Brown University Study – The Benefits of Music Education
Why?
When?
Many little ones show an interest in music very, very early. You have seen them dancing and singing along in their own virtual no-rules world. If only we could still dance that way.
That interest in music, or at least interacting with music, is not something that has to be taught, it just happens. Music is all around us in our lives. Take a minute to think of where in your life you hear music: store, car, TV shows and commercials, movies, video games, radio,cell phones and tablets.
You introduce your child to golf because you like to play. You are showing them how to do it and expressing the joy in doing it. With music, if you are not a musician, just pay attention when music comes on during a movie. Does your child move around or stop and listen? Do you hum along to show how enjoyable it is? You will be able to see if there is interest when and if it shows up. If it does, you might choose from the online children’s music learning sites. There are many types and levels. Put it up on the computer or TV screen and try out a few lessons. See if they want to continue or not. Good luck.
Do all students like or take to music?
As parents the best we can do is “introduce” new experiences to our children and pay attention to their excitement, interest and desire to return to that experience.
We also must walk that line that is adding things to their lives for their own good vs. forcing something on them.
Children generally like music. They sing along even to cartoons or sing songs they have learned in school. Keep them singing.
How to start for Infants:
- Sing to your baby
- Listen – Have music playing in the house – especially classical or the slower softer songs in your own favorite genre.
- Toys – Select toys that make a sound when touched or moved
How to start (ages 2-5):
Purchase a rhythm instrument play set (cymbals, tambourine, wood block, shaker…) Encourage parades in your home even with homemade instruments www.fisher-price.com Melissa & Doug Band-in-a-Box pictured.
- Listen to Children’s music CDs and sing along
- DVD’s are available for toddlers, kids etc. – especially Baby Einstein
- Attend Early Childhood Education or Kindermusik class. Parents are included in some classes.
How to start (ages 5-12)
- Petting Zoo opportunities – many music groups and schools offer a event that allows children to touch and play instruments themselves. A child is often drawn to one particular instrument after this experience.
- Look for Summer music introduction camps
- Attend concerts held at the high school or middle school school. You can attend band, orchestra, jazz band and choral concerts. They are free. These concerts are held in the fall, winter, and spring. You may even know students on stage– performance numbers are short, with applause in between. The middle school concerts are usually short and are a chance for children to see beginner instrumentalists and singers.
- Attend Performing Arts Center performances — Many run a family series
Children’s Online Music Learn Resources:
| San Francisco Symphony Kids | EXCELLENT site for learning about instrumental music, and orchestras |
| Sphinx Kids | Interactive music games, matching, instrument identification, rhythm band |
| Liveaboutdot | Top Ten Musical Instruments for Beginners – includes age to start |
| Super Coloring | Instrument coloring page |
How to Progress with a Child’s Music Learning:
- Early Childhood Education – Kindermusik
- Children’s Choir – community or church
- Piano Lessons – private or class
- Guitar Lessons – depends on physical size
- Recorder Lessons – can start as young as First Grade
- Orchestra/ String instruments: violin, viola, cello, bass (different sizes are available for younger students)
- Band Instrument Lessons: fifth grade – basic starter instruments include – flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and drums
Be sure to consider the fact that piano or guitar lessons are singular performance instruments whereas voice/ i.e. children’s’ choir and band and orchestra instruments are about participating in a performing group.
How to Progress Options for very young children:
- Check out pictures books from the library that are singing books. Look for collections of children’s songs, nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children’s play songs – Wheels on the Bus, Baby Beluga, and Anything Grows etc. If you do not sing, pull up the song on your cell phone. The book will have the words and maybe pictures to go along with the song.
- Sing lullabies, or favorite songs to your child. Sing along with a CD if you want to.
- Singing with the radio or a CD is a great car ride activity!
Appreciating and Listening to Music in Your Community
I live in a smaller US city which does appreciate music. Here are some of the types of music events in my area. Tickets are required for some and some are free. Some events music students have adult performers. Try out anything free and see if your child gets excited by the music.
Ticketed Events: Bolded are of special interest to younger listeners
- Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra
- Icicle Creek Youth Symphony and Academy Orchestra
- Wenatchee Columbia Choral – Adult Mixed Choir
- Appleaires – Women’s’ Choir
- Apollo Club – Men’s’ Choir
- Holiday Spice Concert (December) (See Numerica Pac)
- Festival of Trees
- Mariachi Northwest Festival
Free Events: Bolded are of interest to younger listeners
- Public High School and Middle School concerts
- Church choirs: both Adult and Childrens’ choirs
- Columbia River Music Conservatory – voice and instrumental studio recitals, seasonal concert presentations
- Apple Blossom Festival: Outdoor performance stage
- Youth Parade includes Middle/ Junior High Marching Bands
- Grand Parade includes High School Marching Bands
- Restaurants, Wineries and Coffee Shops – check out performances
- NCW Events – online weekly update sent to you
- First Fridays- live musicians around town
- Public Market – live music varies weekly, often younger performers
TWELVE BENEFITS OF MUSIC EDUCATION
Twelve Benefits of Childhood 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. Questions about the arts do not have only one right answer.
4. Recent studies show that students who study the arts are more successful on standardized tests such as the SAT. They also achieve higher grades in high school.
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 painstakingly put together 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 their music, attending rehearsals, and practicing.
9. Music provides children with a means of self-expression. Now that there is relative security in the basics of existence, the challenge is to make life meaningful and to reach for a higher stage of development. Everyone needs to be in touch at some time in his life with his core, with what he is and what he feels. 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. Music contributes to mental health and can help prevent risky behavior such as teenage drug abuse.
12. An arts education exposes children to the incomparable.