When it comes to a school’s curriculum, some subjects are always top of the list of importance. Mathematics, English, and science, are the top three subjects named when students or parents are quizzed.
Music, however, is often never mentioned. Is this right though, is music an unnecessary indulgence in schools today?
Over the last 24 months, students of all ages have had a hard time. Schools and colleges have closed for lengths of time, and this has led to some remote teaching.
Certain subjects lend themselves well to this type of schooling, and others do not. Music was one subject that was seen as less important than English, for example.
Nevertheless, learning to play a few chords might have more educational benefits than can be seen.
Here is a look at why music should be given more respect as part of school education, especially in younger children and toddlers.
Why does music get a bad rap in schools?
To be fair, musical education doesn’t particularly get a bad rap, and many parents believe it is important. Getting a music scholarship is very tough, and students find getting a placement very competitive.
Learning to play any musical instrument can bring benefits to schooling, and also to health in later life. You will read more on this further below. Yet, music still appears low on the list of important school subjects.
Perhaps one of the problems is that the boards choose this area as one of the departments to hit anytime a budget needs to be cut. Music is an area that suffers repeated department cuts, time and again.
In one study by Statista, the retail sales value of school instruments plummeted. In 2020, budgets for musical instruments were cut.
It cannot be ignored that the pandemic played a large part in this. Nevertheless, it was the arts and music departments who suffered cuts in 2020, and 2021.
Why is music important to children?
Cutting funding to music classes has more effect than just meaning little Johnny doesn’t get to play the recorder. Music has a big impact on development from babies through to teenage years.
Parents need to introduce music early on. You should encourage your children to express themselves through music as this helps in many areas.
Studies have shown that babies only a few months old, can benefit from hearing music. It can help with their brain’s processing of new noises, sounds, and musical tones. It is believed that this, in turn, helps with recognizing speech patterns, and aids in later learning.
When little children are dancing around to songs on the radio, they are actually developing motor skills.
Older children learning an instrument are improving their cognitive skills, including their memory.
Educational benefits of music classes for children
There are a whole host of advantages for children being introduced to music. This means listening to it, singing, dancing, and interacting.
Playing instruments also brings a wealth of benefits. Encouraging your child to learn some easy guitar chords may turn them into a better student.
Studies have proven that children who take part in musical education end up with higher SAT results than those that do not. Music students are likely to end up with over 20 points more in math, and 30 points more in reading and writing, than non-musical students.
Music can enable the mind and the body to work in unity, and this leads to better language and literary skills. It can also help physically and mentally.
Health benefits for children
Getting involved in music from early on helps a child to become school-ready, so to speak.
Music can help in the following ways:
- Helps with social skills
- Helps interaction
- Improves motor skills
- Helps with language skills
- Helps with their imagination
- Improves moods
However, there are genuine physical and mental improvements too.
Music can reduce stress. When a child first encounters school, it can be a thrilling but stressful time. Music classes help children to form bonds, and reduce stress. Overall, music makes children happy.
Learning an instrument can lead to better breathing controls (wind instruments), and improved strength (drums and guitar).
As far as cognitive functions are concerned, a child will gain improved attention, understand perseverance and patience, improve their memory, and become more confident.
While listening to music has many benefits including helping with emotions, learning an instrument has many more advantages. It can even help your child in later life when they are perhaps retired with their own children and grandchildren.
Music is also important in adults and later life
Learning a musical instrument can end up being an investment that pays back later on.
If a child learns an instrument, they will develop their brain in some ways that other children will not. Their memory for one will improve quicker. It is believed that musical education can have long-lasting effects.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Education, musical training helps with cognitive development.
This has been shown to lead to better cognitive responses in later life when many people find their faculties reduced.
Studies have also shown that musical training leads to less likelihood of dementia, and less chance of suffering from cognitive impairment. It could be said then, that music classes for children are a gift for life.
How can you make music more a part of your child’s life?
It is hoped that your local school has a music program, and there is access to musical education this way.
There are other options to help expand your child’s musical knowledge if they are inclined this way of course. You can introduce your child to music from around the world, to open them up to different genres.
You could use a private tutor, although this can be costly. Or you can use music-themed games and apps. There are many tools for mobile devices that are geared around teaching young children music.
Can your child learn an instrument easily?
Music education websites can help children learn guitar chords once they are of a certain age. Web applications use tools to display chords on screen for children to follow. Others show tutorials and have fun music videos to draw children in.
The key to encouraging a child to learn an instrument is to make it fun. Simple xylophones, harmonicas, drums, and flutes, can all make sounds very easily.
As a child gets older they may gravitate towards an instrument of their choice.
One of the reasons that music education in school is important is so that children can get access to a variety of instruments.
Through encouragement, and access to instruments at school, and classes, a child should be able to enjoy learning easily.
Summary
Musical education, and introducing music for enjoyment, should be an important part of development.
The records prove that musical studies actually improve students’ SAT scores. This alone should be a reason for maintaining budgets in these areas.
Not every child wants to learn a musical instrument though. Nevertheless, music can still help a child grow. All you need to do is introduce music into the home, sing and interact with your child, and you will already be helping their progress.
Music is a real gift to how a child grows, and studying an instrument can lead to benefits much later on in life too.