Reaction Time of Musicians
Musicians have an average reaction time of 220 milliseconds (190–260 ms). Classical and contemporary musicians, especially percussionists and pianists. Their advantage shows up most on audio reaction tests.
What the data shows
Classical and contemporary musicians, especially percussionists and pianists. Their advantage shows up most on audio reaction tests.
A 2018 study of 40 conservatoire pianists measured a median audio RT of 220 ms versus 250 ms for non-musician controls — about a 30 ms advantage that grows with years of practice.
Why musicians sit at 220 ms
Reading ahead in a score and translating notation into finger movement trains audio-to-motor pathways. Percussionists in particular post audio RT scores that rival esports pros on visual tests.
What this means for you
If your own reaction time is close to 220 ms, you are sitting in the same neighbourhood as the typical musicians on this site. That is interesting context, not a verdict. Group averages reflect population-level tendencies — individual variation within any group is much larger than the differences between groups.
The honest way to use this number is as a benchmark. If you want to move toward the musicians average, the activities that group practises (action gaming for gamers, instrument practice for musicians, karting for drivers) are the most direct route. The gains are real but modest — typically 15–40 ms over weeks of training. For the full evidence-based guide, see our page on how to improve your reaction time.
Test yourself
See how you compare to the musicians average of 220 ms.