are you using the same part of your brain? If so, which part?

Once again, this is a question that should be answered by tests, perhaps performed by a cognitive psychologist.  That is not my area of expertise.

3. Do students who take band or music classes that play or perform classical music achieve better in school than those who do not take band or music classes?

Why don't you do some testing at your middle school and at other local schools?  See what you can find.  You should first define what you mean by "achieve better."  Do you mean just higher grades?  Or higher scores on standardized tests?  Or both?  And would the classical performers be all students who play in band, or just those who are "serious" about it?  How would you define what makes a serious student?

Also -- and this is a question I've never seen addressed -- is it just classical music?  Or could jazz have the same effect (assuming there is one)?  Or popular music?

There is some research out there.  People have done some of this testing.  You might want to do some searching, using appropriate terms in "Google."  I put "classical lessons achievement" in the search box and found this article, which you might find interesting.  It makes mention of many studies done by other scientists:

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/ps/musiciq.pdf

Good luck with your science project!

Best wishes,
David Froom