Written by Zach Vander Schurr
Music is a big part of today’s society. It’s everywhere; whether you’re walking down the street or watching television, odds are, there is music. Not only is it widespread, it can also convey emotions, like sadness or happiness. Music can do more than make you feel these emotions. It can help create academic and personal improvements. Although some might say that background racket can be distracting, that’s not true. Teaching music is a colossal win for students, and it needs to be offered, if not required.
Learning music paves the way to formal learning. An article by PBS Parents cities the executive director of National Association of Music Merchants saying, “A music-rich experience for children of singing, listening and moving is really bringing a very serious benefit to children as they progress into more formal learning”. This is due to the fact that music requires more than just voice or finger movement. It has to do with multiple skills and often using them at the same time. For example, you have to read music, blow or sing, and use finger or vocal muscles all simultaneously. A study by
National Association of Music Education also says, “Students who have early musical training will develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning”. This provides evidence that music education affects grades.
Music education makes kids feel better about themselves. Sage Journals did a study on the effects that piano lessons had on children in 4th grade. The results stated that, “piano instruction had a positive effect on children’s self-esteem and school music marks”. This is an amazing win, because not only do you get to have fun with music, you feel great. Although it goes farther than just feeling good, this too can affect grades. Science Alert researched what correlation self-esteem had on grades, and found out that “the results demonstrated there was significant (p<0.01) positive relationship between self-esteem and academic achievement”. This means that music helps with academic achievement and confidence.
Despite the evidence given, people may still believe music can do more harm than good. Some may say it’s distracting. Not everyone is an auditory learner, but that is what headphones are for; the noise can’t be distracting if it can’t be heard. According to Study.com, “Background music may improve focus on a task by providing motivation and improving mood. During long study sessions, music can aid endurance”. This is proof that music can help, but what does listening to music have to do with learning it? Well, the more you listen to a song you’re practicing, the easier it is to learn. You know how it is supposed to go, which allows you to fine tune and learn it faster. Not only does listening to music help with studying, it also helps you learn your music.
If schools offer a music course, it will make the enrolled students more confident and achieve higher academically. This can do many great things for our society. This means better grades, more students going to college, more people with jobs, and higher functioning communities.
Sources
Aryana, Mohammad. “Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Academic Achievement Amongst Pre-University Students.” Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Academic Achievement Amongst Pre-University Students, SCIENCE ALERT, 2 May 2010, scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=jas.2010.2474.2477.https://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=jas.2010.2474.2477.
Costa-Giomi. “ Psychology of Music.” Sage Journals, Society of Education, 1 Apr. 2004, journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0305735604041491.
Fulton, Robert. “20 Important Benefits of Music In Our Schools.” NAFME, National Association for Music Education, 21 July 2014, nafme.org/20-important-benefits-of-music-in-our-schools/.
Davis, Nicky. “Is It Good to Listen to Music While Studying?” Study.com, Study.com, 2018, study.com/academy/popular/is-it-good-to-listen-to-music-while-studying.html.
10/8 would read again.