I came across an interesting question that is often discussed by both parents and teachers: do people who play musical instruments actually have higher IQs?
It sounds like a popular myth — but I decided to look deeper and turned to scientific research.
While preparing this article, I found an important detail. In the study “Associations between Music Education, Intelligence, and Spelling Ability in Elementary School” (Katrin Hille et al.), researchers analyzed a group of third-grade students and obtained quite revealing results.
First, children who played musical instruments showed higher levels of nonverbal IQ compared to those who did not engage in music. This was not just a coincidence — the results were statistically significant. Even after excluding families without musical instruments (to remove the influence of environment and income), the difference remained.
Second, even more interestingly, student musicians performed better in spelling tests. This effect persisted even after controlling for IQ. In other words, it’s not only about “general intelligence,” but also about specific language-related skills.
I paid attention to the explanation offered by the researchers. Playing an instrument is a complex activity that simultaneously engages hearing, vision, motor skills, and attention. The brain is constantly trained to process information quickly and accurately. This likely contributes to improvements in both general cognitive abilities and language skills, such as spelling.
Taking all this into account, the conclusion is quite clear: music education has a real positive association with cognitive development and language abilities. Interestingly, it may be especially beneficial for children who struggle with learning — particularly with spelling.
In short, people who play musical instruments often demonstrate higher cognitive performance. But it’s not just about IQ as a number — it’s about overall brain development supported by musical training.
The mechanism behind this connection is fairly logical. It is important to understand the difference: we are not talking about passive listening to music — for example, a playlist on a smartphone, even if it is “useful” or classical music. The key factor is active music-making.
Playing an instrument involves simultaneous engagement of hearing, vision, motor coordination, and attention. A person constantly analyzes sounds, coordinates movements, maintains rhythm, and corrects mistakes. This type of activity increases the activity of neural networks, particularly processes related to signal transmission between neurons.
Motor skills likely play a significant role: finger movements, musical articulation, and tactile sensations. Fingertips have a high concentration of sensory receptors and are closely connected to brain regions responsible for fine motor control, sensory processing, and learning. Actively engaging these systems creates additional cognitive load, which contributes to brain development.
This is especially relevant for auditory processing — a key component in developing reading and writing skills, as well as overall information processing speed.
After reviewing this research, one thing becomes clear: learning to play a musical instrument is not only about creativity — it is also about developing intelligence.
Musical instrument factories are closing worldwide. Why do people avoid mental challenges? Is a high IQ really becoming unnecessary?
As mentioned above, the study “Associations between Music Education, Intelligence, and Spelling Ability in Elementary School” (Katrin Hille et al.) shows that children who play musical instruments demonstrate significantly higher non-verbal IQ compared to those who do not engage in music. Every hand movement, every key press, or the push and pull of an accordion bellows is not just play — it is a complex set of stimuli for the brain that trains coordination, memory, and concentration.
Despite the proven ability of playing musical instruments to enhance non-verbal IQ, musical instrument factories around the world are closing.
- Gibson Brands (2018) – One of the most famous guitar manufacturers in the world (Les Paul, SG) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2018.
- Höfner (2025) – The German manufacturer, legendary for the “Violin Bass” used by Paul McCartney of The Beatles, filed for bankruptcy in December 2025.
- Baldwin Piano Company – The legendary American piano maker went bankrupt, was acquired by Gibson in 2001, but production in the USA was effectively halted after 2008.
- Sam Ash (2024–2025) – Although primarily a retail network, Sam Ash, one of the oldest music stores in the US, announced the closure of all locations and liquidation after more than 100 years of operation. This affected the distribution of instruments from many brands.
- Maugein (Tulle, France) – The last traditional French accordion manufacturer (since 1919), Maugein was forced into compulsory liquidation in September 2024 after 105 years of operation.
Weltmeister in Germany, the Chernihiv factory in Ukraine, and Maugein in France — all have faded into history for various reasons: economic crises, changing consumer preferences, and pressure from cheap Asian products.
Answering definitively why musical instrument factories, some of which have operated since the 19th century, are closing is extremely difficult. These instruments were of high quality, designed for long-term use, and they developed both the body and the brain simultaneously.
Perhaps modern people live under heavy informational and emotional loads, and their brains, compared to the generation of the 19th century, resemble the mind of an “urbanized mouse,” receiving fewer stimuli for deep development and being limited in complex tasks that were once part of everyday life.
Back then, learning, work, music, and physical activity naturally trained the brain, while today, digital comfort and quick entertainment have greatly simplified stimulation.
Indeed, the 19th century saw numerous discoveries that laid the foundation for the modern world. These breakthroughs not only advanced fundamental sciences but also enabled technologies that support today’s digital world, computers, medicine, and engineering. They also demonstrate how deeply capable and hardworking people of that era were, making discoveries that still shape our lives.
Today, many people’s leisure time is limited to video games — Counter-Strike, tank games, and other digital entertainments — where results come quickly and without significant physical or mental effort. Whether this is the reason for the decline of traditional instruments, or merely a sign of shifting cultural priorities, remains an open question.
It should also be noted that the 19th century (1801–1900) was extremely conflict-ridden: military campaigns, revolutions, and numerous local conflicts defined the lives of millions. In such times, music served not only a cultural but also a psychological role. Small military and field instruments provided people with leisure and moral support even amidst chaos and disorder. They helped maintain rhythm and discipline in the army, and for civilians, they were a way to relieve stress, communicate, and preserve a sense of humanity.
The combination of active instrument play, movement, and music provided unique cognitive stimulation: the brain was trained, hands and eyes coordinated, and emotional stress was partially relieved through creativity. Perhaps it was precisely this aspect of music — as an emotional and physical outlet in chaotic conditions — that made it so important for 19th-century generations, when life was far more unpredictable and demanding than today.
And perhaps it is best to leave this question unanswered, as the exact reason remains a matter of reflection and observation.
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