How Music Education Benefits Your Child
At The Newcastle School, we provide your child with an outstanding music curriculum. Our music specialists know how essential music education is to a child’s development, but there are various benefits that come from our curriculum.
Language Development
Children are born with the ability to learn sounds and words, but music education will only help enhance those natural abilities. Musical education physically develops part of the left side of the brain associated with processing language. It can even wire brain circuits in specific ways, linking familiar songs to new information. Since language is at the root of social competence, music education will strengthen your child’s ability to become verbally competent.
Enhances Intelligence
A child is born with an unfinished brain and music plays a critical role in developing a young child’s brain. For older children, music can create an effective study environment and learn information more efficiently. Children who participate in music are often found to score higher on tests and have higher IQ scores. The brain of a musician works harder than that of non-musicians. When you’re playing an instrument or singing, you naturally have to use more of your brain. Teaching children music from an early age will give them the opportunity to challenge their brains.
Motor Development and Coordination
Music can help young children pattern their body movements so their motor skills will keep up with cognitive development. Teaching children to dance, sway, bounce or clap along with music from an early age is a great way to develop these motor skills early on.
Spatial-Temporal Skills
Some studies have found a link between music and spatial intelligence. This means that understanding music can help children visualize elements that go together, as they would while doing math. Spatial-temporal skills come into play when solving any multistep problem, whether it’s in math, art, engineering or while working with computers.
Emotional Awareness and Social Skills
Music can evoke strong emotions in all of us, including children. Music can give your child an outlet for their emotions, so when they’re scared or upset, music can soothe them. When a child learns to play a musical instrument, they can use this skill to channel both negative and positive emotions. Children can also benefit from musical experiences by increasing confidence and self-esteem, along with enjoying the sense of community that can come with participation in music groups or lessons.