ERIC Number: EJ1240937
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Feb
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0663
EISSN: N/A
A Population-Level Analysis of Associations between School Music Participation and Academic Achievement
Guhn, Martin; Emerson, Scott D.; Gouzouasis, Peter
Journal of Educational Psychology, v112 n2 p308-328 Feb 2020
The present study employed population-level educational records from 4 public school student cohorts (n = 112,916; Grades 7-12) in British Columbia (Canada) to examine relationships between music education (any participation, type of participation, music achievement, and engagement level) and mathematics and science achievement in Grade 10 as well as English achievement in Grades 10 and 12, while controlling for language/cultural background, Grade 7 academic achievement, and neighborhood socioeconomic status. Music participation was related to higher scores on all 4 subjects and these relationships were stronger for instrumental music than vocal music (Cohen's d range: 0.28 to 0.44 [small-medium effect sizes] and 0.05 to 0.13 [null-small effect sizes]). School music achievement positively related to scores on all subjects; such relationships were stronger for achievement in instrumental music compared with vocal music. Higher levels of music engagement (number of courses) was related to higher exam scores on all subjects; this pattern was more pronounced for very high engagement in instrumental music (d range: 0.37 to 0.55; medium effect sizes) compared with vocal music (d range: 0.11 to 0.26; small effect sizes). The effect sizes of these group differences are greater than the effect sizes corresponding to average annual gains of students' academic achievement during high school--in other words, highly engaged instrumental music students were, on average, academically over 1 year ahead of their peers. The findings suggest that multiyear engagement in music, especially instrumental music, may benefit high school academic achievement. Findings and implications are discussed within the broader interdisciplinary literature on music learning.
Descriptors: Music Education, Academic Achievement, Correlation, Foreign Countries, Public Schools, Secondary School Students, Mathematics Achievement, Science Achievement, Scores, Singing, Musical Instruments, Learner Engagement, Achievement Gains, Student Motivation, Grades (Scholastic)
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
What Works Clearinghouse Reviewed: Does Not Meet Evidence Standards
WWC Study Page: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Study/88784