Music Education: Why It’s So Important For Our Children

07/23/2016

Researchers have found the evidence that young children who take music lessons show different brain development and improved memory over the course of a year, compared to children who do not receive musical training. They also found that learning music facilitates learning other subjects and enhance skills that children inevitably use in other areas. As we know, making music involves more than the voice or fingers playing an instrument; a child learning about music has to tap into multiple skill sets, often simultaneously.

Therefore, music learning can support all learning processes.

1. Music Lessons Help Children in School

Numerous studies available show children who play an instrument, score higher on both standard and spatial cognitive development tests alike.123 There are also findings that show kids who play piano, in particular, scored higher in math, especially on problems dealing with ratios and fractions.4 One particular study found that preschoolers who received piano lessons scored 34% higher than their non-musical counterparts in tests measuring spatial-temporal reasoning, which is the brain function used to understand math, science and engineering.5

2. Music Lessons Increase Coordination

Children who play a musical instrument have improved fine motor skills. Musical instruments require both hands to work independently of each other, one moving fast while the other may be moving at a slower rate. All of these things help to increase a child’s overall dexterity and complex thought processes.6

3. Music Lessons Help Children to Concentrate

Reading a piece of music takes a great deal of focus, causing a child to interpret a note and a rhythm, translate it into hand movements on the instrument and then immediately go on to the next one. Reading and playing music allows them to think both critically and creatively, which is a skill that will assist them in anything they choose to undertake in the future.7

4. Music Lessons Help Children to be Well-Rounded

Through music lessons, children develop self-discipline, self-confidence and humility. They value the importance of dedication, teamwork and hard work and they strive for continuous improvement in all they undertake in life.8

5. Music Examinations are Eligible for High School Credit

Alberta Learning recognizes the hard work, persistence and benefits of learning a musical instrument. Thus, achievement in RCM Examinations is recognized for credit towards secondary school graduation.9
Learning music is a fundamental skill every child should be given the opportunity to participate in!

Article provided by Harmony Music School.

***
1 Vitale, J.L. (2011). Music Makes You Smarter: A New Paradigm for Music Education? Canadian Journal of Education, 34(3), 335.
2 Southgate, D.E. & Roscigno, V.J. (2009). The Impact of Music on Childhood and Adolescent Achievement. Social Science Quarterly, 90(1), 18.
3 Petress, K. (2005). The Importance of Music Education. Music Education, 126(1), 113.
4 Graziano, A.B., Peterson, M. & Shaw, G.L. (1999). Piano and Computer Training Boost Student Math Achievement, UC Irvine Study Shows. Neurological Research, 21, 139-152.
5 Rauscher, F.H., Shaw, G.L., Levina, L.J., Wright, E.L., Dennis, W.R. & Newcomb, R.L. (1997). Music Training Causes Long-Term Enhancement of Preschool Children’s Spatial-Temporal Reasoning. Neurological Research, 19, 5.
6 Hallam, S. (2010). The Power of Music: Its Impact on the Intellectual, Social and Personal Development of Children and Young People. International Journal of Music Education, 28 (3), 281.
7 Miller, L. (2013). Using Music to Close the Academic Gap. In The Atlantic. Retrieved August 6, 2014, from: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/using-music-to-close-the-academic-gap/280362/
8 Petress, K. (2005). The Importance of Music Education. Music Education, 126(1), 112-113.
9 The Royal Conservatory of Music. (n.d.). High School Accreditation. In Recognition of Accomplishment. Retrieved August 6, 2014, from https://examinations.rcmusic.ca/high-school-accreditation