Children who take music lessons tend to have better-educated, higher-earning parents, and to do more extra-curricular activities than other children their age

Sending your child to piano or violin lessons in a bid to boost their academic achievement is a waste of money, according to scientists.

Although research has shown that youngsters who take music lessons are more likely to be top of their class, psychologist Glenn Schellenberg claims this link is misleading.

Instead, improved academic performance may be because brighter children from privileged backgrounds are more likely to learn an instrument, rather than music classes helping to boost their intelligence.

‘Music may change you a bit, but it’s also the case that different children take music lessons,’ said Professor Schellenberg of the University of Toronto, who added that parents’ education was the most influential factor on musicality.

‘Children who take music lessons come from families with higher incomes, they come from families with more educated parents, they also do more extra-curricular activities, they have higher IQs, and they do better at school.’

In tests on 167 children who played piano or other instruments, they found their answer to personality tests could predict how likely it was for them to continue their music lessons.

Those who were more outgoing and conscientious were more likely to continue to play.

【专家:学音乐是浪费钱 无助于提高智力】相关文章：

★ 现代人压力过大 睡梦中发短信电邮（双语）

★ 75%的人会揭发上司不法行为（双语）

★ 2013年投资建议

★ 社交心理：两个问题决定你的第一印象（双语）

★ 兔子和狐狸

★ 最新研究挑战传统：男生学理科未必有优势

★ 机器人沉睡45年后重见天日

★ 日本右转是虚弱之象

★ 美投资机构担忧“财政悬崖”

★ 制造业崇拜的愚蠢