On countless occasions, we have come up with lists of benefits of music and the various advantages of music lessons. However, as a new year is fast approaching, we thought it would be a great idea to highlight 6 of the top benefits of music lessons.
December 30th, 2019
Below why you should include “learning a new instrument” to your child’s 2020 resolutions.
1. It improves academic skills
Music and math are highly intertwined. By understanding beat, rhythm, and scales, children are learning how to divide, create fractions, and recognize patterns
2. It develops physical skills
Certain instruments, such as percussion, help children develop coordination and motor skills; they require movement of the hands, arms, and feet. String and keyboard instruments, like the violin and piano, demand different actions from your right and left hands simultaneously.
Moreover, instruments not only help develop ambidexterity, but they can also encourage children to become comfortable in naturally uncomfortable positions. Enhancing coordination and perfecting timing can prepare children for other hobbies, like dance and sports.
3. It cultivates social skills
Group classes require peer interaction and communication, which encourage teamwork. Whether a team is responsible for choosing instruments or creating a melody, students work toward a common goal.
4. It refines discipline and patience
Playing an instrument teaches kids to persevere through hours, months, and sometimes years of practice before they reach specific goals, such as performing with a band or memorizing a solo piece.
5. It boosts self-esteem
Lessons offer a forum where children can learn to accept and give constructive criticism. Turning negative feedback into positive change helps build self-confidence.
6. It introduces children to other cultures
By learning about and playing a variety of instruments, kids can discover how music plays a critical role in other cultures. For instance, bongos and timbales may introduce children to African and Cuban styles of music.
It’s important to familiarize children with other cultures at a young age because this fosters open-mindedness about worlds and traditions beyond the ones they know.
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This article is a re-post, with small modifications, of “6 Benefits of Music Lessons” an article published on parents.com.
