Increases Memory Skills
Learning an instrument teaches a child how to create, store and retrieve memories more effectively. This video from TED-ED explains how playing an instrument is like a total workout for the brain. In a hospital, this keeps a child or teen’s brain working and can distract from their pain.
Teaches Perseverance and Creates a Sense of Achievement
Learning to play an instrument takes a lot of time, patience and practice. During music lessons and music therapy, a teacher or therapist will set short term and long term goals. As the child reaches their goals, they will feel a sense of achievement and pride.
Improves Coordination
Playing an instrument requires the brain to work at advanced speeds. Reading music is converted in the brain to the physical motion of playing the instrument. Those who play instruments have improved hand eye coordination over those who do not.
earning to play an instrument can help kids grow socially and academically.
Learning to play an instrument can help kids grow socially and academically.
Improves Math Skills
Playing an instrument may seem like a creative act, but there are many parallels to math. Music and math are highly intertwined. By understanding beat, rhythm and scales, children are learning how to divide, create fractions and recognize patterns. “It seems that music wires a child’s brain to help him better understand other areas of math,” says Lynn Kleiner, founder of Music Rhapsody in Redondo Beach, CA to Parents online.
Improves Reading and Comprehension Skills
Learning and playing music requires constant reading and understanding. Children and teens need to identify a note on the page and recognize which note (pitch) to play on their instrument, how long to hold it, what finger to use and how loudly to play it. They also need to identify if the note should be played short and crisp, or smooth and connected to the next note. Learning to read and comprehend music can even help in reading and understanding literature in school classes.
Creates Responsibility
Most instruments require some kind of maintenance or upkeep. This can be anything from oiling to tuning to cleaning. Encouraging children to stay on top of regular instrument maintenance creates a level of responsibility for them. When they are responsible for something they are more likely to take care of it themselves without a parent having to remind them.