The LA Philharmonic is studying the effect of musical training on a child’s brain. In this ongoing study, they’ve already found that the lessons learned by the children of YOLA – The Youth Orchestra of the LA Phil, are translating to other segments of their lives.

Gretchen Nielsen, the LA Philharmonic’s Vice President of Education Initiatives says they see the day-in and day-out the transformational effects of YOLA, as a social and music program, on hundreds of children and their families. This brain research is helping our institution, our staff, and our teachers better understand how YOLA moves beyond creating a social and psychological impact, to building physical connections in the brain that are key to decision-making, impulse control, and communication. The findings underscore the importance of regular, sequential, and sustained engagement in music learning.