Enrolling your child in piano lessons is an excellent way to encourage academic development. According to the American Psychological Association, taking music lessons can influence your kid’s IQ score and grades in school. To take advantage of this unique opportunity to help your children develop cognitively, European Piano School in Anchorage, AK, recommends signing them up for piano lessons at an early age—for most children, 5 years old is a good age to start. 

As you’re introducing your children to music and asking them what type of instrument they’d like to play, take a look at the following ways that piano lessons can benefit them academically:

• Boost IQ: In the study conducted by the American Psychological Association, there is an intrinsic relationship between music lessons and IQ score. Research shows that students who study a musical instrument at an early age can improve their IQ score by an average of 10 points. 
• Improve Grades: Since there is a link between IQ score and academic performance, it has also been proven that taking music lessons boosts intellectual functioning, psychological development, and self-esteem, thus increasing the chances of getting higher grades in school. This is also because piano lessons develop qualities such as coordination; memory (visual, logical, ear and muscular memory); stress control during public performances; and the patience to reach goals. Piano lessons also help with math and encourage imagination and creativity.
• Enhance Functioning: Learning a musical instrument requires a high sense of self-efficacy and the ability to practice routines daily, which—in turn—develops the discipline and skill to plan a daily schedule. These skills usually transfer to a child's performance in other areas, such as school and extracurricular activities. You will see improvements in your child's intellectual, emotional, and social development when they take piano lessons.

Don’t miss an opportunity to give your children a jump-start to their cognitive development with piano lessons at an early age. To learn more about the piano and music theory classes at European Piano School, please call (907) 360-2915, or visit us online for a detailed description of our qualifications.