The Value of Music The Value of Music in Educationin Education

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The Value of Music in EducationThe Value of Music in Education

"The trouble with music appreciation "The trouble with music appreciation in general is that people are taught in general is that people are taught to have too much respect for music; to have too much respect for music; they shouldthey shouldbe taught to love it instead.„be taught to love it instead.„

- Igor Stravinsky, composer- Igor Stravinsky, composer

Music’s prominent place in early education Music’s prominent place in early education is based on the value of music to children’s is based on the value of music to children’s growth and learning. The values of music growth and learning. The values of music are many and varied.  are many and varied. 

Beyond the simple pleasures associated with Beyond the simple pleasures associated with music, it is important to think about the other music, it is important to think about the other benefits music provides. Research tells us benefits music provides. Research tells us that music plays a vital role in the learning that music plays a vital role in the learning process and strengthens skills in other areas. process and strengthens skills in other areas.

Educators believe that engagement in Educators believe that engagement in music supports academic achievement. As music supports academic achievement. As early as preschool, playing music helps early as preschool, playing music helps children acquire knowledge, skills, and children acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes that influence them throughout attitudes that influence them throughout their livestheir lives

Glenn Shellenberg relates music Glenn Shellenberg relates music education to a wide range of cognitive education to a wide range of cognitive skills. Children who had participated in skills. Children who had participated in music education for one year had music education for one year had increases in general intelligence. increases in general intelligence. Schellenberg thought this increase was Schellenberg thought this increase was related to periods of focused attention, related to periods of focused attention, memorization, and the concentration memorization, and the concentration involved in listening to and making music. involved in listening to and making music.

The Value of Music –The Value of Music – Research and theory Research and theory

Music has Music has intrinsic and intrinsic and instrumental instrumental value in and of value in and of itself. Music is itself. Music is critical to critical to human human development development and to creative and to creative thought.thought.

Music can also be used to present Music can also be used to present ideas and build concepts, teach or ideas and build concepts, teach or persuade, entertain, design, plan, persuade, entertain, design, plan, beautify, and create.beautify, and create.

Music plays a valued role in creating Music plays a valued role in creating cultures and building civilizations. cultures and building civilizations. Music awakens children to folk arts Music awakens children to folk arts and their influence on their own lives and their influence on their own lives and the lives of others and the lives of others

Music is a social activity. Listening to Music is a social activity. Listening to music and singing or dancing music and singing or dancing together unites children. Individuals together unites children. Individuals come to feel a part of the community come to feel a part of the community when singing together.when singing together.

Music gives children unique opportunities to Music gives children unique opportunities to create, be fluent in their thinking and to create, be fluent in their thinking and to express their feelings and ideas freely . They express their feelings and ideas freely . They can respond in unique ways to listening or can respond in unique ways to listening or moving to music and create new songs and moving to music and create new songs and rhymes. rhymes.

Music can help in other areas of learning Music can help in other areas of learning and school activities, for example in math and school activities, for example in math – because music is mathematical (the – because music is mathematical (the rhythmic quality of music fosters children’s rhythmic quality of music fosters children’s ability to keep time and count sequences) ability to keep time and count sequences) or P.E.- children can sway, clap, dance, or or P.E.- children can sway, clap, dance, or stomp to music, gaining control over their stomp to music, gaining control over their bodies (even singing is a physical activity bodies (even singing is a physical activity that requires the ability to control muscles, that requires the ability to control muscles, vocal cords, and breathing). vocal cords, and breathing).

Music also develops the skills necessary Music also develops the skills necessary for learning to read and write.  for learning to read and write. 

Music benefits children with special needs. Music benefits children with special needs. Because music is a pleasurable, Because music is a pleasurable, nonthreatening experience, it can be used nonthreatening experience, it can be used to help a child with special needs feel more to help a child with special needs feel more comfortable within the group. comfortable within the group.

Engaging Young Children in the Engaging Young Children in the World of MusicWorld of Music

There are many ways to nurture your There are many ways to nurture your child’s love of music and encourage his or child’s love of music and encourage his or her musical talents. Acknowledge your her musical talents. Acknowledge your child’s efforts and achievements in child’s efforts and achievements in musical activities. It is as a result of these musical activities. It is as a result of these active listening and music-making active listening and music-making experiences that children develop experiences that children develop musically, advance in other skills areas, musically, advance in other skills areas, and acquire a sense of accomplishment as and acquire a sense of accomplishment as musicians.musicians.

Listening to music, moving to Listening to music, moving to rhythms, singing, and playing rhythms, singing, and playing musical games are best for musical games are best for small children and good for small children and good for

elementary students as well. elementary students as well. Have your child participate in Have your child participate in

musical activities by:musical activities by:

ListeningListening. Sing to your child, even when the child . Sing to your child, even when the child is an infant. Whenever possible, give your child a is an infant. Whenever possible, give your child a wide variety of listening experiences by including wide variety of listening experiences by including music of all styles—and be certain to encourage music of all styles—and be certain to encourage him or her to talk about the music. Acknowledge him or her to talk about the music. Acknowledge your child’s musical interests, but continue to your child’s musical interests, but continue to expand his or her repertoire of listening as well.expand his or her repertoire of listening as well.

SingingSinging. Invite your child to sing along with you. Sing . Invite your child to sing along with you. Sing favorite songs with your child while you’re getting favorite songs with your child while you’re getting ready for school, cleaning up toys, or riding in the ready for school, cleaning up toys, or riding in the car. Singing with children builds on their natural car. Singing with children builds on their natural ability for spontaneous, free-rhythm singing, ability for spontaneous, free-rhythm singing, encouraging them to sing more structured songs. encouraging them to sing more structured songs.

Moving.Moving. Notice the way  Notice the way your child responds your child responds physically to music. physically to music. Encourage your child to Encourage your child to develop his or her develop his or her spontaneous desire to spontaneous desire to move to music by move to music by being a model. Move being a model. Move your body, clap to the your body, clap to the rhythm, or create a rhythm, or create a dance that reflects the dance that reflects the feeling of the musical feeling of the musical selection. Your child selection. Your child will soon join in the fun.will soon join in the fun.

Exploring the musical sounds of instrumentsExploring the musical sounds of instruments. . Start by getting a few good quality instruments. Start by getting a few good quality instruments. Together explore the sounds the instruments Together explore the sounds the instruments can make. Regardless of your level of aptitude can make. Regardless of your level of aptitude with an instrument, just playing along with your with an instrument, just playing along with your child spurs interest and offers encouragement.child spurs interest and offers encouragement.

Attending live performancesAttending live performances. Share music . Share music that you love with your child and expand that you love with your child and expand your own range of musical experiences by your own range of musical experiences by attending programs at local festivals, art attending programs at local festivals, art centers, museums, community centers, and centers, museums, community centers, and parks. Remember to choose performances parks. Remember to choose performances that are more informal for preschoolers. that are more informal for preschoolers.