Music and Childhood Development

Performance

Dr. Kraus, a leading neuroscientist, is joined by the D.C. Youth Orchestra to explain basic principles of music and its connection to the brain through demonstration, visuals, and participation.

Session

Dr. Nina Kraus, Hugh S. Knowles Chair in audiology at Northwestern University, highlighted some of her work including long-term research studies following low-income kids in high school, some with music as part of their curriculum and others with another form of enrichment activity. This study found that music helped participating students maintain their reading scores. Students who were not involved in a music course had reading scores that decreased.  With music making, children had faster brain development and their precision of sound processing was better.