8 Reasons Why Music Is Essential For Your Child's Development - City Music - Singapore #1 Trusted Music Store Since 1968

Parts of this blog were adapted from POPCLUB’s Nov/Dec 2019 Issue Article – Music For The Mind and Soul by Sim Yi Wen

Thinking of letting your child pick up music as a hobby? You’ll be pleased to know that the benefits of music go beyond being just a way to keep your kids occupied and engaged. By allowing a developing child to take up music, it not only benefits the mind but the process of learning also shapes a child’s character. Read on for some ways that music helps the development of children.

1. Better Brain Function

Research shows that early music training before the age of 7 produces actual physical changes in brain structure and function. One study^[2] found an increase in the white matter in the corpus callosum, which is a wide, thick nerve tract whose primary function is to integrate motor, sensory and cognitive performances between the left and right brain. This means increased brain connectivity. Music also has a positive effect on the development of other cognitive functions including attention and memory.

2. Physical Growth

By getting your child to learn instruments such as the guitar and piano or even drums, it aids in developing their motor skills as it encourages hand-eye coordination as well as strengthening their muscles.^[4] This in turn will aid your children to be more organised in their movements and can translate to improvement with activities such as running, swimming, etc. It can even further improve their sense of rhythm and timing.

“Infants listen first to sounds of language
and only later to its meaning.”
— Dr. Anthony Brandt, 2012

3. Language, Literacy and Communication Skills

At the National Institute of Health Kennedy Centre Workshop on Music and the Brain, a panel of scientists presented research findings showing that the experience of learning music significantly contributes to language development. A paper published in 2012^[3] mentioned that “infants listen first to sounds of language and only later to its meaning”. Through singing songs, kids can learn new words in a fun way and learn how to pronounce them as well.

4. Emotional Regulation and Expression

Listening to music can help to cheer up or even calm your kids down during stressful situations. In addition, music can help your child feel less alone with their emotions and experiences as they relate to the lyrics in songs and learn different ways to describe their feelings.^[5][6]

Furthermore, encouraging your kids to pick up songwriting as a skill allows them another avenue to express their feelings. It will give your child an outlet for them to process their emotions instead of keeping them in. This also allows them to gain a deeper understanding of their feelings and it will help them better manage their emotions in the long run.

5. Discipline and Patience

Learning music or musical instruments requires discipline and patience as it requires consistent practice. When your kids are learning about music or to play musical instruments, it teaches them the importance of discipline and following through with set goals. With this also comes the added perk of instilling confidence in them as they know that they can overcome any challenges as long as they put their mind to it.

6. Confidence Building

By getting your child to learn an instrument, it can help to create a sense of accomplishment when they first master how to play it and move on to more advanced skill levels.^[4][7] By getting your child to perform in front of others, it will allow them to build confidence in themselves and help them learn how to manage stress and overcome things such as stage fright. In addition, by gathering constructive feedback from others after their performances, it will also help your child to be more open to feedback and help to nurture them so that they can use such comments to motivate themselves to do better instead of letting it get them down. This in turn will help to build your child’s self esteem and resilience in the long run which will definitely benefit their mental health.

7. Enhancing Social Skills and Sense of Belonging

Playing music with others encourages communication and cooperation as your children would need to work in a group. This activity also facilitates social skill development as they are asked to resolve conflicts. Furthermore, music brings people together, regardless of background as it allows them to find like-minded individuals to make new friends with, and it also helps them to foster a sense of belonging and community.^[4][6][7]

8. Tap Into Creativity and Find a Sense of Identity

Introducing music into the daily lives of children encourages them to embrace self-expression and experiment with their own unique approach to singing and playing music. This in turn encourages them to explore their options creatively and conjure unlimited ways to express their musical preferences. It will also help them build a sense of identity as the self-expression gained from learning music can be applied to other areas in their life such as how they dress or who they make friends with through their love for certain types of music.^[5]

“I could also use music to sow much bigger seeds of belief in my children’s minds”

— Rachel Davis, NLP Practitioner, 2019

In Summary

Involving your child in music offers more than just a fun hobby. As explored in this article, music supports their brain, body, and emotional growth. It also teaches discipline, boosts confidence, fosters creativity, and builds social connections; laying the foundation for lifelong growth and success.

Watch this TED Talk by Rachel Davis on how you can inspire self-confidence
and self-belief in your children through the power of music.