Children who learn music are also learning so much more! While the joys of playing an instrument are alone more than enough to make a decision to learn music, parents can also be happy in the knowledge that the gift of music encompasses so many different areas.
Emotional, physical, social and cognitive growth are all part of the richness of learning music. So too is learning to become a better citizen. Research shows that students who participate in the arts, including school bands, are less likely to take drugs, participate in crime or other poor behaviour.
Music has also been shown to increase the rates of learning maths and reading. It also has a positive impact on attitudes towards those more traditional areas of schooling, also encouraging stronger growth in those crucial areas – mathematics and literacy.
MRI scans show that reading music is one of the few things we can do that engages the entire brain! That is, all 4 lobes of the brain and parts of the cerebellum.
Learning music is for some children even more important – for those children who learn using music in Howard Gardner’s ‘multiple intellegences’. Gardners theory of Multiple Intelligence demonstrates how different people use different cues to their learning. Music encompasses one whole area! Children who love music will learn quicker through learning music, and it will give all other children another tool in their learning box.
That is to say, that while learning an instrument is a pure joy worthwhile for its own benefits alone, music actually helps children in so many more ways!
Earle Hunter [httpwww.doublebasslessons.co.cc] teaches double bass to children and adults, both in schools and privately. His pupils have gone on to achieve scholarships at private schools, and success through VCE and AMEB. His adult students have gone on to enjoy playing with orchestras and jazz bands.
Tags: adult students, citizen research, cognitive growth, jazz bands, learning music, lobes of the brain, multiple intellegences, music parents, poor behaviour, theory of multiple intelligence