Melodic Mindscapes: An Exploration Of Indian Classical Music’s Impact On The Cognitive Content Of Drawings In 4-7 Year Old Children

Abstract

Prior research has discovered that classical music has a variety of positive impacts on cognition, especially in young children between the ages of 4 and 7. Additionally, numerous studies have built off of this idea and revealed that through the integration of artistic expression, classical music can improve the cognitive development of young children. Yet, there is still a lack of research in regards to the effects that world music, or more specifically, Indian classical music may have on cognitive development in children when observed through artistic expression. Thus, this quantitative study measures the cognitive content of drawings in children of the ages 4-7 when listening to Indian classical music, while partaking in the Silver Drawing Test. Using the Silver Drawing Test, children were asked to draw from a predictive drawing prompt, observational drawing prompt, and imagination drawing prompt. These drawings were then graded on a scale given by the Silver Drawing Test manual; thus, cognitive content was measured. The experimental group for this study included participants listening to Indian classical music while taking part in the test. The control group included the same participants completing the test without listening to music. This study adds to the literature by corroborating the connection between Indian classical music and cognition in terms of artistic expression. Further research should seek to identify the variances of cognitive content produced when listening to different styles of Indian classical music and whether this existing research can be tested under more stable, consistent conditions.