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Group Music Practice Enhances Development

NCT04200794 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 70

Last updated 2019-12-16

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This randomized controlled trial shows for the first time that focused musical instrumental practice as compared to traditional sensitization to music provokes multiple transfer effects in the cognitive and sensorimotor domain. Over the last two years of primary school (10-12-year-old children), sixty-nine children received biweekly musical instruction in a group setting by professional musicians within the regular school curriculum. The intervention group learned to play string instruments, whereas the control group, peers in parallel classes, was sensitized to music via listening, theory, and some practice. Broad benefits manifested in the intervention group as compared to the control group for working memory, attention, processing speed, cognitive flexibility, matrix reasoning, sensorimotor hand function and bimanual coordination Apparently, learning to play a complex instrument in a dynamic group setting impacts development much stronger than classical sensitization to music. Our results therefore highlight the added value of intensive musical instrumental training in a group setting, encouraging general implementation in public primary schools, better preparing children for secondary school and for daily living activities.

Conditions

  • Cognitive Change
  • Motor Activity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

musical instrumental training

Learning to play a string instrument in a group setting (school class)

BEHAVIORAL

sensitization to music

sensitization to music via listening, theory, moderate practice on small percussive instruments and choir singing in a group setting (school class)

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Swiss National Science Foundation

    collaborator OTHER

  • School of Health Sciences Geneva

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Clara James, PhD · School of Health Sciences Geneva

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
9 Years
Max Age
13 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2016-06-01
Primary Completion
2018-09-15
Completion
2019-02-01

Countries

  • Switzerland

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04200794 on ClinicalTrials.gov