Created within us is the desire to enjoy music and
find beauty in listening to it as well as in playing an instrument or
singing. Much joy can be felt when one
hears the “Hallelujah Chorus” or when one masters a piece on the piano.
Practice of the same piece of music repeatedly, and
the feeling of accomplishment when it’s mastered, brings a child great joy and
satisfaction after the hard task of practice.
Self-esteem can be helped when the child sees that he has played a
beautiful piece of music and receives compliments from parents and
friends.
Music helps the brain!!!! For example, the visual cortex and the
occipital lobe are used when the student reads music on two different lines
simultaneously. The primary motor
cortex, the Prefontal cortex and the cerebellum all are used when all ten
fingers get involved!!!!! Think of the
coordination which is required to do that, especially when all ten fingers are
on different keys!
(http://www.encoremusiclessons.com/lessons/piano#infographic_piano_lessons_are_good_for_you_and_your_brain)
Can the study of music help your child learn other
things? It appears that it does
help! A study done by a Canadian
research group and published on September 20, 2006, “showed that the children
who received music instruction excelled above their peers in memory skills as
well as ‘non-musical’ abilities such as literacy, mathematics and even IQ.” (http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Can_Music_Help_Learn/)
Not all children will excel at sports or
academics. But, many children, can, with
practice and proper teaching, master an instrument and find a niche to fit
in. The feeling of playing an instrument
with a group of other children in band or orchestra, or accompanying someone on
the piano, brings a sense of camaraderie.
While very few will advance to play sports in college, much less
professionally, music will stay with the child for life. As an LPN and pianist, I have watched the
effects of music on the elderly. It may
cause them to dance, clap or sing. Give
your child a gift which can last a lifetime-the gift of music!
