Intelligent People Learn Music Faster

Intelligent people learn music
faster according to a study done by Michigan State University. The study
reported in Intelligence may be the first to examine the relationship between
intelligence, music aptitude and growth mindset among early stage learners of
piano. Growth mindset refers to whether students believe they can improve basic
abilities, like piano ability.
As part of the study, 161
undergraduates were taught how to play 'Happy Birthday' on the piano with the
help of a video guide. The students performed multiple times after practice. It
was found that students varied in their ability to learn and understand how to
play piano. The students were then given cognitive ability tests that measured
things such as problem-solving and processing speed, tests of music aptitude
that measured, for example, the ability to differentiate between similar
rhythms.
Growth mindset didn't predict
skill acquisition. "The results were surprising, because people have
claimed that mindset plays an important role when students are confronted with
challenges, like trying to learn a new musical instrument," Burgoyne said.
"And yet, it didn't predict skill acquisition." That said, results
will likely differ for those with greater skill.
"Our study examined one of
the earliest stages of skill acquisition," Burgoyne said. "Early
experiences can be formative, but I would caution against drawing conclusions
about skilled musicians based on our study of beginners." But applied
generally, the study's findings may be helpful in education.
It follows a recent review of
mindset research that found a weak relationship between growth mindset and
academic achievement. Perhaps more concerning, that study found interventions
designed to boost achievement by encouraging children to believe they can
improve their basic abilities may be fruitless. That is, when those
interventions successfully altered students' mindsets, there wasn't a
significant effect on academic achievement.
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