Perhaps the common thread between academic success, ability levels, social capabilities and happiness is executive function, which refers to skills you use to manage everyday tasks like making plans, solving problems and adapting to new situations.
As you probably have guessed, musical training has been shown to improve executive function both generally and specifically for one type of executive functioning, working memory.
A 2025 paper published by researchers from Huaihua University in China claims in its abstract:
"Significant group by time interactions were found for phonological loop and central executive subtests, indicating a superior developmental course in children with music training compared to the control group. These results confirm previous findings concerning music training and cognitive performance."
And likewise, the 2013 study released by researchers at the University of Oldenburg in Germany reinforcing music education's connection to working memory says:
"This study contributes to the growing body of work prodding us to the understanding that musical activities can enhance the cognitive functions and highlight the role of the disciplined musical exercise in developing better executive function."Perhaps the common thread between academic success, ability levels, social capabilities and happiness is executive function, which refers to skills you use to manage everyday tasks like making plans, solving problems and adapting to new situations.
As you probably have guessed, musical training has been shown to improve executive function both generally and specifically for one type of executive functioning, working memory.
A 2025 paper published by researchers from Huaihua University in China claims in its abstract:
"Significant group by time interactions were found for phonological loop and central executive subtests, indicating a superior developmental course in children with music training compared to the control group. These results confirm previous findings concerning music training and cognitive performance."
And likewise, the 2013 study released by researchers at the University of Oldenburg in Germany reinforcing music education's connection to working memory says:
"This study contributes to the growing body of work prodding us to the understanding that musical activities can enhance the cognitive functions and highlight the role of the disciplined musical exercise in developing better executive function."