According to a study conducted in the United States of America, schools that have dedicated music programs have around 93.9% attendance rate and 90.2% graduation rate. In comparison, schools without music education have only an 84.9% attendance rate and a 72.9% graduation rate.
The National Educational Longitudinal Study stated that high school music students had higher GPAs compared to their non-musician counterparts.
The story is not very different back home. Research conducted by DVK Vasudevan (Mysore University scholar), Dr. Ganesh Mahidahara, and Dr. Mysore Manjunath (violinist) across various schools in India stated that music education is not a priority of schools in India. Several other studies conducted to analyze the state of music in the education system of India show similar, disheartening results.
Although one of the most essential aspects of the cultural fabric of India, music is considered the least important subject in the Indian education system. Irrespective of having numerous benefits in terms of mental, spiritual, and even physical well-being, music remains a vestigial part of Indian school curriculums.
If we begin to understand the importance of music in education, we will be stunned by the results. As music and well-being go hand in hand, the benefits of including music in the school curriculum are unfathomable.
Read further to know the benefits and importance of music in education:
Singing or playing an instrument is one of the most beautiful skills. It soothes minds and brings immense joy and pleasure. Moreover, having a special skill in hand makes children more confident and happy.
Music classes provide students with a getaway to break the monotony of the day, indulge in something creative, and align their senses to face the challenges of life.
The cognitive abilities of musicians are always a cut above the rest. This is due to their higher use of neural networks while playing music.
Studies have proven that students who learn music have a stronger neural network. They have excellent motor and cognitive skills.
Playing any musical instrument requires sharp hand-eye coordination. Hence, students who play musical instruments have better hand-eye coordination than students who don't. This skill not only helps in their musical journey but also in sports, day-to-day activities, art, and many other areas of life.
Learning music involves developing an understanding of melodies, notes, and instruments. It also necessitates students to remember lyrics, notes, and every nuance related to a song. This helps in sharpening memorization skills.
Music in itself is an eternal language, and its positive impact on language development cannot be understated. Several studies have already highlighted the effects of music and linguistic development in young children.
Various components of music, such as melody perception, rhythm, synchronization, lyrics, and music experience in day-to-day life, affect myriad elements of language development in early stages, including phonological awareness, comprehension, memory, and grammar.
Musical training also works wonders for students learning a second language by inculcating an understanding of tone and the relationship between different speech segments.
Music is one of the most creative activities that stimulates every sense of a person. Children who study music have sharp, creative cells. Their intense and powerful imagination helps them not only create melodies but also in every sphere of their lives.
Sometimes, creating music requires a team effort that teaches students to work with different people. Teamwork fosters an array of positive attributes that help students throughout their lives.
The beauty of music also lies in the fact that it is not dependent on the number of people playing it. A solo singer can hum the most beautiful melodies, and a band can set a stage on fire.
Schools often put students in stressful (yet manageable) conditions to teach them how to cope with stress. Music plays a significant role in helping students manage stress.
Music soothes the brain and calms senses, creating a tranquil environment, both outside and inside the body. According to a study carried out at Stanford University, music helps stimulate alpha brainwaves. Some studies also show that music can help in inducing sleep.
It may not sound compelling, but children who are into music are better at mathematics. The credit for this proficiency goes to the control of spatial-temporal tasks by the brain.
As mentioned, students who study music in their school have better CGPs than students who don’t. Studies have proved that children who learn music graduate with higher percentages.
Students interact with their fellow minds while learning and creating music. Teamwork during music and jamming sessions helps students refine their social skills.
Music fades differences and distances and brings everyone together. It fosters interactions and helps students hone their social skills.
Music is a universal language. It cuts across boundaries, ethnicity, race, gender, age, identity, and status. Introducing children to music at an early age provides them with a window to see a world that transcends cultural differences. They grow up to appreciate and accommodate different cultures.
Music is a complicated art form. It is impossible to master it, whether vocals or instruments, in little time. It requires lots of effort, hard work, patience, and perseverance.
Regular practicing, immense dedication and devotion, patience, and hard work come into play and teach perseverance to disciples.
Practicing music every day and learning something new boosts confidence and instills a sense of achievement in students. The happiness and satisfaction that come from being able to sing or play an instrument, ideally after months of practice, patience, and hard work, is unmatched.
Achieving a goal helps students keep an optimistic and never-say-die approach toward learning, which takes them a long way in their lives.
Music education comes as a fresh gush of air amidst traditional learning, a welcoming break from classroom learning. Moreover, as children are good at accommodating diverse learning styles, music education seamlessly fits into their learning style.
It also allows them to channel their creativity and express their emotions.
Irrespective of so many benefits, the Indian education system does not include music education as a part of school curriculum. The education system gives preference to conventional streams, while music as a subject can be pursued in higher educational standards only.
For most Indian schools, music becomes an integral part through our cultural events. It is considered an extracurricular activity that is highlighted through annual functions. While it is a minor inclusion it creates interests and explores hidden talents among students.
Music positively impacts the academic, social, and personal growth of children. Its constructive effects on growing children have already been established through various studies and research. It is time that we all concede to the importance of music in the lives of young children and take measures to make music a perpetual part of their lives.
Music breeds creative, strong, accommodating, empathetic, and skillful individuals. It is important to sow the seeds from childhood and watch kids explore their keenness towards the skill. Many times, extracurricular activities open a route that eventually becomes an integral part of one's career. If a student wants to pursue music, their interests grows from what they learn in school.
