Music is a universal language. Learning to make music or play a musical instrument is fun and engaging. It might be a pastime for some but every child introduced to music stands to gain. Depending on the instrument or quality of lessons you decide to get for your kids, it might cost you a little, but it is worth it.
Below are some benefits kids enjoy from music education.
1. Mental development
According to science, learning music for kids, especially in the early stages, helps with language learning, reading and comprehension, and memorization. Looking at the things music education covers, it is not difficult to see why. Kids can learn musical notation, sight-reading, and music pieces. These make the brain adapt to learning like that, and it is directly beneficial in the classroom.
2. Learning difficult musical skills
While it is never too late to start music, some things are practically impossible to get after some time. A famous example is a perfect pitch. Perfect pitch is a rare ability that involves identifying or creating a specific musical note without any reference. People with perfect pitch can tell apart sounds just like we see color. Research has shown that children introduced to music and music education early are more likely to develop this gift. For older folks, it is possible to learn relative pitch and identify notes with a reference, but it pales in comparison to perfect pitch.
3. Improves motor coordination
The movements needed to learn musical instruments are often so precise that they require the average person to level up. In kids, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills are quickly developed. This helps them improve physical awareness and encourages them to be physically active. Fine motor skills have been shown to correlate with improved cognitive ability in children.
4. Builds confidence and discipline
Music education for kids usually involves performances and recitals. A lot of preparation goes into these performances. Having to appear in front of an audience helps eliminate stage fright early. Kids can learn stage control and build stage confidence as a result. It instills the discipline to practice, reflecting in other aspects of their lives.
5. Fosters teamwork
From classes to the stage, activities in music education often involve interactions with other children. This encourages children to help and seek help from each other. It teaches them that they all need each other to succeed. This is especially good because they get to understand individuality and how they need to be excellent musicians early on, but they also get to see how they are still reliant on the rest of the team to put on a great show.
Introducing kids to music can be a plus. As can be seen, it is favorable for music education to be done in a group setting since there’s a lot to be gained from interacting with others. Early music education also serves as an excellent foundation for kids who eventually decide to become career musicians.