Another potential data point in the argument for a broad, content-rich education: A Harvard-based study has found that children who study a musical instrument for at least three years outperform children with no instrumental training in several key ways, Science Daily reports. Not just on tests of auditory discrimination and finger dexterity, but also on tests measuring verbal ability and visual pattern completion–skills not normally associated with music.
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this is a correlational study and it looks like the researchers made a really minimal effort to determine other factors that would be correlated with music practice. For example, wouldn’t one expect that parents who encourage their kids to practice a musical instrument might encourage them in other academic pursuits as well?
Point well taken. Although maybe not for the specific reason you sight. Have you ever tried to get a kid to practice an instrument??