Benefits of Music as a Way of Learning
Music as a way of learning is increasingly integrated into children’s education. This has a positive impact on the different stages of personal development.
It’s one of the most popular activities for children, especially since it brings together the greatest motivator—games—with various forms of learning, including language, mathematics, psychomotor skills, socialization, and creativity, among others.
Benefits of music as a way of learning
Music is the perfect ally for children who like having fun while learning. It has many benefits, which we’ll explain below.
1. Memory
Music helps develop memory skills. All our senses can stimulate our memory, especially hearing. When we listen to melodies, the emotions and feelings that relate to the song reactivate in the brain.
2. Creativity
Music as a way of learning helps develop creativity and artistic knowledge in children. Classical music is particularly proven to be very effective at stimulating the imagination.
If your child plays an instrument, listening to his classmates’ music will also become a great source of inspiration for composing his own songs.
3. Stress and anxiety relief
Music is more effective and healthier than antidepressants, as it has a relaxing effect on both the body and the mind.
In times of stress, music can help you fall asleep and relax. The pleasure of listening to music or playing it favors the release of endorphins, which helps overcome anxieties caused by the troubles of everyday life.
4. Playing a musical instrument helps concentration
Listening to music before working on an important task increases concentration and attention. However, we recommend you do it with instrumental tracks since they distract you much less than vocal versions.
Keep in mind that playing an instrument is an excellent way to work on your attention capabilities and improve your concentration skills.
5. Source of joy
Music as a way of learning is an excellent way to improve confidence and self-esteem. For musicians, playing in front of an audience is a great source of joy, for example.
For music lovers, on the other hand, listening to their favorite songs helps their brains to secrete dopamine, the pleasure molecule.
6. Intellectual abilities
Music increases the intellectual and sensory abilities in young children and adolescents.
Musical education taught at a young age contributes to a better cognitive development, which will affect intellectual abilities, memory, and creativity. These abilities lead to better results in subjects such as math, reading, or writing.
“Teaching that impacts is not head to head, but heart to heart.”
–Howard G. Hendricks–
7. Sensibility and empathy
Regularly practicing an instrument allows you to develop two essential qualities for good personal development: sensibility and empathy. These virtues are the driving forces in learning the guitar, the piano, or any other instrument, including the voice.
8. Language
Music shares an area of the brain with language. The child’s brain doesn’t distinguish between the two because it learns the words through music. Furthermore, writing music with its symbols inscribed on the pentagram facilitates the learning of other languages.
9. Logical-mathematical reasoning
Music is composed of rhythms and pauses, time division, intensity variations, among other elements, all of which is pure mathematics.
Music facilitates the learning of mathematics since it stimulates the capacities of analysis, synthesis, and reasoning. It also helps to structure the paths of thought.
10. Promotes body control and psycho-motility
Music promotes psychomotor development in children. The learning and knowledge of rhythm through percussion or instruments requires a process of coordination and movement control that is completed by reading musical scores. Additionally, listening to music encourages good posture.
11. Emotions
The perception of music is universal; it allows you to experience a high range of feelings. A good example is the misinterpretation of sensations due to languages, as sometimes they’re easier to interpret through music.
12. Socialization factor
Music as a way of learning incites a climate of collaboration and respect, not only when children listen, but when they play and create for others individually or collectively. Listening to oneself and paying attention to others encourages openness and receptivity to external relationships.
12. Self-esteem
Learning to play music requires effort and perseverance, values that seem to have disappeared in modern times. With work, musical goals are achieved, which gratify children and make them feel proud. Also, playing in front of an audience allows them to overcome certain fears and gain confidence.
This list will help you understand the importance of music as a way of learning even more. From now on, you can consider including musical activities that stimulate your little one’s personal growth.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Albornoz, Y. (2009). Emoción, música y aprendizaje significativo. Educere, 13(44). https://www.redalyc.org:9444/error.xhtml?cid=306728
- Brewer, C. (1995). Music and learning: Integrating music in the classroom. Bellingham, WA: LifeSounds.
- Mantilla, D. (2012). La influencia de la musica en el aprendizaje infantil. 1 de Noviembre.
- Tobar, C. (2013). Beneficios de la música en el aprendizaje. Revista EducAcción, 18, 34-35. http://www.usfq.edu.ec/publicaciones/para_el_aula/Documents/para_el_aula_06/0018_para_el_aula_06.pdf
