The Benefits of Music Education for Children

"Whoever has skill in music is of good temperament and fitted for all things...We must teach music in schools." Martin Luther

Have you ever asked the question, why should a child join a choir? Maybe you’ve already considered there must be a reason why teachers and parents would push the idea but you couldn’t quite put your finger on the what the actual benefits are. Well if that’s you – consider this:

An impact study undertaken by Chorus America came to the following conclusion:

"Children in choirs get significantly better grades in school than kids who have never been part of a choir, according to their parents, and substantial majorities of choir parents say their child’s ability or performance in English/language arts, mathematics, and academics overall improved after their child joined a choir." (Chorus America Impact Study 2009)

So then the benefit of music extend beyond the obvious social and emotional gains we might already have had in mind? Absolutely, how about these numerous benefits (excerpted from Carolyn Phillips’ “The Twelve Benefits of Music Education” :

1. Early musical training helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning. It is thought that brain development continues for many years after birth. Recent studies have clearly indicated that musical training physically develops the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language, and can actually wire the brain's circuits in specific ways. Linking familiar songs to new information can also help imprint information on young minds.

2. There is also a causal link between music and spatial intelligence (the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures of things). This kind of intelligence, by which one can visualize various elements that should go together, is critical to the sort of thinking necessary for everything from solving advanced mathematics problems to being able to pack a book-bag with everything that will be needed for the day.

3. Students of the arts learn to think creatively and to solve problems by imagining various solutions, rejecting outdated rules and assumptions.

4. Recent studies show that students who study the arts are more successful on standardized tests.

5. A study of the arts provides children with an internal glimpse of other cultures and teaches them to be empathetic towards the people of these cultures. This development of compassion and empathy, as opposed to development of greed and a "me first" attitude, provides a bridge across cultural chasms that leads to respect of other races at an early age.

6. Students of music learn craftsmanship as they study how details are put together painstakingly and what constitutes good, as opposed to mediocre, work. These standards, when applied to a student's own work, demand a new level of excellence and require students to stretch their inner resources.

7. In music, a mistake is a mistake; the instrument is in tune or not, the notes are well played or not, the entrance is made or not. It is only by much hard work that a successful performance is possible. Through music study, students learn the value of sustained effort to achieve excellence and the concrete rewards of hard work.

8. Music study enhances teamwork skills and discipline. In order for an orchestra to sound good, all players must work together harmoniously towards a single goal, the performance, and must commit to learning music, attending rehearsals, and practicing.

9. Music provides children with a means of self-expression. Self-esteem is a by-product of this self-expression.

10. Music study develops skills that are necessary in the workplace. It focuses on "doing," as opposed to observing, and teaches students how to perform, literally, anywhere in the world. Employers are looking for multi-dimensional workers with the sort of flexible and supple intellects that music education helps to create as described above. In the music classroom, students can also learn to better communicate and cooperate with one another.

11. Music performance teaches young people to conquer fear and to take risks. A little anxiety is a good thing, and something that will occur often in life. Dealing with it early and often makes it less of a problem later.Risk-taking is essential if a child is to fully develop his or her potential.

12. An arts education exposes children to the incomparable.

It’s for some of these reasons, and more that Bottomup Social Development is involved in music education as one of the programmes we help establish at disadvantaged schools.
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Keep Well.

Ashley.

References:
http://www.paulborgese.com/report_benefitofmusic.html
http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com
http://www.chorusamerica.org