A summary of several studies
Neuroscientists are pursuing studies of the effects of playing a musical instrument on the developing brain.
In an article published on the DANA Foundation website in 2009, Ben Mauk summarized an ongoing study conducted by Ellen Winner of Boston College and Gottfried Schlau of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. Quoting from the article, “This is the first study to show brain plasticity in young children as a function of instrumental music instruction,” Schlaug said.
Other researchers have addressed the effects of music education on attention and intelligence. Michael Posner of the University of Oregon found evidence supporting far transfer, or generalization of music training effects to other areas.