There are many academic benefits to music. Whether it is in studying, memory, attentiveness, fine motor skills, or just more complex thinking and reasoning, listening to and playing music can improve every aspect of your academic career. For younger students learning an instrument enhances fine motor skills. The parts of the brain associated with sensory and motor function are developed through music instruction, and musically trained children have better motor function than non-musically trained children (Forgeard, 2008; Hyde, 2009; Schlaug et al., 2005). Children who have been classically trained in music have healthier more cognitively active brains, which helps to prevent diseases like Alzhimers and dementia later in life.

Music helps children’s brains facilitate complex thinking and algorithm synapsys that help them thrive in school. Complex math processes come easier to students who have studied music; the same parts of the brain used in processing math are strengthened through practice in music. Musical training develops the region of the brain responsible for verbal memory—the recall and retention of spoken words—which serves as a foundation for retaining information in all academic subjects. Music students who were tested for verbal memory showed a superior recall for words as compared to non-music students (Ho et al., 1998; 2003). Music also helps to facilitate a child’s working memory which is the ability to mentally hold, control and manipulate information in order to complete higher order tasks, such as reasoning and problem solving. This is most strongly evident in a study done in 2000 which analyzed 10 years of SAT data which revealed that students who took four years of arts courses in high school earned the highest scores on both the verbal and math SAT. Overall, students taking any arts courses scored significantly higher than students who took no arts courses.

Music also helps students of all ages focus and aids in the recall of information on tests. A study done by Stanford shows that classical music moves the brain to pay attention when used during studying. Music engages the part of the brain that is involved in sorting and storing information, which is why classical music (specifically Bach, Beethoven, and Motzart) stimulates studying. Researchers have also found that listening to music while taking tests allowed students to not only complete the given test faster, but also more accurately. This again, is due to the fact that music stimulates recall, which is the brian function that is most needed to take a test in school (recall is used in both long/ short answer questions as well as multiple choice). So teachers, you may want to consider playing classical during tests (as long as it is calming and uplifting); especially during big tests like finals and midterms, because music not only increases focus, but also reduces stress. Music also facilitates memory, which is why memorizing song lyrics is so easy, and information that you learn through music is much easier to remember. I’m sure you all know the song about cells (cells their made of organelles), we may have learned it in sixth grade biology, but we all still know it word for word. This is because the brain looks for patterns to easily and effectively store information, so that recalling that information is also easier. A catchy song is one of the most effective ways to learn and remember information.

Playing and listening to music is one of the best things you could do to get the most out of your brain academically. Don’t worry, it’s never too late to learn an instrument, and it is so easy to incorporate music into your studying and learning habits. Music is the cheapest tutor, the most accessible study tool, and the most effective method to engage every part of your brain.

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