Guitar Center Research Study Highlights Positives Of Music Lessons For Kids

Guitar Center has released a new research study it commissioned through an independent researcher on the effects of music lessons on children.

The new study explores the effects of supplemental music lessons on the development of children ages 7 to 17 that could be the key to their ongoing success. The online study, commissioned in July 2019, surveyed a total of 2,323 parents of adolescent children ages 7-17 who were currently participating in private music lessons through either a national music store, local independent music store, music institute, or with a private independent music instructor.

The study finds that students participating in supplemental music lessons enjoy a variety of positive effects and healthy habits including self-imposed limitation of screen time, increased problem-solving skills, time management and prioritization, increased self-awareness and social skills, and more.

“A growing number of parents, researchers and technology advocates acknowledge that limiting screen time in favor of other pursuits such as music aids in the healthy development of children,” said Donny Gruendler, Guitar Center Vice President of Education. “In this study, we found that students in outside of school supplemental music lessons are far more likely to balance their own screen time rather than doing it simply because they are made to do so by a parent or caregiver. That is, regularly scheduled music lessons can help build healthy after-school habits and time-management skills that students may otherwise forgo in favor of other leisure pursuits. Altogether, such habits result is a number of additional beneficial life skills and reinforces what we’ve known for some time: studying and playing music has benefits far beyond the mere learning of playing a musical instrument, and its ripple effects result in happier, healthier, more balanced children.”

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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