Whether your child is the next piano virtuoso or someone who will enjoy performing in front of their bedroom mirror, studies suggest that every kid is bound to benefit from music education. Research has proven that learning how to play a musical instrument or learning music in a group setting offers a wealth of benefits that extend beyond just grasping regular theory.
In fact, learning music requires children to tap into multiple skill sets — such as using their ears, eyes, large and small muscles, and multiple areas of the brain. Music education is an excellent way for children to experience an integrating, stimulating experience that positively contributes towards their cognitive development.
In this blog, we’ll explore some of the greatest benefits of music lessons for kids — including boosted confidence, increased brain activity, and a better ability to persevere and stay patient when faced with challenges.
Builds Your Child’s Confidence
Getting to attend music school presents children with the perfect opportunity to both provide and learn to accept constructive criticism. When children learn how to be motivated to improve and learn through constructive feedback, their self-confidence grows. Through group lessons, children also learn that everybody is learning and that nobody is perfect. In the case that they lose confidence while practicing an instrument, this is also an excellent way for them to grasp the idea that all students have room to improve.
Furthermore, music education also enhances childrens’ presentation skills for the future. Learning how to present yourself in public is an important and useful skill that will be easily transferable to other situations down the road, such as public speaking.
Increases IQ
Numerous studies have shown that childrens’ IQs increase after receiving music lessons — even after just a few weeks of studies. According to recent brain scan technology, brain activity increases after receiving music lessons. In some cases, some parts of the childrens’ brains have even grown larger. Studies have reported that children provided with musical training have developed distinct neural responses to music and speech, with evidence even being linked to their ability to distinguish between pitch and the segmentation of speech. As a result of music training, reports have even suggested differences in not just brain activity, but brain volume as well. For example, studies examining the brain of a keyboard player concluded that the region of the brain controlling finger movements had enlarged after receiving musical training.
Children who play musical instruments have also been reported to show far more grey matter in several brain regions, with these effects reportedly increasing after further music training.
Encourages Patience and Discipline
While your child might imagine themselves being a master of their craft overnight, the reality is that they’ll actually need to spend long hours just learning how to hold their chosen instrument. Learning to play an instrument involves a steep learning curve, and getting the hang of playing an instrument often takes hours of practice, patience, and concentration.
For example, when it comes to learning how to play the violin, it can take hours of practice to understand how to hold the instrument, hold the bow, and even place the feet properly.
Learning to play an instrument can require hours, months, and even years of perseverance and patience before reaching particular milestones — such as being able to perform with a band or learning a favourite song. If children learn how to play an instrument in groups, this also might require them to wait their turn, be attentive, and show respect towards their fellow peers. All of these hallmarks are great ways for them to learn the art of patience.
All in all, mastering an instrument requires a great deal of focused attention, which is a great way for your child to learn how to be more grounded and experience the benefits of practice makes perfect.
About Our Music for Young Children Program
Allegro Music School is proud to provide the unique MYC (Music for Young Children) program to young learners. It is a tried and tested pedagogical music program that’s not only effective, but also fun! MYC (Music for Young Children) is a specialized program providing accelerated music education. As the only early childhood music program incorporating the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum, it offers a combination of all four learning styles (visual, analytical, tactile and auditory) to help children grasp the right levels of structure and joy through practice. Through MYC, children will experience the benefits of music by learning in a group setting, learning the foundations of music on the piano and feeling the joy of our energetic curriculum through singing, composition, games, and more!
Each of our instructors are also qualified according to Conservatory of Music standards and each child is encouraged to join through parent/guardian involvement and support.
Experience the Benefits of Music Education
We hope you’ve enjoyed our rundown on just a few of the many benefits of music education for children. If you’d like to learn more about our services at Allegro Music School, including the MYC program, we’d love to hear from you! As one of the leading providers of music education for kids in the Ottawa and Orleans regions, we take great pride in helping our students access the many benefits experienced through music education. As COVID restrictions begin to ease in Ontario, we are also thrilled to welcome students back to our lesson plans soon.
Call us today at 613-837-6040 or visit our contact page to fill out our online form. We look forward to working with you soon!