Harmonizing Home and School: The Impact of Music Education on Children’s Holistic Development

Music education has long been a staple in education because it provides so many benefits for children. Educators and parents aren’t aware of the helpful cognitive, social, and emotional advantages that a study of music offers.

We are all born with the instinct to listen and express ourselves with music. It is, after all, a universal language. For children, exposure to music can help them develop a life-long appreciation and benefits that cultivate holistic development.

Music education that is created through active experiences allows children not only to listen but to engage in it. They can perform, understand, and create music. A holistic approach to music education will enable children to gain skills and hone in on talent. 

One of the impacts that music education can provide is empowering children to go out into the world with creativity and confidence. Here is why music education is the key to unlocking your child’s full potential.

Primary Benefits of Music Education for Child Development

While there are numerous benefits to music education, this article will focus on three main benefits and their impact on holistic development.  Those three are:

• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Emotional Intelligence

Music education works on enhancing skills that develop physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and intellectual abilities in children to help prepare them to meet challenges. Life is full of difficulties and hardships and embracing music education in the early stages of life can provide a solid foundation for the future.

How does music education work to develop critical thinking abilities in children? You may be wondering how this is possible.

Any class focusing on making music is a gateway to developing creativity and expression. Your child becomes more socially aware, becomes conscious of moral and cultural values based on things like musical styles and lyrics, and fosters creativity, resulting in holistic child development. 

Fundamentals of music are the building blocks to providing an understanding of the language that music speaks. Consider classes that focus on music theory, where children can pick up on musical elements, dynamics, symbols, and concepts.

The musical knowledge that children learn and experience in the classroom helps to translate beats and rhythm. Learning tempo and making their own music can provide connections that require applying critical thinking skills.

Regular practice in creating music or with a music education class at an early age allows children to draw on those relevant connections between notes, pitch, chords, dynamics (volume), and the knowledge that comes from critical thinking helps them recall, process, and develop their own music in return. 
Children who practice an instrument and learn basic fingerpicking songs can quickly ascertain where to put notes and chords for improved sounds. Advanced critical thinking skills provide children with the ability to problem solve more quickly and efficiently, all while making better decisions overall.

Another aspect of holistic development in children is the holistic ability to listen. Not just to listen but to listen actively. Music education provides a massive focus on this very skill. 

Children in music education learn to experience sounds, genres, styles, languages, and even traditions by listening attentively to performances. Children’s listening is further cemented through playing a musical instrument, singing, or practicing songwriting. They can identify the sounds by what they have heard and understand music theory elements like key signatures, major and minor chords, progressions, and much more just by hearing them.

Providing children with music exposure that comes from varying sources, such as international, local, and other musical compositions, gives them insight into how music is important across cultures. They may even be able to recognize the genres more easily at an early age based on the style and area they come from by honing in on their listening skills. 
With active listening, children are more apt to follow instructions and develop solid communication abilities, which are transferable skills. They also provide the opportunity for them to become more observant of their surroundings.

Connection to music is an excellent way for children to enhance the holistic skill of emotional intelligence. Music performance, in particular, such as singing or playing an instrument, helps build that connection immediately.

Children can quickly recognize and understand emotions, thoughts, ideas, and feelings based on musical styles, genres, and dynamics. The ability to understand emotions provides them with empathy, and they respond to others’ feelings with more insight and support.

The holistic development of emotional intelligence also provides a change in children, allowing them more self-awareness and enhancing social abilities. It’s a building block for new relationships that foster positive and productive outcomes.

Emotionally intelligent children improve upon abilities like perseverance so they don’t give up on challenges, respect for others, collaboration, and integrity. These values are essential in a world full of competition, so they can build resilience to keep going.

Music Education for Holistic Development

Studying music and arts as an academic discipline for children is essential to improving emotional and social competencies. It can even be utilized across other subjects like literacy/reading, math, and language since they are part of a musical education. 

Integrating music with academics provides children the ability to practice autonomy and be more expressive and creative. Achieving your child’s full potential can be significantly aided by the services of a music education. Consider beginning that music education at home to help provide a solid foundation for holistic development.

Structured music curriculums and educational classes help deliver the necessary holistic development that children can utilize across many other situations and instances throughout their lives. Music educators who regularly conduct assessments can help children understand where to focus their learning and further develop their musical abilities.

I am Donna Elise Maurer, an experienced musician, educator, and a passionate arts enthusiast with a multifaceted background in music and a growing interest in the vibrant world of art and theatre. My journey through music, education, and writing has shaped my perspective on the arts and storytelling. You can learn more about my writing at donnamaurer.com.

2 MUSIC PROGRAMS TO TAKE NOTE OF INCLUDE

COLOURSTRINGS CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

colourstrings.ca

129 East 8th Ave – Mount Pleasant – Vancouver (between Main St & Quebec)

At Colourstrings Music, the Kodály & Colourstrings methods have revolutionized children’s music education. These approaches emphasize ear training, Solfege, sight-singing, and rhythm using age-appropriate songs, enhancing musical proficiency and academic performance. Children not only learn to understand and appreciate music deeply but also develop enhanced cognitive skills and increased confidence. Parents report remarkable improvements in their children’s focus and joy in learning.

LONG & MCQUADE

With 17 locations across British Columbia. Click here to find our lesson centre closest to you.

Music lessons for every age, level, and style. At Long & McQuade, we believe every person is capable of acquiring the skills and knowledge required to make playing a musical instrument a rewarding activity. We have a wide variety of professional instructors offering year-round music lessons, both in studio and on-line. Private lessons and a variety of group programs available.