Music Education Results in Well-Rounded Children Who Grow Up to Be Well-Rounded Adults!
I know for a fact that my music education throughout my formative years has shaped who I am today. Even if I hadn’t become a performer and music teacher, I would still be able to look back and pinpoint where music made an impact on me as a student. The discipline I learned and the work ethic I acquired drove my ambition throughout high school and higher education no matter what class or subject I was studying. The best relationships I have made in my life have all been through music whether it be teachers I studied with, life-long friendships I made at music camp and festivals, or my current students studying under me. It’s hard to say or pinpoint all of the ways studying music has transformed my life throughout the 27 years since I first picked up a violin, but research shows that it permeates all areas of our lives helping shape us into well-rounded, empathetic, compassionate, high-achieving individuals. And this is why every child deserves the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. You never know what doors their musical education may open for them.
We want the best for our kids and anything we can do to help them develop stronger academically, cognitively, and socially should be top priority. And music education can help with all three and more!
Academics
"I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning."
- Plato
Along with English, Math, and Science, the College Board identifies the arts as one of the six basic academic subject areas students should study in order to succeed in college. The College Entrance Examination Board found that students involved in public school music programs scored 107 points higher on the SAT's than students with no participation. And it’s not just the SAT’s but standardized testing in general that young musicians are scoring higher on compared to their fellow students who do not take part in music education programs.
Scientific research has proven that music education is a powerful tool for attaining children’s full intellectual, social, and creative potential. Music education develops children’s critical skills: their ability to listen, to appreciate a wide variety of music, and to make judgments about musical quality. It also increases self-discipline, creativity, aesthetic sensitivity and fulfillment.
Education goes beyond basic academics, music education helps students get in touch with their feelings and emotions. “[In the Latino Arts Strings Program] I had a wide range of ages to talk to, to play music with, to laugh with. Even though we were in a strict musical setting, they helped me find parts of myself that are not musical.” (Fatima Gomez, BGCS/Latino Arts Strings Program Alumnus)
As well as building empathy and compassion, students are learning lifelong skills, “such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving and innovation skills.” They are learning how to connect deeply with themselves and others.
Music Education Facts for Academic Improvement:
Music education prepares the brain for achievement.
Music education fosters superior working memory.
Music education cultivates better thinking skills.
Music education improves recall and retention of verbal information.
Music education advances math achievement.
Music education boosts reading and English language skills.
Music education strengthens perseverance.
Cognitive
“Musicians are everywhere. We are project managers, marketers, Finance folks, IT people and engineers. In my twenty-some years as a corporate HR person, I was always impressed by the way musical people excelled at logic and non-linear thinking, both."
- Liz Ryan, "Let the kids study music, already!" Forbes, September 3, 2014.
Music education is not just for future symphony orchestra members and future rockstars, it is for every child. Every child deserves a music education and the benefits of a music education throughout their entire childhood.
Over the years, more and more research has proven the cognitive and neurological benefits of exposure to music, especially at a young age. And musical training at a young age is even better. 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. Musically trained children performed better in a memory test that is correlated with general intelligence skills such as literacy, verbal memory, visuospatial processing, mathematics, and IQ. Researchers found that after two years, children who not only regularly attended music classes, but also actively participated in the class, showed larger improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers.
Playing a musical instrument strengthens eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills, and kids who study an instrument learn a lot about discipline, dedication and the rewards of hard work. Children who play an instrument or study music learn to appreciate the longterm results of daily effort and disciplined practice. This helps shape a growth mindset as they learn mistakes are a good thing and a way to learn and progress. Patience and repetition during practice also cultivates a positive mindset that will transfer to other areas of their lives. Along with mindset, musical training aids emotional and behavioral maturation as well.
Music Education Facts for Cognitive Improvement:
Music education sharpens student attentiveness.
Music education equips students to be creative.
Early childhood training in instrumental music improves the ability to pay attention--visual focus, active listening, and staying on task.
Socially
“The number-one challenge facing this generation is social isolation. Music and the arts create community, and they can end social isolation, they can create connection.”
- David Brooks, quoted in "Be Bold! Music & Arts Advocacy at the RNC," by Talking Up Music Education, August 18, 2016
It is no secret that positive adult role models make a huge difference in the lives of children. From year to year students may connect with classroom teachers, but it is with coaches and music and arts teachers where they may have a connection with an adult that lasts for years. Whether private lessons or in orchestra, music teachers and directors have the opportunity to engage and connect with children in a way that may change their lives. Along with the academic and cognitive benefits, students build relationships with their music teachers and peers. Relationships that may continue long after the lessons or classes do. And provide a safe space during tough times.
Lessons and classes offer a forum where children can learn to accept and give constructive criticism. Turning negative feedback into positive change helps build self-confidence and self-esteem. Teens believe making music provides the freedom for teens to just be themselves; to be different; to be something they thought they could never be; to be comfortable and relaxed in school and elsewhere in their lives. Children of all ages learn how to work together and listen to one another, and most importantly, they learn how to trust one another.
I could go on and on with more facts and quotes from students, teachers, parents, and researchers on the overwhelming benefits of a musical education. My hope is that if you don’t remember any of the facts simply remember to encourage the children in your life to pursue music in some way or other, whether it is a family music class, private lessons, or a school ensemble, it may just change their lives forever.
Music Education Facts for Social Improvement:
Music education supports better study habits and self-esteem.
Music education helps students build confidence and self-discipline
Music education helps students learn how to accept and give constructive criticism
“The arts are central to who we are as a people, and they are central to the success of our kids. This is not an afterthought. This is not something you do because it’s nice to do. It is necessary for these young people to succeed that we promote the arts.”
- Barack Obama, Former President of the United States
You can read more about the facts and research cited in this blog post by clicking HERE.