Yamaha Education News

Music-making aids children's development

Pictured here: A group of young musicians gains enormous satisfaction and enhanced self-esteem from performing together. Making music offers all kinds of rewards to those who do it, in addition to developing musical skills and knowledge.

The Power of Music is a new study - prompted by recent advances in the study of the brain, which have enhanced our understanding of the way that active engagement with music influences other activities - which argues that music is as important as the three Rs to young people's education.

The report, The Power of Music: its impact on the intellectual, social and personal development of children and young people, by Professor Susan Hallam of London University's Institute of Education, presents empirical evidence that music enhances young people's physical and mental well-being and social cohesion.

Music has long been used by non-music teachers as a way to engage young people with a range of curriculum subjects. More generally, the performance opportunities offered by extra-curricular activities like school bands and choirs can give a real boost to young people's self-esteem.

Discussing her findings, Professor Hallam says: "Learning to play an instrument has demonstrable effects on intelligence and, when children play music as a group, teaches them about cooperation and working together. Music exerts a powerful impact on our lives and is important for a well-rounded education." Making and listening to music are rewarding for children as well as adults.

The research shows how music can be used to help concentration, develop memory, aid relaxation, influence moods and emotions, as well as helping young children with language development and enhancing physical coordination. The research also provides a rationale for the government's Tune In - Year Of Music programme, which celebrate's young people's music-making across the UK in 2009-2010 and emphasises that those who learn to sing or play get much more than musical skills, especially when they make music together from a young age.

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(Posted September 2009)