At some point in life, almost everyone has been affected by music. Whether it was a song on the radio that they really connected to or a piece of classical music that someone thought was beautiful, music is everywhere and changes people every day. Music education is extremely important to the lives of students and should always be kept in the minds of lawmakers and school officials. It not only helps improve students overall education but also provides an emotional outlet and a way for students to make long lasting connections.
Modern studies are beginning to show that providing musical education to students as young as seven years old creates brain connections that will allow for improved cognitive ability later in life. This includes the ability to play an instrument or sing and ability in other subjects. In a study conducted in order to see the physical effects on the brain, “the researchers found that early-trained musicians had greater connectivity across the corpus callosum,” meaning that it was easier for the brain to send nerve impulses throughout the nervous system(“Musical…”). They concluded that at a young age, learning an instrument is much easier and has greater effects on development. The researchers stated that “training before the age of 7 years results in changes in white-matter connectivity that may serve as a solid scaffolding upon which ongoing experience can maintain a well-connected brain infrastructure into adulthood”(“Musical…”). The ability to play an instrument may result in better connections between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, resulting in a better foundation for other learning to build off of. Musical training can also provide a solid foundation for math skills that may not have been created through another stimulus.
Math can be found almost everywhere in music, such as in the relationship between notes and their frequencies and scales (“Mathematics…”). Numerous studies show “that kids who play a musical instrument can perform more complex arithmetical operations than those who do not play an instrument”(Gupta). No specific elements of musical experience were cited for having an effect on mathematical ability, but as a whole, being able to play an instrument valuable. Studies also showed that “the slow work of practice, the attention to detail and the discipline it takes to learn an instrument are also excellent preparation for the practice involved in building strong math skills”(Gupta). Although playing an instrument does not guarantee excelling in math, it certainly can help. It isn’t something that can be learned and implemented overnight, but having some form of music education as a foundation can help in learning math.
Aside from the benefits music has on education and cognitive ability, music also has a profound effect on the lives of students. In a survey conducted by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association in 2015, every response in more than 1,400 stated that the availability of music education positively affected the respondent (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association 3). Responses how each student was effected, ranging from simply loving music to as big as a way to express their feelings to others in a way that was easier to them than words. “Music has helped me gain in confidence and has opened many more opportunities for me,” claimed Allison Kane, a former student at Abington Heights. Another said, “Music has always been an essential aspect from my life, but music education has allowed me to take my
passion and turn it into skill. Simply put, music education has unlocked my potential and developed my talents” (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association 221-222). Music opens the door for many different types of people to be themselves, and without it they would not have turned out the way they did.
Music education is extremely important to many people and should always be on the minds of people who make the decisions about our education. Aside from the numerous benefits and effects it has on people’s live, many people genuinely love being able to have their passions fostered by school teachers that will encourage them. Music is part of almost everyone’s life and should never be taken for granted.
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