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Music Learning for Young Adults

On this page I have collected a selection of published academic studies which investigate the positive effects of music-making on young adults.

There are five areas listed:

  1. Resilience & Stress Management

  2. Executive Function & Mood Regulation

  3. Emotional Competence & Leadership

  4. General Cognitive Development

  5. Social Cohesion & Self-Esteem

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  • 1. Resilience & Stress Management

    Source: The role of active music making in fostering resilience
    Journal: Frontiers in Neuroscience (2025)
    Author: Koehler et al.

    Real-world application: Enhanced ability to recover from stress and increased emotional resilience.

    The finding: This study demonstrated that among adults, active musical behaviors—such as making music—were more strongly associated with resilience than passive engagement. Both healthy and depressive participants reported feeling significantly calmer and more peaceful after using music to cope with stress, highlighting its role as a powerful resilience-supportive resource.

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  • 2. Executive Function & Mood Regulation

    Source: Cognitive Enhancement Through Music Education: Affective Pathways to Executive Function Improvement in Musicians
    Journal: PMC (2026)
    Author: Gkintoni, E., et al.

    Real-world application: Improved goal-directed behavior, flexible thinking, and a reduction in anxiety.

    The finding: This study demonstrated that music lessons were associated with significantly improved executive function, increased positive affect, and substantially reduced negative affect and anxiety. Affective changes accounted for over 60% of the cognitive improvements, showing a direct link between the emotional benefits of music and enhanced brain function.

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  • 3. Emotional Competence & Leadership

    Source: Beyond music: Emotional skills and its development in young adults in choirs and bands
    Journal: University of Barcelona (2019)
    Author: Ros-Morente et al.

    Real-world application: Higher motivation to study, better life satisfaction, and improved leadership capacities.

    The finding: By evaluating adolescent and young adult musicians against non-musicians, researchers found statistically significant differences across multiple variables. Belonging to a musical ensemble like a choir or band was found to promote the development of socio-emotional competencies, motivation, and leadership skills, helping young adults strengthen competencies in other non-musical areas of their lives.

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  • 4. General Cognitive Development

    Source: Music training and cognitive development: A study with music and non-music students
    Journal: ResearchGate (2016)
    Author: Carlos dos Santos-Luiz et al.

    Real-world application: Improved performance across spatial, numerical, abstract, and verbal reasoning.

    The finding: This study observed that music students showed higher overall intelligence scores than non-music students, and these scores increased consistently over their years of study. The cognitive benefits were not limited to specific tasks; music students demonstrated higher scores across all types of general reasoning, particularly in spatial, numerical, and verbal domains.

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  • 5. Social Cohesion & Self-Esteem

    Source: Higher Education music students' perceptions of the benefits of participative music making
    Journal: ResearchGate (2007)
    Author: Kokotsaki, D., & Hallam, S.

    Real-world application: Enhanced interpersonal skills, stronger sense of belonging, and higher self-confidence in university environments.

    The finding: Research involving higher education music students revealed that participative music making acts as a powerful social catalyst. Students felt they were active contributors to a group outcome, developed a strong sense of belonging, and made friends with like-minded people, which consequently built up a strong sense of self-esteem and satisfaction.

    Read the Study
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Testimonials

Testimonial Bank
Meenakshi R. (adult learner)

Matt has been teaching me to play the piano since the past three months. It is an absolute pleasure learning from him.

He beautifully explains the fundamentals of music and tries different techniques to make it easy for the learner. He ensures that the learner understands and can play what is being taught flawlessly.

It is great fun learning from him and I cherish the lessons and the learning experience.

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Uzo N. (adult learner)

I am a singer songwriter and PGCE music student and have been taking lessons with Matt for a couple of months now, with the aim of learning the trumpet but even more importantly to improve my general musicianship.

Matt has from the beginning tailored the lessons in response to my personal needs, making them very effective and enjoyable.

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Heidi M. (adult learner)

I’m an Architect and have no musical experience whatsoever. I’ve been learning the trumpet for 1½ years, having lessons with Matt once a week.

Matt is a great teacher and has a balanced approach to teaching mixing theory, practice and musicianship along with high standards and lots and lots of patience.

I’ve been amazed by what I’ve achieved in a short space of time and I have got such a lot out of it. I would encourage anyone thinking of taking up an instrument no matter what age you are.

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Andrew J. (adult learner)

As an adult learner I've been through quite a few teachers and Matt is by far the best. He believes teaching is an important skill in itself and so takes his own technique very seriously.

He is patient, dogged, and will work on any problem until it is solved, always coming up with new ways to approach an issue. But this is always in a friendly and accessible way.

He pushes you without really seeming to do so, and covers all the bases from musical theory through to physical technique. His lessons are a joy.

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Sandra S. (adult learner)

I've been learning with Matt for almost two years now. He has given me the chance to stretch myself through focusing on a varied and challenging repertoire whilst making sure I develop good technique and sound. His enthusiasm for teaching coupled with encouraging and understanding manner make my lessons always good fun.

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