Other studies have backed this up. A Harvard study found a relationship between early-childhood music lessons and enhanced verbal skills and reasoning. The study also found that learning an instrument can help dyslexic children overcome their reading difficulties. Now, it’s difficult to measure accurately if playing music actually makes kids smarter. After all, thousands of factors determine intelligence. But a study at the University of Toronto found that kids who take music or singing lessons tend to score better on cognitive tests. Even just listening to music helped kids perform better, at least in the short run. There are probably plenty of dim-witted musicians in the world. But there’s at least some evidence that making music tends to make us smarter.