Music Education Boosts Cognitive Development in Young Children

When eight-year-old Maynaz Falasiri feels anxious about school, she finds solace in music. After classes, she spends about 30 minutes playing her piano, the first thing she encounters when she returns home. Her mother, Nazanin Ghanavizi, a psychotherapist, highlights the positive impact of music on her children’s development. “For her, she goes to her piano,” Ghanavizi says, emphasizing how music serves as a comforting tool after a difficult day.

Maynaz has been studying at The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) for six years, focusing on music theory, guitar, and voice. Her younger brother, Tège Falasiri, also participates in the program, particularly enjoying violin lessons. Ghanavizi did not set out to raise musicians but recognized the developmental benefits of music education. “They’ve really trained their music ears,” she notes, indicating the profound impact music has had on their confidence and self-expression.

RCM offers a Smart Start program tailored for children from newborns to age six, integrating neuroscience with music education to promote cognitive, emotional, and social growth. Recently, the program announced plans for global expansion. During RCM’s music symposium, panels discussed the crucial role of music education in child development, featuring speakers like former figure skater Eric Radford and the federal minister of artificial intelligence, Evan Solomon.

The symposium showcased engaging demonstrations of the play-based curriculum, allowing attendees to experience a music classroom environment. Students from RCM’s Taylor Academy, which specializes in training for ages 11 to 17, captivated the audience with a synchronized performance of classical music.

According to Sean Hutchins, neuroscientist and director of research at RCM, many children who begin with the Smart Start program continue to advance into professional music paths. He describes the program as a “natural way” for children to develop cognitive skills through activities that enhance attention and memory. Research from the University of Southern California supports these findings, indicating that music education fosters improved vocabulary and cognitive abilities due to the shared perceptual skills between music and language.

Hutchins emphasizes that music learning requires greater precision and attention compared to language, thus enhancing necessary skills for language development. The Smart Start program employs age-appropriate materials, incorporating songs from various cultures to enrich children’s musical experiences. “The earlier you start learning about music, the better the outcomes are,” Hutchins states.

Brent Cotter’s children, Millicent (5) and Owen (2), have also embraced music education. Millicent has participated since 2022, while Owen joined just weeks ago. Their home is filled with music during morning routines and evening wind-downs. Cotter observes significant social development in his children, attributing part of this growth to their early music education. “We’ve definitely seen a really dramatic difference in our daughter,” he says, noting how music has become an integral part of her identity.

The early childhood music program allows parents to observe a different side of their children while fostering musical skills in a structured learning environment. In Owen’s classes, teachers use various instruments to engage students in movement activities that correspond to different rhythms. “They’re listening to patterns. They’re picking out different sounds,” Cotter explains, expressing amazement at the children’s progress.

For Jacinta Cooper, music has played a vital role in her recovery following a brain injury 13 years ago. She turned to guitar and singing lessons to enhance her language and memory skills. “It has helped me with my confidence and my ability to speak,” Cooper shares, acknowledging the transformative power of music education in building community and identity among children.

Cooper attended the symposium after hearing about it on the radio, eager to explore the neurological benefits of music for early childhood education. Her insights reinforce the notion that music education is not merely an extracurricular activity but a critical component of cognitive development in young children.