Why Should Children Study Music?

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!