There is no dispute among experts that music of any kind stimulates the brain and that early music training of any kind may influence brain development.

In a study carried out in Canada, Professor Glenn Schellenberg of the University of Toronto found that the IQ scores of six-year-olds who had taken keyboard or voice lessons were, on average, three points higher than normal.

Another Canadian study found that 4 to 6-year-olds who were musically trained over the course of a year-long programme performed better in memory tests than those who had no instrument lessons.

According to Professor Raymond MacDonald, a specialist in musical psychology at Glasgow University, there is now "considerable evidence that taking part in musical activities can influence other areas of our development".

"And there is no doubt that music can play a very important role in a young child's development," he adds.

Baz Chapman, director of Sing Up, England's national singing programme, believes that music helps in a number of areas, including social developemnt.

"A number of studies show that a child who has experienced a lot of musical and cultural activities is a more creative learner and is more well rounded.

"In the future, creative thinkers are going to be absolutely crucial alongside academic thinkers," Chapman says.
 
Glasgow's Prof MacDonald acknowledges that music is not a "panacea".

"You can't just say 'sending my son to violin lessons will automatically give him higher marks in maths' because it's a complex process.

"However, if children are helped to enjoy music and given space to explore music, there's evidence that not only will they get better at playing music but the benefits can generalise to other aspects of their life, both social and scholastic." (Source: BBC News)