Music Education Pays Big Dividends

An unusual school year has drawn to a close in Coachella Valley, but the benefits of time spent in music education continue to shine. June 21st marks the 38th annual celebration of Make Music Day; it’s a global celebration of music’s expression of self and culture, and a wonderful time to learn more about the ways that studying, playing, and listening to melodies can positively impact kids.

While we know that learning about strains has the potential to foster passion and talent in inspired kids, it may surprise you to learn that the list of non-musical benefits of music education is long. Academically, mentally, and socially, children are poised for developmental gains when notes and songs are a part of their curriculum at school or at home.

When it comes to classroom learning, good cognitive function allows children to think clearly, remember effectively, and perform well. As science studies music benefits, results have shown that the mental exercise offered by songs and instruments encourages the development of cognitive function, including a boost in spatial-temporal reasoning ability. That boost in brain power correlates with improved scores in English, math, history, and science. Their musical pursuits are also associated with improvements to planning ability and perseverance, traits which are often attributed to highly successful people.

Of course, improved academic outcomes aren’t all music education has to offer; it also helps children to develop valuable social skills, like empathy and self-esteem. Studying and playing instruments can also play a role in helping kids manage their mental health, including the reduction of aggressive behavior in kids with behavioral problems and an improved ability to regulate emotions, including anxiety. In fact, simply listening to songs and melodies of a child’s choosing is correlated with a greater overall sense of happiness with their lives.

Though mighty, these are but a few of the science-backed benefits of music education. The following visual graphic details 17 studies linking music education to positive non-musical outcomes in kids, and it’s definitely worth a look.