Influence of musical training on academic performance: a bibliographical review

Abstract

Music education has gained recent interest in the field of education and psychology with an increase of neuroscientific research, which demonstrates its positive effects on cognitive development and academic performance. The objective of this review is to look at the different cognitive processes that explain the relationship between musical training and academic performance. We synthesized a set of studies through a structured procedure in three steps: initial, systematic and manual research. The results show how students with musical training have better verbal memory, executive functions, selective attention and brain plasticity. These data suggest that musical training during the school period may favor academic performance. The degree of these changes seems to be preceded by pre-existing individual differences in students, as well as in training time, among other factors. We conclude that musical training produces direct positive effects on neuroanatomical differentiation, cognitive abilities and, at the same time, an increase in achievement and academic performance.