It is well established that music education has many benefits for children. These benefits range from the social and emotional to the cognitive and academic. In fact, music education has been shown to improve academic performance in a variety of subject areas, including reading, mathematics, and language arts. Furthermore, music education can also help to improve memory, concentration, attention span, and problem-solving skills.
Improved Academic Performance
One of the most well-documented benefits of music education is improved academic performance. Studies have shown that music education can improve reading, math, and spatial-temporal skills.
In one study, third and fourth graders who received music instruction scored higher on standardized tests than their peers who did not receive music instruction.
The same pattern has been found in other studies, with students who receive music instruction scoring higher on tests of reading, math, and spatial-temporal skills.
Increased Intelligence
Music education has also been linked to increased intelligence. Children who receive music instruction have been shown to perform better on IQ tests than their peers who do not receive music instruction, according to research.
In one study, six-year-olds who received piano instruction scored higher on IQ tests than their peers who did not receive piano instruction.
This finding was replicated in a study of seven-year-olds, with those receiving piano instruction again showing higher IQ scores than those who did not.
Memory and Concentration
Music education can also help to improve memory and concentration. According to a study conducted by Harvard Medical School, children who received music instruction were better able to remember a sequence of numbers than their peers who did not receive music instruction.
Other studies have found that music education can improve attention span and working memory. In one study, children with ADHD who received music instruction showed improvements in attention span and working memory.
Furthermore, music education has been shown to improve reading comprehension. In one study, fifth graders who received music instruction scored higher on a test of reading comprehension than their peers who did not receive music instruction.
Emotional Benefits
In addition to the cognitive benefits of music education, there are also emotional benefits. Music education has been linked to increased self-esteem and confidence, as well as bettersocial skills.
Research has shown that fourth and fifth graders who received music instruction showed an increase in self-esteem and social skills compared to their peers who did not receive music instruction. Furthermore, music education has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress.
Enhanced Social Skills
Music education has also been shown to enhance social skills. According to a study, children who took piano lessons showed increased levels of empathy and social competence compared to those who did not take piano lessons. This is likely due to the fact that playing a musical instrument requires cooperation and communication with others.
Conclusion
No doubt, music education is beneficial to children and young adults in a number of ways. These benefits include improved academic performance, increased intelligence, enhanced social skills, and improved mental health. With so many benefits, it is clear that music education should be a part of every child’s education.
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe, a music and content discovery platform designed to maximize artist discovery and optimize fan relationships.Along with his work at MuzicSwipe, he also conducts in-depth interviews with prominent entrepreneurs on his weekly podcast “FULLSPEED.” Eric also dedicates himself to educational initiatives through the “Eric Dalius Foundation,” which provides four scholarships to US-based students. Keep track of Eric’s endeavors on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,YouTube, Instagram, and Entrepreneur.com.