Music plays a large part in human culture, and can be heard throughout the world. Here in Canada, music is often taught as a class in elementary school. But what really comes out of the time your children spend in music class or other music lessons? Read on to learn about why you should teach kids music at a young age.
Music is a language, and children learn languages easier. Just like it is harder to start learning French or Italian when you’re older, it is a lot harder to learn to read music and play an instrument as you age. Children are oriented towards learning language, so they will be able to pick up the language of music faster and easier.
Teaching kids music for memory retention skills
Learning music helps improve memory. According to Musikgarten, one of the leading companies in early childhood music education, when children learn melodic and rhythmic patterns, it develops their memory. Music helps develop the left side of the brain, which means it also helps with processing language and new information. Putting new information to a tune can also help your child to remember it. Just think about the ABC song!
Music makes kids’ brains work harder. The growth of neural activity in kids is actually heightened due to music, since you are using more of your brain. This will help kids with things like problem solving and math.
Teaching kids music to advance culture and society
Music channels culture. This is why it is good to expose your kids to local music. Vancouver musician David Vertesi is a strong advocate of this, and he recently touched on the matter in an article he wrote for the Huffington Post. He mentions that if kids have a positive experience with local music, they will grow up to be a generation that cares about local arts and culture.
Music brings kids together, and helps them socially. Through group music making, kids will learn to listen to each other and share their creativity. In a world that values collaboration, this is a great skill to start learning at a young age through music.
Your child may have started taking piano lessons, be enrolled in a group music class, or simply be in a music class at school. Whatever it is, the music they are learning is definitely beneficial to many aspects of their life, and will continue to have a positive impact on them as they grow. So, keep encouraging your kids to learn music, and they will thank you in the future!
