Music education has been an essential component of schooling for centuries. The benefits of music education are many and have been proven through numerous studies. Here are ten reasons why music education is important in schools:
Academic achievement: Music education can have a positive impact on academic achievement. Studies have shown that students who study music perform better in subjects such as mathematics and reading. It also assists in their general educational development with many music students performing well in exams.
Cognitive development: Music can help with cognitive development. It has been linked to increased memory, language development, and coordination. Music can also help with planning ahead, meeting goals, self-control, focus (even with distractions), and the ability to follow multi-faceted directions.
Creativity: Music promotes creativity. Learning an instrument or composing music requires creativity and encourages students to think outside the box. If students have access to weird and wonderful instruments and are allowed to experiment on them the benefits are huge…and they have fun in the process.
Emotional development: Music can help with emotional development. Playing music can be an outlet for emotions and can help students with self-expression and emotional regulation.
Cultural understanding: Music can promote cultural understanding. Learning about different types of music from different cultures can broaden students' perspectives and increase their understanding of the world. Exploring music and its uses in each of the cultures can be exciting and informative - especially if they get the chance to make their own too.
Social skills: Music can help with social skills. Playing music in a group requires cooperation and communication skills. It helps a person become a team player and can help a student understand the importance of supporting each other.
Develops discipline and perseverance: Learning to play an instrument requires discipline and perseverance, which are valuable skills that can be applied to other areas of life.
Provides a sense of community: Participating in music programs can give students a sense of belonging and provide opportunities to build relationships with peers. It’s also a great way of giving back to the community as students can perform in town centres, shopping malls, and care homes.
Enhances overall well-being: Music has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health, reducing stress and anxiety and promoting overall well-being. Making music releases the feel good chemical in the brain.
Career opportunities: Music education can lead to career opportunities in the music industry. It can also help students develop skills that are applicable to a variety of careers, such as teamwork and creativity. Not everyone is going to become a world superstar in music, but having an understanding of music can open up a world of opportunities for you and you can pass them on to others.
Unfortunately, music education programs have been cut in many schools due to budget constraints. However, the benefits of music education are so significant that it is essential that music education is included in schools. It can have a positive impact on academic achievement, cognitive development, creativity, emotional development, cultural understanding, social skills, and career opportunities. Schools should prioritise music education to ensure that students have access to these benefits…and the government should be doing all it can to facilitate this. With all these arts cuts (drama, art, music, dance, etc.) the government is ramming so many nails into the coffin that is the entertainment industry. If this continues it won’t be too long before we’ll have no more radio, television, movies, games, and so on - because without a grounding in creativity - especially music - nothing can develop fully.
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