The Educational Value of Music

Music can be an important part of family life Recently, we have been in homes where youngsters played music and sang as a form of recreation rather than watching TV. The fact they did so was no accident. In talking with the parents, we learned that, from infancy, the children had been encouraged to enjoy music. From the cradle, their mothers did not read to them, they sang the nursery rhymes. As they grew older, the children were permitted to play the instrument of their choice, even drums, so that they would find music participation enjoyable.

The following was given to us by one of those parents. It underscores the overall value of music in the life of children.

According to a recent study done by Dr. Frank Wilson, a neurologist, when a musician plays, he uses approximately 90% of the brain. He could find no other activity that uses it to that extent. His theory as to why this is so is that our more specialized muscle cells are located in the hands and facial area and it takes more “brain power” to use those cells. What parts of the body is a musician working? Why, just these very areas — hands, mouth, eyes and ears. (By the way, there was no instrument that used more of the brain than another. Thus, a pianist is not more of a musician than a saxophone player.)

What does all this mean? The child who is playing a musical instrument or singing on a regular basis is exercising the entire brain and stimulating general intelligence more than his counterpart who does not play or sing.

It is, therefore, no accident that students who are actively involved in the band, choir, or orchestra score higher on tests than those who are not. Not only that, the longer the child remains in these programs, the higher the scores get.

In Stanford University studies, psychologists found that “learning to control rhythm and tempo in group music-making helps the student perform other routine activities with greater ease and efficiency.”

In Japan, every child between fourth and ninth grade is required to play a musical instrument. They have found a direct correlation between high technology and economic development with brain bilateralism and music.

The Baldwin piano company did a study recently in which they provided keyboards to a school in Greenwood, MS, a rural community where the majority are mostly low-income families. The children, who were in the second grade, received keyboard instruction five days a week over a year’s time. The findings surprised both the school officials and Baldwin. Over 90% of the students who participated improved their learning skills 10-12%, became more self-disciplined and improved their overall self-esteem.

Thus, in this community, all children in kindergarten through grade three will receive keyboard instruction on a daily basis. From grade four on, students will be able to choose between band, choir, orchestra or continue with piano. However, all will be required to be involved in some kind of structured music program.

Another study has found that all children are born with a musical aptitude. However, it will continue to decrease after birth until the child is placed in an appropriate musical environment. If this happens, his level of musical aptitude will increase until it once again approaches the birth level…However, after nine years of age, it will only stabilize.

According to Dr. Howard Gardner, the standard I.Q. is obsolete. Our intelligence is not based on two components — verbal and mathematical — but on seven: linguistic (verbal), logical (mathematical), music, spatial, body kines­thetic (movement-feeling orientation), interpersonal (understanding others) and interpersonal (understanding oneself). Besides the fact that music is an intelligence in and of itself, it also uses some of the other six in various ways. Songs are linguistic; rhythm is logical; dance and fingering manipulation on the instruments is body kinesthetic; musical interpretation is interpersonal; and the connection between musician and instrument or composer and composition can be intrapersonal. Thus, by being involved in music, a child can hone his skills and get in tune with many aspects of himself and others.