The impact of music on educational attainment

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of music practice on educational outcomes. Estimates from multivariate regressions and individual fixed effects suggest that childhood musical activity—either playing an instrument or singing—relates positively to educational achievements in adolescence. The magnitude and significance of the estimated music coefficients for different music indicators is robust when increasing the amount of individual and family control variables. Yet, the size of the music estimates decreases when holding constant the effect of parental education, other time leisure activities, and previous educational achievements.