Judging from responses to the last post, it looks like Anne Marie and I aren’t the only ones interested in music. Thanks for sharing your stories. Keep ‘em coming!
We recently came across an interesting report put out by The Foundation for Universal Music Literacy, called “How Music Can Dramatically Affect Your Child’s Development and Life-Time Success.”
Download it by clicking here.
What do you think? Can music really help your children’s mental development?
-Tim
I think so – at least I’ve seen it help my daughter’s emotional development, which in turn helped her mental development.
She was really struggling in learning to read – well struggling was perhaps a strong word. She didn’t pick it up as quickly as her older brother, which is hardest for mom I think.
Anyway, she really wanted to learn how to play a Christmas carol that winter, and I finally sat down with her and taught her to play “The First Noel” – melody with chords, by ear. I was surprised at how quickly she picked it up and was playing it – within 30 minutes.
That experience made her more confident in her abilities, which helped her feel more confident in learning to read. Two years later, and she still knows “The First Noel” (and many more), and she’s reading at the same level as her older brother. She skipped 2 levels of Sonlight’s LA this year to go through LA 5 with her older brother for the 2009-10 school year (they’ve always been in the same Core and Science).
Every time she feels badly about not doing as well as he in math or science, we remember how she learns music more quickly than he does. It’s a confidence booster for her – and I’m thankful for it!
~Michelle
Comment by Michelle — October 15, 2009 @ 11:05 am
Absolutely!
Lots of parents have told me that once their children started piano, they “settled down” and were able to focus better at school. My own kids tend to focus better after they have practiced their instruments too.
And I am always better after have done my own practice, haha!
One of my piano students has cerebral palsy. Her physical therapist, who didn’t know she had taken up piano, was amazed and excited by her physical progress after two weeks of lessons and asked what they were doing differently.
Comment by Karen Workman — October 20, 2009 @ 8:54 am
Who actually wrote the article? What is the Foundation for Universal Music Literature?
Comment by Rachel — October 21, 2009 @ 2:18 pm
LIstening to music, performing music on an instrument, reading music, or singing music makes you use both sides of your brain at the same time. I have heard that it is like Latin in that regard. Developmentally, this is a VERY desired characteristic.
In my years working in computer and hard science fields, I would always hire people with music listed on their resume. They were able to think about different threads of possibilities and juggle back and forth between scenarios, handle multiple problems side-by-side, and were better team members overall. Music has very mathematical roots, yet it has creative elements as well. For every music person I hired, I was never disappointed.
So yes, music can make you smarter. Children can only benefit by exposure to excellent music. Even if you never play professionally, your horizon has been widened and your ability to see and appreciate beauty is enhanced!
Comment by Melinda — October 21, 2009 @ 3:11 pm
This paper/article? has some scientific studies to back up the claim that music increases intelligence in some children. However I don’t put a lot of stock in someone that can not format their paper correctly. The abstract was in the wrong place for starters. And sources were not cited correctly.
I think this study would hold more weight if it had been ran in a more professional journal like Educational Psychology or some such.
Comment by Melody — October 21, 2009 @ 5:39 pm
While there are many physiological benefits to music therapy documented in major medical journals, the claim that music increases intelligence (The Mozart Effect) is quite honestly a stretch, and wreaks of gimmick. And music is so far above that!
Music, and all areas of study, gives us a different perspective through which to view and experience the world God gave us. That, and that alone, validates its study. Not because it makes us smarter in the ways the world would have us think are the most significant. “…Playing music can help your child get into medical school.” yikes.
Comment by Stella Watkins — October 21, 2009 @ 6:43 pm
My oldest child has a learning disability called Central Auditory Processing Disorder. When he took up the drums and learned more about music, all of his grades improved. We noticed a dramatic change in his math grades. I have no doubt that music makes a difference in helping children to learn.
Comment by Christine Hebert — October 21, 2009 @ 7:11 pm
I’m so glad I learned this information before I had children, over 18 years ago. Before my children were in school we had “music appreciation” where we would climb up on Mommy and Daddy’s bed with a recorder and a harmonica and we would all take turns just having fun with them. At 6 my children started formal music lessons, my oldest took piano through 9th grade, and also played the saxophone from 6th-12th grade. My youngest learned the recorder, and then added oboe at 4th grade. Then she added the alto recorder, and then taught herself to play the guitar. She has decided to become a music major so she started piano lessons last year as well.
Both children have been accelerated readers, excellent math students, and performed well on tests.
Then, we adopted a son who was 13 years old. He couldn’t read an entire sentence and tell you what it meant, nor did he have any math facts memorized. As soon as we could we started him on piano lessons and he took piano for two years. We knew he would never become a pianist, but I considered it necessary to help his brain to “heal” after years of neglect. He came home for homeschool in 9th grade in this condition. At the end of his junior year he completed a pre-algebra program, and at the end of his senior year he tested “no learning disabilities”. Obviously it’s not ALL because of music, there are other factors – but I do believe that music is necessary in some fashion in education, not only to have a well-rounded culturally literate education but to also have proper brain development!
Comment by Sherry — October 22, 2009 @ 4:49 am
I’m so excited to be exposed to information like this while my children are still young. I’m the mother of 2 preschoolers who love to dance and sing. We’ve been taking them to symphonies and orchestras since they were babies and try to do a lot of fun musical activities around the house. It’s encouraging to read articles like this and to read comments about what other parents’ experiences have been.
Comment by Lacinda — October 22, 2009 @ 5:43 am
My children are very musical (we made a huge investment in music during their years of K-12). The three older ones all did exceptionally well on their PSATs and SATs (and ACTs)… we had two National Merit Scholars and a Commended Scholar. SAT scores of 1520/1600, 1380/1600 and 1420/1600. The two that took the ACT got scores of 33 and 34. The youngest has yet to take these tests. He is the most natural musician of all, but lacks discipline, and I don’t expect that he will do as well, unless there is a major change in his attitude and habits.
I think it is a risky thing to say that music makes you smarter. I’m not sure that is a true claim. Musicality and intelligence are correlated, that is a proven fact, but correlation does not indicate cause and effect. It may be the other way around: being smart makes kids tend to do well in music. Or it could be a simple correlation with no cause and effect whatsoever: Musicality and intelligence tend to go together.
Certainly it can never hurt to expose your children to music. I used classical music often when my kids were very small, simply to introduce order and beauty into our environment, and to help create a sense of calm in a household where four children were born in less than six years. As children get older, Bach and Mozart make an excellent background for study. Give them music lessons and see how they do. But don’t depend on music to make a child smart if he is not smart… in case of learning difficulties, time may be better spent on academics than on practicing, especially if the music is an additional struggle.
Conversely, do not despair if your child is tone deaf and has no rhythm. I know some very intelligent people who are tone deaf.
Comment by Ruth — October 22, 2009 @ 8:35 am
Music can be an asset to anyones life whether they desire to learn an instrument for personal enjoyment or for professional purposes.
I am a musician and have been involved in music all of my life (since pre-school through church and playing the piano by ear). I always enjoyed practicing and playing – my parents would request that I practice outside on the porch but a few years later they were sending me to Europe and attending Columbus Symphony concerts of which I was a part. I am a classically trained violinist (35+ years of experience); a saxophonist; bassoonist; pianist/keyboardist; singer/songwriter/producer; studio owner/private violin/piano teacher (Musical Legacy- Sound Music Education for L.I.F.E. (Leadership, Integrity, Faithfulness, and Excellence); and coordinator of the young musician’s ministry at my church and praise and worship team member.
I have used the principles learned in music in school (high school, undergraduate, gradute (x2) (seminary and non-seminary), medical school, and as an Air Force Officer. I am currently a part of the http://www.berkleemusic.com online music learning environment that helps me stay on the cutting edge of technology while liberating the gifts and talents in my student that would otherwise remain in bondage because noone knows how to develop their songwriting/creativity gifts that lie in a realm outside of performance or teaching. I also have the privilege of helping to keep the hymns alive in the midst of a very contemporary worship environment.
I can not say enough about the benefits of music.
Thanks for asking the question.
Comment by Erien — October 22, 2009 @ 12:22 pm
I wholeheartedly concur with these expressions of the benefits of music.
I have had a long career in music first as a trumpet player and now as a professional opera singer and concert performer. As evidence to the relationship of music to Math and Science in my life, I am also a Chartered Accountant, the Canadian equivalent of a CPA in the US. Prior to obtaining a Bachelor of Music Performance degree I completed a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and then went on to acquire a professional accounting designation.
We as homeschooling parents have made music a huge part of our children’s educational experience. We sing, study piano, violin and guitar and love to listen to all sorts of music. We enjoy going to musical theater, opera, choir concerts, Christian concerts and the orchestra; music is such a rich world. It’s not only brain expanding but it is tons of fun!
Music provides an amazing language to worship God. It is the combination of body, soul and mind pouring out praise to the Creator. It is such a pleasure and a privilege to sing a song of praise. I want my children to experience that all of their lives. No one can take that away!
Blessing,
Mic (father of 4)
Comment by Mic — October 22, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
@Michelle – What a heartwarming story! It’s amazing how much just a little confidence can do for a child! Thanks for sharing
@Rachel – The Foundation for Universal Music Literacy is a part of National Heritage Foundation, although it is currently not active. Nevertheless, the research is still valid today.
@Melody – Thanks so much for your input. To clarify, this report was not meant to be a scientific paper, just a compilation of current research on the topic of music and cognitive development for mainstream readers. However, I did do a quick search for what I could find from the Journal of Educational Psychology, and found this from one of the APA’s other publications!
http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/neu173439.pdf
@Stella – You make a great point; music has intrinsic value as a gift from God, and stands on its own. Even without the other “side benefits,” it’s something we should pursue. We are simply exploring music from a variety of angles, and this is just one of them. We will be talking about the spiritual aspects as well!
@Sherry – Wow, the story of your adopted son is very inspiring … thanks for sharing that!
Comment by Anne Marie — October 22, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
My daughter has been taking Irish Dance since she was four. She started taking piano last fall, when she was six. Dancers are evaluated twice a year on things like knowledge of steps, timing, etc. After only one month of piano, my daughter’s timing “grade” went from Good (two years of good) to Outstanding. It is hard for me to say whether her other studies have improved, since she’s always been a good student. But I do believe that learning dance steps or how to play a song on the piano is much like learning a foreign language and the benefits of foreign language learning are well-documented. Stimulating the brain in new and challenging ways is ALWAYS a good thing!
Comment by Meg — October 24, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
My mom just shared this site with me and I wish I had found it sooner! I am a 5th yr music teacher and just finished my Master of Education degree. My thesis paper/research project was on determining the effects of music on academic learning in early childhood. I haven’t received the final grade yet, so I don’t want to post it here until I have that, but there is a TON of research on the brain and how it develops that proves how stimulating and helpful music is. The research results from my own study were astounding as well and I hope I can share it with you soon!!!
Comment by Jordan — October 27, 2009 @ 6:12 am
Baby music and intelligence – it’s been a source of continued studies for both childcare experts and scientists alike. As parents become more invested in giving their children the tools they need for exceptional social, mental and physical development – even while still in the womb – many psychologists and scientists have become intrigued by the conjecture that listening to the right baby music can not only make your child smarter; it can even help your child become a more socially intelligent adult.
Comment by Packaging USA — November 3, 2009 @ 2:54 am
Sure, but music for its own sake is enough. Studies may show that music makes us “smarter,” but experience shows that music brings us closer to God. That is enough.
Comment by Beth — November 7, 2009 @ 5:44 pm