Effect of a musical instrument performance program on emotional intelligence, anxiety, and aggression in Korean elementary school children

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a musical instrument performance program on emotional intelligence, anxiety, and aggression in Korean elementary school children. A quasi-experimental study design was employed, in which the experimental group (n = 30) received a weekly group musical instrument performance class with a regular music class, and the control group (n = 30) received only a regular music class that is part of the elementary school curriculum. We measured emotional intelligence, anxiety, and aggression at the beginning and end of the 24-week intervention using the Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Aggression Scale. The musical instrument performance program improved the ability to perceive emotions, and reduced physical and verbal aggression, but had no statistically significant effect on the level of total emotional intelligence, anxiety, or aggression.