Music is many things: It is intrinsic to being human; a pillar in the foundation of our culture; and a vehicle to an improved quality of life. Many researchers argue that music, in its most primitive form, pre-dates the emergence of language itself. This fact was not lost to one of the greatest writers, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who stated “…music is the universal language of mankind.” Professor Oliver Sacks, a neurologist and one of my favorite authors, shares his opinion on music in his book Musicophilia stating, “We humans are a musical species no less than a linguistic one. We…‘construct’ music in our minds using many parts of the brain. And to this… appreciation of music is added an often intense and profound emotional reaction to music.”
The benefits of music are vast, as seen below (Reference: NAMM Organization):
1. Educational Benefits
a. In Doing Well and Doing Good by Doing Art, James Catterall uses twelve years of data to explore the effect of education in visual and performing arts on the achievements and values of young adults. The results of his study showed that students who were highly involved in the arts outperformed their less-involved peers, even within low socioeconomic groups. Furthermore, students with an art-rich education were “more likely to attend four-year colleges, progress to higher education faster and get better grades.”
b. In the 2001 College-bound Seniors National Report Profile of SAT Test Takers, the College Entrance Examination Board found that students who participated in the arts scored 63 points higher on the verbal section and 44 points higher on the math section, than students with no arts participation.
c. In a 2007 study in the Journal of Research in Music Education, it was shown that students who participated in high quality music education (compared to students without musical education), scored 22% higher in English standardized tests and 20% higher in mathematics standardized tests.
2. Cognitive Benefits
a. Musically trained children develop stronger listening skills, which allow them to keep sounds in memory, pay attention and perceive speech in a noisy background.
b. In a 2009 study in the Journal of Neuroscience, the brain development of thirty-one six year-old children, before and after taking instrumental lessons for fifteen months, were examined. The results showed a significant growth and improvement in the areas of the brain that control fine motor skills and hearing. Additionally, the corpus callosum, which connects the left and right sides of the brain, grew as well.
c. The neural changes associated with musical training during childhood are retained in adulthood and counteract some of the negative effects of aging, such as memory and hearing difficulty in older adults.
3. Social Benefits
a. Children who study a musical instrument learn many life skills including: cooperation, compromise, creativity, sharing, perseverance, critical thinking and concentration. Consequently, these students are more likely to excel in all of their studies, work better in teams, have higher self-esteem and pursue further education.
b. In a 2007 study published by Journal of Research in Music Education, the meaning and importance of musical participation amongst 1150 teens in middle and high school was examined. Music proved to: build one’s character and life skills, promote camaraderie, accept differences, and provide a distraction from drugs, alcohol, smoking, gangs, sex, and suicidal behaviors.
As an advocate for musical education, I share the same sentiments as Jonathan Harnum: Music is its own reason for existence. Seeking to justify musical education or its value to humans would be like stating the obvious. Linking music to all its benefits is certainly valid and proven, however, the deeper purpose is to provide a medium for personal expression that exists in many other forms of study from linguistics to mathematics. I therefore, implore you to participate and create music at every opportunity.
Seray Goktekin received formal education at the Manhattan School of Music, New York. She believes in a comprehensive approach to musical education where instrument instruction is heavily supplemented with music theory, ear training, sight-reading and music history. She is currently an educator at Worldly Pupil – an online provider of courses for homeschooled students (Music Theory/Ear Training and Music History). She also provides private and group lessons in Connecticut. Please visit: www.worldlypupil.com and facebook.com/stringsCT to learn more.
The benefits of music are vast, as seen below (Reference: NAMM Organization):
1. Educational Benefits
a. In Doing Well and Doing Good by Doing Art, James Catterall uses twelve years of data to explore the effect of education in visual and performing arts on the achievements and values of young adults. The results of his study showed that students who were highly involved in the arts outperformed their less-involved peers, even within low socioeconomic groups. Furthermore, students with an art-rich education were “more likely to attend four-year colleges, progress to higher education faster and get better grades.”
b. In the 2001 College-bound Seniors National Report Profile of SAT Test Takers, the College Entrance Examination Board found that students who participated in the arts scored 63 points higher on the verbal section and 44 points higher on the math section, than students with no arts participation.
c. In a 2007 study in the Journal of Research in Music Education, it was shown that students who participated in high quality music education (compared to students without musical education), scored 22% higher in English standardized tests and 20% higher in mathematics standardized tests.
2. Cognitive Benefits
a. Musically trained children develop stronger listening skills, which allow them to keep sounds in memory, pay attention and perceive speech in a noisy background.
b. In a 2009 study in the Journal of Neuroscience, the brain development of thirty-one six year-old children, before and after taking instrumental lessons for fifteen months, were examined. The results showed a significant growth and improvement in the areas of the brain that control fine motor skills and hearing. Additionally, the corpus callosum, which connects the left and right sides of the brain, grew as well.
c. The neural changes associated with musical training during childhood are retained in adulthood and counteract some of the negative effects of aging, such as memory and hearing difficulty in older adults.
3. Social Benefits
a. Children who study a musical instrument learn many life skills including: cooperation, compromise, creativity, sharing, perseverance, critical thinking and concentration. Consequently, these students are more likely to excel in all of their studies, work better in teams, have higher self-esteem and pursue further education.
b. In a 2007 study published by Journal of Research in Music Education, the meaning and importance of musical participation amongst 1150 teens in middle and high school was examined. Music proved to: build one’s character and life skills, promote camaraderie, accept differences, and provide a distraction from drugs, alcohol, smoking, gangs, sex, and suicidal behaviors.
As an advocate for musical education, I share the same sentiments as Jonathan Harnum: Music is its own reason for existence. Seeking to justify musical education or its value to humans would be like stating the obvious. Linking music to all its benefits is certainly valid and proven, however, the deeper purpose is to provide a medium for personal expression that exists in many other forms of study from linguistics to mathematics. I therefore, implore you to participate and create music at every opportunity.
Seray Goktekin received formal education at the Manhattan School of Music, New York. She believes in a comprehensive approach to musical education where instrument instruction is heavily supplemented with music theory, ear training, sight-reading and music history. She is currently an educator at Worldly Pupil – an online provider of courses for homeschooled students (Music Theory/Ear Training and Music History). She also provides private and group lessons in Connecticut. Please visit: www.worldlypupil.com and facebook.com/stringsCT to learn more.
