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NCT Number: NCT07469423

Continuous Music and Sports Training for Children

The current study, JC Project MuSE, is a multi-year project aimed at initiating transformative changes in the lives of young learners in schools with a lower socio-economic background through the integration of music and sports education. The research project posits that engaging in structured music and sports programmes can lead to significant improvements in educational performance through the enhancement of executive functions. The research further explores the longitudinal effects of continuous music and sports training, examining the impact of these interventions on developing a greater sense of appreciation for these activities in these young learners. This research is a 3-year study that examines theoretical underpinnings, methodological approaches, and the impact of music and sports interventions to empower youth in schools of lower socio-economic background and promote holistic development through the synergistic effects of sports and music education.

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Key information

Conditions

Primary School Students

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hong Kong Baptist University

Hong Kong

Location contact

JC Project MuSE Research Team

CONTACT

[email protected]

852-34112697

Johnny M L Poon

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

JC Project MuSE is a school-based music (Mu) and sports (S) education (E) programme, initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. It offers free, high-quality and tailored music and sports programmes to primary school children in the most impoverished areas of Hong Kong. It aims to develop children's artistic and physical literacy and to enhance their positive whole-person development, emotional well-being and academic advancement, thereby endowing them with the best opportunities for future growth and development.

The overall research will study the impact of the sports and music interventions provided in Tier 2 of the project and aims to bring transformative changes to underprivileged children by enhancing their social, emotional and cognitive development through 3-year sports and music education. Primary outcomes include executive functioning, psychological well-being, social-emotional competence, and academic results (e.g., scores of major subjects and attendance record).

This study will adopt a parallel-group, 4-arm randomized controlled trial design. Upon assessing the eligibility of the participants, they will be randomized into four groups, including (1) continuous music training, (2) continuous sports training, (3) continuous music and sports training, and (4) treatment-as-usual control. Outcome measures will be assessed at six time-points (T0: Baseline, the start of the first school year; T1: the end of the first school year; T2: the start of the second school year; T3: the end of the second school year; T4: the start of the third school year; and T5: post-intervention, the end of the third school year) to assess the effects of continuous music and/or sports training on the students' psychological well-being, executive functioning, social-emotional competence, and academic performances.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Primary two to four students and their parents or guardians at local government schools or aided schools
  • The school has 30% or more of their total student population receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) and School Textbook Assistance
  • Have provided informed consent indicating participation in the study

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of significant physical, psychological, and cognitive comorbidities that will hinder participation in research procedures and the designed interventions of continuous music or sports training.

Treatment and study plan

Continuous Music Training (CMT)

Other

Participants in this arm will receive regular music training throughout the study period.

Continuous Sport Training (CST)

Other

Participants in this arm will receive regular sports training throughout the study period.

Continuous Music and Sports Training (CMST)

Other

Participants in this arm will receive regular music and sports training throughout the study period.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change of Baseline Student's Psychological Well-being level across three school years

    Time frame: Baseline (Month 0), Month 9, Month 12, Month 21, Month 24, Month 33

    The World Health Organisation- Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) will be used to assess the level of psychological well-being of students. The scale aggregates a raw score and will be multiplied by 4 to yield a percentage score. Higher scores represent a higher level of psychological well-being. The scale will be completed by students with assistance from research staff.

  2. Change of Baseline Students' Executive Functioning across three school years

    Time frame: Baseline (Month 0), Month 9, Month 12, Month 21, Month 24, Month 33

    The Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory (CHEXI) will be used to assess the level of executive functioning in students. The scale includes four subscales: inhibition, regulation, working memory, and planning. A total score can also be yielded. Higher scores represent a higher level of difficulty in executive functioning. The scale will be filled in by parents or guardians.

  3. Change of Baseline Students' Social-Emotional Competence across three school years

    Time frame: Baseline (Month 0), Month 9, Month 12, Month 21, Month 24, Month 33

    The Devereux Student Strengths Assessment mini Second Edition (DESSA 2 mini) will be used to assess the level of social-emotional competence in students. The DESSA 2 mini consists of four parallel forms, which will be used consecutively across assessment timepoints. The scale will yield a total score. High scores represent a higher level of social-emotional competence. The scale will be filled in by the school teachers of the students.

  4. Change of Baseline Students' Academic Performance across three school years

    Time frame: Baseline (Month 0), Month 12, Month 24, Month 33

    Annual school reports will be collected from the collaborative schools. At baseline, the annual school reports of the previous school year will be collected. The following details will be retrieved from the school report cards to keep tracking the academic performances of the student, scores of the subjects (e.g., Chinese, English, Mathematics, General Studies, Music, Physical Education) and students' behavioural indicators (e.g., conduct, punctuality, and attendance). Higher scores in core subjects indicate stronger academic performance. Higher scores in conduct, punctuality, and attendance reflect better behavioural performance.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hong Kong Baptist University

Other

Collaborators

  • SF&OC Sports Legacy
  • The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust

Registry information

Official study title

JC Project MuSE: Continuous Music and Sports Training for Primary School Children

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Mar 13, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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