Can listening to classical music make you smarter?

In 1993, a study found that college students performed better on certain cognitive tests while listening to classical music. This sparked the idea of the “Mozart Effect”— the belief that playing Mozart could make people, especially young children, smarter. Parents everywhere began playing classical music for their kids, hoping they’d grow up to be a genius.
​Unfortunately, this claim isn’t supported by science. Whether you’re 2, 12, or 20 years old, there's no single type of music that can increase your intelligence. But don’t tune out just yet— music can still do some amazing things to your brain! Listening to any genre of music strongly activates your brain, and not just the area that controls hearing— it also stimulates the areas that control memory, movement, and emotions. Further, listening and dancing to your favorite songs gives a huge boost to your mental and emotional health by making you feel happier, calmer, or more focused. Music might not get you better grades, but it’s a powerful tool for your well-being. So put on your favorite song and take a little dance break– you earned it!