Effects of Sleep Extension on Musical Performance Skills

Musicians rely heavily on core skills like rhythmic stability, sightreading, and musical memory for optimal performance. However, the specific impact of sleep on musical skills remains relatively understudied, despite prior research showing that sleep benefits broader cognitive and motor skills. This suggests that sleep could also facilitate musicians’ skill acquisition and proficiency. To address this gap in knowledge, the current study examined the effects of a sleep extension intervention on musical abilities and psychological flexibility in musicians. Fifty participants were divided into control and intervention groups, and their sleep was tracked using wearable technology. Rhythmic stability, sightreading, memory, psychological flexibility, and sleepiness were assessed at baseline, after 1 day, and after 7 days. The intervention group received 60 to 90 min of additional nightly sleep above their baseline measurements. From baseline to the final assessment, statistically significant improvements were found in the intervention group compared to the control group for rhythmic stability (4.50%, p < 0.001), sightreading (7.12%, p < 0.002), and musical memory (38.24%, p < 0.036). Additionally, psychological flexibility scores significantly increased in the intervention group (M _diff  = 3.16, p < 0.001) while remaining stable in the control group, with a significant between-group difference (M _diff  = 3.40, p < 0.001). These findings highlight sleep’s facilitative role in the improvement of musical motor skills, cognitive function, memory, and psychological resources that may enhance musicians’ resilience and adaptability in performance contexts. The results suggest that sleep extension may optimize musicians’ abilities and success, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing sleep in the lives of musicians. This study underscores the pressing need for further investigation into the sleep patterns of musicians, with an emphasis on empirical evidence that could ultimately inform best practices for sleep management within this specialized field.