Child Development. Those who play instruments have improved hand eye coordination over those who do not. Playing an instrument requires the brain to work at advanced speeds. Where would the state of U.S. hip hop be without the influences of Jamaican “selectors” (DJs) immigrating to the Bronx, New York? What kind of music is your child into? Published on Jul 16, 2019. Neuroscientists say that benefits of learning to play at a young age include improved memory, discipline, self-confidence, and even reading and verbal skills. The benefits of learning and playing a musical instrument include: Improved memory skills; Improved hand eye coordination & fine motor skills; Improved listening skills; Improved math skills For example, what would have happened to icons like the Beatles or Rolling Stones without the blues that form the sonic backbone of Chicago? Musical changes in the child’s life not only “improved social contact,” but also improved the child’s concentration and confidence to try new activities like swimming. Since “there are similarities in the ways that individuals interpret music and language and because neural response to music is a widely distributed system within the brain,” musical ability may seamlessly translate into higher reading comprehension levels, according to Drs. As we explained before, Music therapy can help to relieve pain and reduce stress and anxiety for the patient, resulting in physiological changes, including: improved respiration, lower blood pressure, improved cardiac output, reduced heart rate and relaxed muscle tension. This can be anything from oiling to tuning to cleaning. Her website, Coustii, focuses specifically on guitars and ukes. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. The process of learning music through instrument practice demonstrates several parallels to the process of attaining literacy, such as exposure to “formal notation read from left to right…symbols that represent information,” as well as listening to key changes in both auditory and visual narratives. If a child takes a liking to one, that may ensure they will stick with it instead of giving up or jumping to a new instrument. One particularly enriching activity is learning to play a musical instrument. It’s something we are all touched by. Playing an instrument requires children listen carefully to an array of different things. Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument Science has shown that when children learn to play music, the parts of their brain that control motor skills, hearing, storing audio information, and memory, actually grow and become more active. As we may all be aware, music transcends different cultural backgrounds and resonates well with people despite their individual origins, race and cultural persuasions. This video from TED-ED explains how playing an instrument is like a total workout for the brain. Aside from the ability to create music, learning to play a musical instrument can also have an array of other benefits for a child that they will keep with them all throughout their life. 6Must Read Keep reading to learn more about these benefits; you may just want to pick up a flute or guitar for your child right now. Other researchers have noted gains in IQ after enrolling children in keyboard lessons for 36 weeks. This is for several key reasons: Sense of accomplishment: Mastering a new technique or nailing a new piece can provide children with a real sense of accomplishment. Most instruments require some kind of maintenance or upkeep. In The News: Our Music Therapy Program Featured on ABC7 News, Foundation Expands Important Music Therapy Program To London, 5 Extremely Helpful Music Therapy Resources You Need to Know About, Why Support Music Therapy? This concentration will improve their skills in music and in life. Reading music is converted in the brain to the physical motion of playing the instrument. One of the foundations to music therapy is instruments. 21 Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument | Making Music Magazine The benefits of learning a musical instrument are numerous. Learn more about the benefits of music for babies and kids at Mom Loves Best.com. Is your child excited about the instrument? Consider the genre they like to listen to the most and find instruments that relate to that type of music. Develops concentration Learning to play a musical instrument demands total attention, with a child having to focus over an extended period of time. It’s hard to learn a musical instrument on your own, even more so when you’re a child. Any instrument, be it a guitar or a drum, requires good coordination and movement. By learning how to express themselves and their complex feelings about their illness through music, they are able to find a way to show or play what they are feeling during their hospital stay. As your children (perhaps begrudgingly) settle into their fall routines after a summer full of camps, vacations, and zero homework, you may feel bombarded by the manifold options to fill your children’s time after school and perhaps keep them in touch with school work. When engaged in a group setting, this requires children and teens to work together to collaborate on a specific sound or song. The left side of the brain is better developed with regular musical training when you are young. By understanding beat, rhythm and scales, children are learning how to divide, create fractions and recognize patterns. These Kids Need You! As a musician and a fellow human being, my personal belief is that music can evoke every emotion available to humans, and will affect every one differently depending on what is being listened to and what your mood is at the time. Here are more of the many benefits of learning to play a musical instrument: Enhances Verbal and Reading Skills The therapist then creates a unique plan to help reach recovery milestones through listening to music, writing songs, singing and playing instruments. Since there is evidence and support that simply listening to music isn’t as effective, here are 11 more reasons from West Coast Music why children should learn to play instruments instead of just listening to them. This form of therapy has been shown to have a significant effect on a patient’s perceived effectiveness of treatment, including pain reduction, relaxation, respiration rate, and lower levels of anxiety.”. Learning to read and comprehend music can even help in reading and understanding literature in school classes. There’s no doubt that learning a musical instrument can do wonders for a child’s self-esteem. These numbers are not finite rules; rather, they further illustrate tangible gains in child IQ after engaging in instrument practice. While learning to play any instrument, there is a tad bit of theory involved. Additionally, music education may hone the fundamental cognitive functions critical to improve reading levels, particularly working memory, or “the type of memory that allows us to remember things even while our minds are busy with other matters.”. They not only need to listen to instructions from their teacher or music therapist, they need to listen for rhythm, pitch and speed. Approximately 90% of children in Moreno’s studies experienced spikes in IQ. When they are responsible for something they are more likely to take care of it themselves without a parent having to remind them. The long range connection between brain regions are also strengthened with instrument playing. Referring to the records of the autistic subject in the study above, the child was characterized as “sensitive to hard sounds,” as well as having “few friends.”. This is another reason why music is beneficial for those with disorders like ADD. Exposing a child to multiple types of musical genres (for example classical, contemporary, rock, jazz, blues, folk or medieval) will allow them to have a glimpse into the past. When children learn to play an instrument, they continuously learn new information related to the world of art and culture. They allow for children and teens in hospitals to focus on the gentle and rhythmic sounds they make while trying to heal. And even if they are, music may serve to complicate the identities of those unfamiliar to your kids, beyond a few lines in a history textbook. If you would like to increase music therapy in hospitals and the benefits it provides, please visit our donation page to help the cause. #GivingTuesday, 3 New Interns Join UCLA’s Growing Music Therapy Program, How to Use Music Therapy to Heal: Evangelyn’s Story, Two New Amazing Interns at UCLA Children’s Hospital, Let’s Celebrate: The Shadowboxers Support Music Therapy, Music Therapy Helps: How to Thrive Like Clara, Music Therapy Gathers Brilliance: What You Need to Know, ← Understanding the Process of Music Therapy. Increase Grey Matter In terms of brain power, having more grey matter to work with is good. Moreover, children who practice self-expression and creativity often become better communicators later in life. When children embrace opportunities to showcase their newly-found talents for others, they gain self-confidence. Encourage Your Child to Learn a Musical Instrument. Finding the Perfect Guitar For Your Child, How Music Education Can Improve Children’s Reading Skills. During music lessons and music therapy, a teacher or therapist will set short term and long term goals. If possible, try out as many instruments as you can before you commit to one. We could go on for days. In this age of digital information overload, it becomes increasingly important to engage children sans computer screens. Let's have a look at the benefits of playing an instrument: Helps Build Perseverance. Playing an instrument makes you use both sides of your brain, which strengthens memory power. We’ve listed six key benefits, below: IQ Boost after 20 Days of Lessons! The music that your child is listening to on the radio (or on your Spotify playlist), regardless of genre, is the product of hundreds of years of cross-cultural exchanges. Music therapy also has an interesting history including being found in Greek Mythology, philosophy, Native American culture, World War II and the United States military. Studies have shown that the volume of grey matter in a number of regions of the brain is higher in those learning to play a musical instrument. By understanding beat, rhythm, and … Exposure to music education offers children a unique lens into cultures that your children may not necessarily be exposed to in their social studies classrooms. The initial meeting is about getting to know the child: what are their specific needs, abilities, interests and behaviors? This is not confined only to learning the instrument, it trains your child’s mind, and their overall memory becomes better. Sure, you may have to invest in some ear plugs, but investing in your child’s tenacity, though, may be worth the headaches. There’s a huge body of scientific literature that demonstrates how learning an instrument as a child offers lifelong benefits. If you do not see noticeable improvements in your child’s IQ after 20 days, fear not! Playing music will make learning easier by involving both sides of the brain in the process. Factor that into your instrument choice, as some specifically cater to certain styles. While these characteristics carry over to those in hospitals, patients also benefit from music’s ability to reduce physical, mental and emotion pain. The children of “Generation Z” are the world’s first, true digital natives; thus, we need to prioritize engaging our kids in activities that increase their attention span without the mesmerizing blue light emitted from a computer screen (or a smartphone or a tablet). As a parent, do you like the sound enough to listen to your child practice it for hours at home? The Peterson Family Foundation was founded in 2003 to enhance, restore and improve the quality of life for all human beings. Music also provides an alternative means of communication for children who may have had trouble expressing themselves in the past. In 2013, a study by the British Psychological Society found that playing music can promote social... As COVID-19 continues to have a negative impact on our health and culture, external protocols have had a... exposure to music lengthens attention span, Finding the Perfect Guitar For Your Child, How To Play Guitar And Sing At The Same Time | Guest Post, Guitarists: How Learning Basic Piano Helps Your Guitar Playing | Guest Post, The 10 Best Musical Instruments for Beginners | Guest Post, Here’s How Music Can Help Children With Autism | Guest Post, Tricks for Fostering Your Child’s Love of Music | Guest Post, Best Ways to Practice Music in a Flat | Guest Post, The Benefits of Your Child Learning an Instrument | Guest Post. Colleen has a passion for guitars and ukuleles. They range from improved social interaction skills and increased empathy to refined time, money and people management skills. We’ve listed six key benefits, below: At least that is what Dr. Sylvain Moreno of the Rotman Research Institute in Toronto, Canada, found when he examined the cognitive activity of 32 eight-year-old children who were given free music lessons. Some of the brain benefits of learning a musical instrument include increased comprehension and math skills, better coordination, and a greater capacity for memory. Music therapy helps children heal from illnesses through both listening to and playing music. Colleen loves to travel and uses her ukulele as a conversation starter on the road. Maybe it is time for children to put down the tablets and pick up a guitar. Many schools offer specialised music programs, while specific tutors (particularly for instruments like guitar, piano and drums), are common. When your child learns the theory and implements it on the instrument, the process naturally compels your child to memorize better. For children not in a hospital, learning to play an instrument can build self-esteem, increase various social and academic skills and can help them become a well-rounded person. As mentioned above, instruments can require regular cleaning and upkeep. Read on to learn more about how learning a musical instrument can help your child’s overall education. Interacting with other kids will give them an opportunity to make friends and improve their time in the hospital. Another question on this subject is does music help you study? Learning an instrument is incredibly beneficial to the confidence, emotional growth, and behavioural development of children. However, if you still have qualms about investing in your child’s music lessons, here are a lot of other benefits of learning a musical instrument for children. Learning a musical instrument helps your child develop his fine motor skills. Concentration – Focus is a necessary part of learning an instrument. In this age of digital information overload, it becomes increasingly important to engage children sans computer screens. Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument. Ultimately, the instrument you and your child choose should depend on a number of factors. Benefits of Learning to Play a Musical Instrument As reported by TIME, a study from Northwestern University revealed that in order to fully obtain the cognitive benefits of a music class, kids can’t just sit there and listen to music; they have to be actively engaged in the music and participate in the class. It improves academic skills. Not only does learning to play an instrument have a positive impact on the overall physical and mental wellbeing of a child in a hospital, there are a number of other benefits to learning how to play an instrument. Particularly with children diagnosed with autism, the acoustic guitar may be a sound option (no pun intended) to promote critical communication skills. We would love to assist your child in reaching their full musical potential. Learning to play a musical instrument can have enormous upside and there is no better time to start than as a child, allowing mastery of the instrument as soon as possible. Students are encouraged to play an instrument, sing, join the school choir or band, and also put up plays and musicals. Research suggests that children who started learning a musical instrument developed fine motor skills earlier than their peers who weren’t exposed to any musical instrument. Depending on what the music therapist decides, music therapy can be done either bedside or in group settings. By listening to musical beats your child can learn basic fractions, pattern-recognition and problem solving. If you are lucky enough to know how to play an instrument, you understand the importance it can play in a child’s life. Playing a musical instrument promotes a love for discipline, more attuned hearing, fine motor development, and concentration.. From there, the music therapist tracks and monitors the progress of the patient and child and makes any updates and changes to the goals as needed. As this piece engages our brain over a certain time period, “the process of listening to music could be a way that the brain sharpens its ability to anticipate events and sustain attention,” according to Dr. Jonathan Berger. Learning how to play a musical instrument could be really challenging because if you are not serious, there is always someone who will become better than you. Here’s a list of questions to consider before bringing home a new music maker: Make sure your child actually likes the instrument they choose to ensure they will stick with it. Seeing positive results from their hard work and effort will only motivate them to keep up the progression. “Even in a group of highly motivated students, small variations in music engagement, attendance and class participation predicted the strength of neural processing after music training,” said Nina Kraus, director of Northwestern University’s Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory. Cue substantive dinner conversations without smartphones. Learning to play a musical instrument, for example, provides children countless benefits. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” – Billy Joel. Does the child’s temperament match the instrument? As the child reaches their goals, they will feel a sense of achievement and pride. The act of learning and playing an instrument, the encouragement of a teacher and the enthusiasm of a proud parent, will build in a child a sense of pride and confidence. It’s hard to learn a musical instrument on your own, even more so when you’re a child. Comprehension skills: Training a child to read and comprehend quickly. Joseph M. Piro and Camilo Ortiz. There has long been a correlation between musical training and academic success, but there are other benefits too. In fact, one of the amazing benefits of music therapy is the ability for children to express themselves. “I think music in itself is healing. With the benefits mentioned above, there’s no question why learning to play a new musical instrument can be a great thing to pursue this year. Learning a new instrument is not easy and requires effort, and this helps build patience and perseverance. When a music therapist first meets with a patient, they assess their abilities and get to know them individually. Learning to play a musical instrument, for example, provides children countless benefits. Children and teens need to identify a note on the page and recognize which note (pitch) to play on their instrument, how long to hold it, what finger to use and how loudly to play it. 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