ABSTRACT
An exciting and relatively recent avenue of scientific investigation focuses on plasticity , which refers to a living organism’s capacity to change due to experience. Neuroplasticity refers more specifically to changes in brain structure and function. Music training is likely to work similarly, with predispositions influencing who takes music lessons, which then, potentially, magnify these predispositions. Socio-economic status also plays a role, because music lessons cost money, and parents need to be supportive and cooperative. The contribution of genetics to music training is further documented by findings showing that musical skill and achievement are much more than just practice, as some scholars used to claim. Transfer refers to situations in which learning and knowledge in one domain lead to faster learning or better performance in a different domain. Near transfer occurs between domains that are closely related, such as if learning and improvement on one test of working memory lead to better performance on a different test of working memory.
