{"id":3076,"date":"2026-05-17T08:44:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T08:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tunelark.com\/blog\/music-lessons-child-development-research\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T11:24:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T11:24:39","slug":"music-lessons-child-development-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tunelark.com\/blog\/music-lessons-child-development-research\/","title":{"rendered":"The Effects of Music Lessons on Child Development: What Research Shows"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"height:0;overflow:hidden;\"><script>(function(){function fix(){var m=document.querySelector(\"meta[name='twitter:data2']\");if(!m)return;var t=m.getAttribute(\"content\");if(!t)return;var el=document.querySelector(\".blog-single__meta-1 li\");if(!el)return;var target=t.toUpperCase().replace(\"MINUTES\",\"MIN READ\").replace(\"MINUTE\",\"MIN READ\");if(el.textContent!==target)el.textContent=target;}document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",fix);window.addEventListener(\"load\",fix);setTimeout(fix,100);setTimeout(fix,500);setTimeout(fix,1500);setTimeout(fix,3000);})();<\/script><\/div>\n<div style=\"max-width:800px;margin:0 auto;padding:24px 24px 64px;font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;color:#19394C;font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-family:'PlayfairDisplay-Bold','Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;color:#026D81;margin:0 0 14px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #F5BD52;\">The Effects of Music Lessons on Child Development: What Research Shows<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">If you&#8217;ve ever wondered whether music lessons are &#8220;worth it&#8221; for your child compared to the dozen other activities competing for their time, three decades of developmental research offer a quietly emphatic answer. Music lessons reliably affect children&#8217;s brains, language development, social skills, and academic outcomes in ways that go far beyond learning to play an instrument.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">Here&#8217;s what the research actually says, and what it means for the decision parents face every year.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-family:'PlayfairDisplay-Bold','Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;color:#026D81;margin:44px 0 14px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #F5BD52;\">Brain Structure and Connectivity<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;margin:32px 0;\"><a class=\"btn-yellow type-default\" href=\"https:\/\/tunelark.com\/find-a-teacher\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f4b643;color:#000000;padding:14px 32px;border-radius:999px;font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.06em;text-decoration:none;\">Find Your Music Teacher<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">The most striking findings come from brain imaging studies comparing children who take music lessons to those who don&#8217;t. Children with at least two years of consistent music training show measurable differences in brain structure:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left:24px;margin:0 0 24px;\">\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\"><strong>A larger corpus callosum<\/strong>, the bundle of nerve fibers connecting the brain&#8217;s two hemispheres. This means faster, more efficient communication between regions handling language, memory, motor control, and reasoning.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\"><strong>Increased gray matter<\/strong> in motor, auditory, and visual-spatial regions.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\"><strong>Stronger myelination<\/strong> (insulation around neural pathways) in regions related to fine motor control and auditory discrimination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">These differences aren&#8217;t subtle. They&#8217;re visible on imaging scans and persist into adulthood. They suggest that music lessons aren&#8217;t just teaching a skill. They&#8217;re shaping how the brain is built.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-family:'PlayfairDisplay-Bold','Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;color:#026D81;margin:44px 0 14px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #F5BD52;\">Language and Reading Development<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">Music training affects the same brain systems used for language. The research here is some of the strongest in the field:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left:24px;margin:0 0 24px;\">\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">Children with music training show improved phonological awareness (the ability to hear and manipulate the sounds within words) which is foundational to reading.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">Several controlled studies have found that struggling readers improve faster when music training is added to their reading intervention than with reading intervention alone.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">Children who study music show enhanced auditory processing of speech in noisy environments, which is a known predictor of reading and academic success.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">A 2014 study at Northwestern University followed 44 children for two years and found that those receiving music training showed faster neural responses to speech sounds than peers, with effects that grew over time. These benefits appear strongest when music training starts before age seven, but useful effects show up at any starting age.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-family:'PlayfairDisplay-Bold','Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;color:#026D81;margin:44px 0 14px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #F5BD52;\">Memory and Executive Function<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">Music lessons exercise multiple executive functions simultaneously: sustained attention, working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. A child reading sheet music while coordinating both hands while listening for pitch is engaging more cognitive systems at once than almost any other activity for that age.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">The downstream effects are measurable:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left:24px;margin:0 0 24px;\">\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">Children with music training perform better on working memory tasks than matched peers.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">They show stronger inhibitory control: the ability to suppress impulsive responses, which is a major predictor of academic and life outcomes.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">They display better task-switching abilities, related to cognitive flexibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">These effects accumulate over years of training and appear to be largely retained even after lessons end.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-family:'PlayfairDisplay-Bold','Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;color:#026D81;margin:44px 0 14px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #F5BD52;\">Social and Emotional Development<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">Music lessons: especially when they include any group element like ensembles, choirs, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tunelark.com\/blog\/prepare-for-music-recital-students\/\" style=\"color:#026D81; text-decoration:underline; text-decoration-thickness:1px; text-underline-offset:2px;\">recital<\/a>s: develop social and emotional capacities:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left:24px;margin:0 0 24px;\">\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">Children learn to perform under pressure, building emotional regulation and resilience.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">They practice receiving feedback without crumbling, which transfers to academic and social settings.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">Group music-making teaches cooperation, listening for others&#8217; parts, and contributing to a shared outcome.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">Mastery experiences, finally playing a piece they&#8217;ve worked on for weeks, build confidence and grit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">Several longitudinal studies have found that children with music training show lower rates of anxiety and depression in adolescence than non-musical peers. The causal direction is debated, but the correlation is consistent.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-family:'PlayfairDisplay-Bold','Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;color:#026D81;margin:44px 0 14px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #F5BD52;\">Academic Outcomes<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">The academic data is striking, though it&#8217;s important to read it carefully. Studies have found that students with music training:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left:24px;margin:0 0 24px;\">\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">Have higher GPAs on average than non-musical peers, controlling for other factors.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">Score significantly higher on standardized tests, particularly in reading and math.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">Are more likely to graduate high school and college.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin-bottom:8px;\">Are more likely to be admitted to selective universities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">These outcomes don&#8217;t mean music lessons directly cause academic success. Families that prioritize music lessons often prioritize other things linked to academic outcomes. But controlled studies that account for socioeconomic and parental-engagement factors still show music-training effects that survive the controls. Music lessons appear to be a real contributor, not just a correlate.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-family:'PlayfairDisplay-Bold','Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;color:#026D81;margin:44px 0 14px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #F5BD52;\">What Type of Music Lessons Matter Most<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">A few patterns emerge from the research about which kinds of music training produce the strongest developmental effects:<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\"><strong>Consistency matters more than duration.<\/strong> Two years of weekly lessons with daily practice produces more brain change than a year of two-hour weekly classes with no daily practice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\"><strong>Active playing matters more than passive listening.<\/strong> The benefits described above come from playing an instrument, not from listening to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tunelark.com\/blog\/what-classical-music-does-to-your-brain\/\" style=\"color:#026D81; text-decoration:underline; text-decoration-thickness:1px; text-underline-offset:2px;\">classical music<\/a>. (Listening has its own benefits, but they&#8217;re different and smaller.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\"><strong>Starting age matters, but later is fine.<\/strong> Brain plasticity is highest before age seven, so earlier starts produce larger structural changes. But meaningful brain effects show up from music training started at any age, including in adulthood. There&#8217;s no age at which it&#8217;s too late to benefit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\"><strong>Teacher quality matters.<\/strong> A great teacher produces students who stay with lessons. The benefits of music training are dose-dependent, kids who quit after six months get a fraction of what kids who play for five years get. Teacher fit is one of the biggest determinants of whether a child sticks with it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">For more on what to look for in a teacher for your child, see our guide on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tunelark.com\/blog\/benefits-of-music-lessons-for-kids\/\" style=\"color:#026D81;\">science-backed benefits of music lessons for kids<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-family:'PlayfairDisplay-Bold','Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;color:#026D81;margin:44px 0 14px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #F5BD52;\">The Honest Reading<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">Music lessons aren&#8217;t magic. A child who hates the violin won&#8217;t develop better just from being forced to play it. The benefits described above accrue to children who actually engage with their lessons over years, with reasonable practice, and at least decent teachers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">But for any child who can find an instrument they want to play and a teacher who keeps them engaged, the developmental return on lessons is hard to beat. Few other childhood activities have the breadth of research support (brain, language, memory, social, academic) that music training does.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">The recommendation that follows from the research is simple: if you can swing the investment, give your child the chance. Find the right instrument, the right teacher, and the right level of parental support, then let it run for a few years. The accumulated benefits are real, persistent, and broad.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-family:'PlayfairDisplay-Bold','Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;color:#026D81;margin:44px 0 14px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #F5BD52;\">How to Find the Right Teacher on Tunelark<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">Every teacher on Tunelark is hand-vetted for credentials, teaching experience, and ability to teach online effectively. For kids especially, teacher fit shapes whether the lessons last long enough to deliver the benefits research describes. To get started:<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">1. <a href=\"https:\/\/tunelark.com\/instructors\" style=\"color:#026D81;\">Browse our teacher list<\/a> and filter for your child&#8217;s instrument.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">2. Read bios closely. Look for teachers who mention working with kids and describe a clear philosophy of how they teach.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">3. Book a trial lesson with one whose profile resonates. Sit in if your child wants, and step back if they don&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">4. After a few weeks, ask your child if they like the teacher. Trust their answer: the longest-lasting benefits come from sustained lessons, and sustained lessons require enthusiasm.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">Three decades of research on music and child development point in the same direction. The question for parents isn&#8217;t whether music lessons help. It&#8217;s whether you can find a way to make them happen for your child. Most families can, and most kids who get the chance keep playing for life, which is its own remarkable outcome.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-family:'PlayfairDisplay-Bold','Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;color:#026D81;margin:44px 0 14px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #F5BD52;\">How to Find a Good Music Teacher on Tunelark<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">When it comes to finding the right teacher for your child, fit matters more than credentials. Many Tunelark teachers specialize in working with kids and know how to make lessons engaging without losing structure.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">1. <a href=\"https:\/\/tunelark.com\/instructors\" style=\"color:#026D81;\">Browse our teachers<\/a> and filter by your chosen instrument.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">2. Read bios. Look for teachers who explicitly mention working with children in your child&#8217;s age range. Teaching a seven-year-old is a different skill from teaching a teenager.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">3. Book a trial lesson with one whose profile resonates.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">After the trial, ask yourself: did your child seem engaged and curious, or just polite? That&#8217;s the signal that matters most.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:0 0 18px;\">The right teacher does more than teach the instrument. They build the relationship that makes a child want to keep showing up.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-family:'PlayfairDisplay-Bold','Playfair Display',Georgia,serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;color:#026D81;margin:44px 0 14px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #F5BD52;\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"At what age do music lessons start producing developmental benefits?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Brain benefits begin showing up after 6-12 months of regular lessons, typically starting around age 5-6 when children can sustain focus for structured lessons.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Are some instruments better for child development than others?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Slightly. Piano and string instruments may produce the strongest measurable brain effects. But the most important factor is consistent practice over years: the instrument matters less than the consistency.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Will music lessons hurt my child's academic performance?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Quite the opposite. Music students consistently score higher on academic measures than non-musical peers. The discipline and focus practice builds transfers directly to schoolwork.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How long until I see developmental benefits from music lessons?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Cognitive and behavioral changes typically show up within 6-12 months of regular practice. The benefits compound over years: a child who plays for 5 years gets dramatically more than one who plays for 1.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is it ever too late for music lessons to help a child develop?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Almost never. Even children starting at 10-12 see significant cognitive and behavioral benefits. Earlier is somewhat better for brain structure changes, but it's never genuinely too late.\"}}]}<\/script><\/p>\n<details style=\"margin:12px 0;border:1px solid #e0e0e0;border-radius:6px;padding:12px 16px;\">\n<summary style=\"font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;color:#064B72;line-height:1.4;\">At what age do music lessons start producing developmental benefits?<\/summary>\n<p style=\"font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:8px 0 0;\">Brain benefits begin showing up after 6-12 months of regular lessons, typically starting around age 5-6 when children can sustain focus for structured lessons.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"margin:12px 0;border:1px solid #e0e0e0;border-radius:6px;padding:12px 16px;\">\n<summary style=\"font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;color:#064B72;line-height:1.4;\">Are some instruments better for child development than others?<\/summary>\n<p style=\"font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:8px 0 0;\">Slightly. Piano and string instruments may produce the strongest measurable brain effects. But the most important factor is consistent practice over years. The instrument matters less than the consistency.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"margin:12px 0;border:1px solid #e0e0e0;border-radius:6px;padding:12px 16px;\">\n<summary style=\"font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;color:#064B72;line-height:1.4;\">Will music lessons hurt my child&#8217;s academic performance?<\/summary>\n<p style=\"font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:8px 0 0;\">Quite the opposite. Music students consistently score higher on academic measures than non-musical peers. The discipline and focus practice builds transfers directly to schoolwork.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"margin:12px 0;border:1px solid #e0e0e0;border-radius:6px;padding:12px 16px;\">\n<summary style=\"font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;color:#064B72;line-height:1.4;\">How long until I see developmental benefits from music lessons?<\/summary>\n<p style=\"font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:8px 0 0;\">Cognitive and behavioral changes typically show up within 6-12 months of regular practice. The benefits compound over years: a child who plays for 5 years gets dramatically more than one who plays for 1.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"margin:12px 0;border:1px solid #e0e0e0;border-radius:6px;padding:12px 16px;\">\n<summary style=\"font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;color:#064B72;line-height:1.4;\">Is it ever too late for music lessons to help a child develop?<\/summary>\n<p style=\"font-family:'Source Sans Pro','Source Sans 3',-apple-system,Segoe UI,sans-serif;font-size:17px;line-height:1.75;color:#19394C;margin:8px 0 0;\">Almost never. Even children starting at 10-12 see significant cognitive and behavioral benefits. Earlier is somewhat better for brain structure changes, but it&#8217;s never genuinely too late.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;ve ever wondered whether music lessons are &#8220;worth it&#8221; for your child compared to the dozen other activities competing for their time, three decades of developmental research offer a quietly emphatic answer. Music lessons reliably affect children&#8217;s brains, language development, social skills, <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":3697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"What three decades of research reveal about how music lessons affect child development. Brain, language, memory, social skills, and academic outcomes.","footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online-learning"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.5 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Effects of Music Lessons on Child Development: What Research Shows | Tunelark<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What three decades of research reveal about how music lessons affect child development. 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