Music Training for Child Development

Overseen By Shan Luo

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Southern California

Disqualifiers: Neurological, Psychiatric, Hearing loss, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to determine if music training can enhance brain development in children, with a focus on brain inhibition control, which aids in managing attention and behavior. Children will either join a music training program or an after-school program featuring arts and cultural activities. The trial seeks Hispanic children aged 6-8 living in Los Angeles who have not had more than six months of formal music training. Over two years, the study will collect data to assess whether music training provides unique benefits compared to other enrichment activities. As an unphased study, this trial offers children a unique opportunity to contribute to significant research on brain development through music.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this music training program is safe for child development?

Research shows that music training is generally safe for children. Studies indicate that musical activities can enhance thinking skills and physical development. For example, clapping and moving to music can improve coordination. Additionally, listening to music helps the brain form connections that support learning and understanding.

These studies do not report any negative effects linked to music training, suggesting it is well-tolerated. Overall, the focus remains on positive developmental benefits without reports of harm. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Music Program for child development because it offers a unique approach by blending music education with developmental training, following the Suzuki method. Unlike standard after-school programs that focus on a broader range of activities like visual arts and theater, this program zeroes in on developing musical skills such as rhythm, pitch, and performance. By providing children with instruments to practice at home and opportunities to perform, the program aims to enhance motivation, mastery, and community engagement, which are not typically emphasized in conventional enrichment activities.

What evidence suggests that music training might be an effective treatment for brain development?

Research shows that children who learn music tend to excel in several key developmental areas. In this trial, participants in the Music arm will receive music lessons, which studies indicate can enhance thinking skills, such as IQ and memory, and aid language development. Additionally, children who learn music often exhibit better hand-eye coordination and improved sound memory. Music training also enhances social skills, such as teamwork and communication. These findings suggest that learning music could positively impact brain development and health, especially in young children. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Assal Habibi

Principal Investigator

University of Southern California

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This study is for Hispanic children aged 6-8 from low-income families in LA, with normal IQ and living within a 2-mile radius of the program locations. It's not for kids who've had more than 6 months of music training, have MRI-incompatible body parts, claustrophobia, neurological/psychiatric disorders, or severe hearing/vision loss.

Inclusion Criteria

Normal IQ (standard score of >85 in the Abbreviated Wechsler's Scale of Intelligence)

Hispanic/Latino living in LA within 2 miles radius of the location of the music and the afterschool programs

Low SES as defined by Hollingshead Index cumulative score below 29

Exclusion Criteria

I have severe hearing or vision loss that can't be corrected with glasses or contacts.

Claustrophobia

Prior engagement in formal and systematic music training for more than 6 months

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

R61 Phase

Feasibility of executing the RCT is evaluated with comprehensive behavioral and imaging data collection

2 years

Pre-intervention, mid-intervention every 6 months, post-intervention

R33 Phase

Continuation of the study with comprehensive behavioral and imaging data collection

3 years

Pre-intervention, mid-intervention every 6 months, post-intervention

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for long-term effects on brain inhibition control circuitry and related health outcomes

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• After School Enrichment Program
• Music Program

Trial Overview

The trial tests if music training benefits brain development in children. Participants are randomly placed into a music group receiving traditional strings curriculum or a control group with various after-school activities but no systematic music training.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Music Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

57 participants, aged 6-8 Participants will be enrolled in a music training program led by professional trained music instructor of the Colburn School of Music. The music curriculum follows the standard Suzuki training method. Students attend the program 3 days per week, 2 weekday afternoons and one weekend morning. Each session lasts approximately 1 hour long. Each student will be given a string instrument to take home (often a viola or a violin). Each learning day focuses on development of musical elements including rhythm and meter, form, pitch, and performance. Students will take part in annual performances intended to give them a motivational goal, sense of mastery and to share their accomplishments with their peers, family, and community.

Group II: After School Enrichment Group Active Control 1 Intervention

57 participants, aged 6-8 Participants will be enrolled in an after school program led by instructors and will include visual arts, theater, and general cultural studies. Students attend the program 3 days per week in the afternoon for 1 hour long lessons. Students will take part in an end of the year celebration to share their work with family and community members. Duration and frequency of the after-school program will be matched to the music intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Southern California

Lead Sponsor

Trials

956

Recruited

1,609,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Music therapy can significantly support hospitalized children in reaching their growth and development milestones, including motor skills, communication, and social interactions.

Healthcare professionals are encouraged to collaborate with registered music therapists to enhance the effectiveness of music therapy in pediatric care settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The specialist role of the music therapist in developmental programs for hospitalized children. Kennelly, J.[2019]

Music-based interventions are effective for treating health issues and enhancing education in children, positively impacting their emotional and developmental growth.

There is a significant gap in empirical research on music therapy for children, highlighting the need for more studies to explore its applications, treatment goals, and specific mechanisms of action.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Music-based intervention in children]. Kiese-Himmel, C.[2012]

Music therapy can significantly help pediatric oncology patients by addressing physical, social, and psychological needs, such as reducing pain and anxiety, and decreasing reliance on pain medication.

It promotes social interaction and emotional expression, enhancing relationships with healthcare providers and family, which is crucial for patients undergoing long-term treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy research and applications in pediatric oncology treatment. Standley, JM., Hanser, SB.[2017]

Children who participated in a music training program showed significant improvement in their ability to distinguish pitch differences, indicating that musical training can enhance auditory skills after cochlear implantation.

While the music training did not significantly improve speech perception compared to the control group, it did lead to earlier readiness for formal speech evaluations and greater overall musical development by the end of the second year, suggesting benefits in auditory processing and parent-child relationships.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The family oriented musical training for children with cochlear implants: speech and musical perception results of two year follow-up. Yucel, E., Sennaroglu, G., Belgin, E.[2009]

Music-based training may enhance speech and language development in children with communication disorders, including those using cochlear implants (CIs), despite the challenges posed by degraded sound processing in CIs.

There is a lack of systematic studies on the effectiveness of music training for CI users, highlighting the need for more research to understand its potential benefits for improving speech skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music-based training for pediatric CI recipients: A systematic analysis of published studies. Gfeller, K.[2018]

The study analyzed 88 episodes of Barney & Friends and found that music made up 92.2% of the content, with a significant portion being instrumental (61%), indicating a strong emphasis on musical experiences for preschoolers.

Most of the music served as structural prompts (48%) or background music (48%), with a majority being newly composed material (52%), suggesting that the show actively engages children with original music to enhance learning and interaction.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of music on Barney & Friends: implications for music therapy practice and research. McGuire, KM.[2019]

A review of 46 studies indicates that music interventions can have positive effects on the development of primary school-aged children, suggesting potential benefits for educational processes.

While the evidence points to beneficial outcomes, the review highlights that clear conclusions cannot be drawn due to variability in study quality and intervention components, indicating a need for further research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music Interventions and Child Development: A Critical Review and Further Directions. Dumont, E., Syurina, EV., Feron, FJM., et al.[2020]

A review of 22 pediatric studies on music-based interventions highlighted significant gaps in how these interventions are reported, particularly in areas like music qualities and intervention delivery methods.

The findings suggest a need for standardized reporting guidelines to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of music-based interventions in research and practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A review of music-based intervention reporting in pediatrics. Robb, SL., Carpenter, JS.[2022]

In a study involving 20 pregnant women undergoing elective caesarean delivery, listening to Mozart sonatas during the procedure did not significantly improve patient satisfaction compared to a control group without music.

There were no notable differences in anxiety levels or post-operative mean arterial pressure between the music and control groups, suggesting that music may not have a meaningful impact in this surgical context.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of Mozart music on patient satisfaction during caesarean delivery: a randomised controlled trial. Drzymalski, DM., Dahlawi, M., Hall, RR., et al.[2023]

Citations

1.

davidpublisher.com

davidpublisher.com/Public/uploads/Contribute/66f9122667f91.pdf

The Impact of Music Education on Children's Cognitive ...

This article synthesizes research data to examine the cognitive benefits of music instruction, including increased IQ, language proficiency, memory, and ...

2.

criticaldebateshsgj.scholasticahq.com

criticaldebateshsgj.scholasticahq.com/post/2782-can-music-influence-children-s-development-a-review-of-existing-research-by-krishiv-agrawal

Can Music Influence Children's Development? A Review of ...

A study by Hallam et al., (2012) found that music training can improve social skills, such as cooperation and communication, in children aged 4- ...

3.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3957486/

How musical training affects cognitive development

Correlational and interventional studies of children undergoing music training consistently show that they perform better in the areas closely associated with ...

4.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010027725000423

Does music training improve emotion recognition and ...

These findings suggest that music training enhances fine-motor skills and auditory memory, but it does not causally improve emotion recognition.

5.

frontiersin.org

frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01694/full

Music Interventions and Child Development: A Critical ...

Results showed that musically trained children had a significantly more accurate performance in the discrete movement task compared to controls.

6.

headstart.gov

headstart.gov/curriculum/article/music-child-development

Music in Child Development | HeadStart.gov

Music can support gross motor development through many different movements as children clap, bounce, wiggle, walk, stomp, march, jump, and bend.

7.

penfieldchildren.org

penfieldchildren.org/kohls-building-blocks/home-and-family/the-effects-of-music-on-childhood-development/

The Effects of Music on Childhood Development

Many studies have shown that exposing infants and babies in the womb to music helps build neural bridges used to process thought and information.

8.

kidsvillepeds.com

kidsvillepeds.com/blog/1245643-the-impact-of-music-on-your-childs-brain-development/

How Music Boosts Your Child's Brain Development and Skills

Research shows that children exposed to music from an early age tend to have better cognitive skills, especially in areas related to language and speech ...

9.

schoolofrock.com

schoolofrock.com/resources/music-education/kids-music-effects-of-music-on-child-development

Kids & Music: Effects of Music on Child Development

Music is important in the early years, as it affects children's intelligence and emotions, and helps them develop their skills.