Children across multiple generations have some elements and memories in common and one of those must be attending music classes as a school-going child. Irrespective of the school of music, learning and practising it helps in the development of children in various aspects.
According to a 2016 study by the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute, interacting with music during childhood can speed up brain development, especially in the fields of reading skills and language acquisition. Apart from this, it also develops the child intellectually and socio-emotionally and improves motor and language skills and overall literacy level.
How does music contribute to a child's development?
There are many ways in which music supports a child’s development such as:
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Increases happiness: Music has the potential to bring delight to both the performer and the listener. Not only can it affect the mood of children, uplift their spirits and make them avoid feeling lonely or sad, but it can also reduce their mood swings and stress, thereby impacting their mental health.
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Fosters intimacy: It has the capability to connect people and provide a sense of intimacy. You spend more time with your children and hug them while playing some heart-touching music. Another approach to show your love and concern is to sing lullabies to them and make them feel safe.
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Expands imagination and communication: Music plays a crucial role in establishing neural pathways for children and this develops their power of communication and imagination. They hear music and begin to murmur it, as they start thinking creatively and attempt to decode the lyrics.
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Enhances verbal intelligence: Music can significantly improve verbal intelligence in children. A study discovered that 90% of children experienced it within 20 days of starting music lessons. It also helps children better understand the new terms and their meanings.
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Stimulates sensory development: Expose children to different kinds of music to create different neural pathways. It also aids them in developing a sense of belongingness, which is why students make them participate in song and/or dance routines to drive home lessons on history and culture.
What skills can a child develop through exposure to music?
Following are the skills that children can acquire through interaction with music:
- Active participation in a group
- Enhanced social skills
- Healthy expression of emotions
- Improved self-expression by sharing dance and music from other cultures
- Improved listening skills
- Sharp awareness of body movements and positions.
- Increased inventiveness and creativity.
- Learning new concepts and expanding vocabulary
- Developing large motor skills
- Progress in balance, coordination, and rhythm with dance and movement activities.
- Develop small motor abilities by studying fingerplays and playing musical instruments.
- Investigate cause and effect.
Why is music important for a child’s development?
While we have seen how music impacts the child, we also need to know why music is vital for a child’s overall development, in the first place.
Enhances Intelligence:
Music is capable of improving overall IQ in children. A study determined that children who learnt how to play a piano for a year coupled it with regular practice, their IQ increased by 3 points.
Instills patience:
Children will be compelled to learn the art of patience and perseverance since learning music, either in the form of vocals or as an instrument involves a lot of patience and consistent efforts to master the notes and melodies. These qualities become significant and will come in handy while facing larger challenges when they grow older.
Enhances empathy:
Children learning music tend to be empathetic towards other cultures. They can also manage anxiety well and are good at self-expression, which makes them effective communicators in life. They are likely to have a higher degree of self-esteem as their parents and teachers demonstrate eagerness and motivation, which act as motivation for them.
Improves coordination:
Be it with respect to playing instruments or while singing, brain-hand coordination is required for the beats to land on the right notes and create harmonious tunes. The brain, especially, needs to work rapidly to ensure that there is no lag in the tune in order to create a flow. Children who play instruments have better hand-eye coordination than those who don't.
Refines listening skills:
Since music involves children grasping the tune, pitch, speed and other aspects while also comprehending the instructions of the teacher, listening is very important to get the nuances right. This will improve their focus, which will be of great use, both in the classroom and while striking up a conversation.
Some tips for parents include introducing children to music early in life, creating a conducive environment, allowing them to explore different genres, using music as a teaching tool, and celebrating their efforts without pressuring them for perfection. By keeping these in mind, you can introduce your children to the wonderful world of music, where they get the opportunity to hone themselves in more ways than one.
