Why Music Education is an Invaluable Asset for Students

Introduction: Why is Music Education Important?

Music education might be the greatest overlooked learning experience for students. Most people believe that there is hardly any use for it and that only a select few will end up using it throughout their lives. However, in today’s world, music education is as important as any other major.

But the integration of music into the curriculum has been a topic of debate for some time. Three of the most common arguments for integrating music into the curriculum are that it teaches students about rhythm, improves their language skills, and helps them develop critical thinking skills.

Having access to music education in schools is beneficial to each and every student. In fact, no matter what career path you follow, it’s valuable to have knowledge of music. That’s because as young students, we learn to interact and communicate with others through music. This includes learning how to read and write musical notes.

Students who are taught music at school are thought to be better equipped in other areas as well. In a study published in the Journal Neuroscience, researchers found that music has a profound effect on brain development. In particular, they found that music helps the areas of the brain that deal with language, math, spatial relationships, and emotions like empathy or aggression.

They also tend to be more creative and collaborative in their problem-solving skills.

Music education improves brain function by increasing blood flow through the prefrontal cortex which is used for problem-solving and decision making.

The benefits of music education do not just stop in the classroom. Music is a valuable asset that will remain with students throughout their lives and provide them with more benefits such as…

• Helping students feel more comfortable in a variety of environments
• Enhancing the emotional, intellectual, and social development of students
• Encourages the development of creativity and self-discipline

Parents are Turning to Music Education as a Necessity

Parents are turning to music education as a necessity because they want their children to have the same advantages that they had. They might not have been able to afford a college degree, but they were able to afford music lessons.

​Music education is important for students from all classes and backgrounds. Since it does not require as much time as other extracurricular activities such as soccer or dance lessons, it allows students to learn many skills from music education that will help them succeed in life.

There is a positive correlation between the amount of time students spend on music and their grades. It is not exactly clear why this happens, but it can be speculated that music education provides a unique opportunity for the improvement of cognitive abilities other than those which are tested by standard academic tests.

What Schools In Other Countries are Doing in Providing Music Education For Students

Some schools have been better than others in providing musical instruction to students.

For many students, music is a lifelong passion. But in some school districts in America, music education is not offered in the curriculum. The lack of musical instruction can lead to less variety in their work or even deter them from pursuing a career in the arts because they don’t have the skills they need to be successful.

In order to compare these successes, we should look at the countries that provide more access to musical education than others. It is always interesting to look at what countries are leading the pack when it comes to musical education and what they teach their youth.

Let’s take a look at some of these countries: Finland, France, Japan, China, and Norway.

Music education is not just for talented musicians; it is for everyone. Countries like Finland, Japan, China, and France know this and make music a part of their curriculum. They use music to teach students how to think creatively, meditate and focus better while also developing social skills.

These countries understand musical education can make students smarter; it helps with thinking creatively and expressing yourself through means other than speech.

In Finland, students from the age of five get one hour of music training a week that includes singing, playing an instrument, or studying classical dance. In addition, music is a mandatory subject in the Finnish education system from the age of 7.

The Finnish government knows that by teaching students about different musical genres they will see an improvement in their social skills, a higher probability for better literacy scores, and an increased interest in STEM subjects. For this reason, the government provides a generous amount of funding for music education.

In France, there are 1,500 state-funded schools with pre-college programs in music. Their emphasis on music education has been seen since the 19th century. As a result, France has seen a rise in musical talent as well as cultural awareness.

Japan has spent enormous resources on music education and has resulted in Japanese schools becoming some of the best in the world. Music education has been integrated into the school curriculum since the 1980s with 4200 state-funded schools with pre-college programs in music.

In China, there are 500 dedicated private schools offering a full range of subjects from kindergarten to university level. However, it is not mandatory for public schools to teach music. China too has made their schools competitive by emphasizing hand-eye coordination.

Norway has a rich tradition in music, especially folk music. The Norwegian Music Conservatory has been training musicians for over 100 years and it is one of the only conservatories that offers a specialist degree in traditional folk music outside of Scandinavia.

Music education is a way to help people experience the pleasures of music.

In America, there is more access to musical education than in other countries. Unlike many European countries where there’s a great amount of emphasis on starting students on an instrument at a young age, the majority of schools in the United States don’t offer any sort of music education until high school.

This means that only a small percentage of Americans have access to music prior to college and many of them lack adequate training in stringed instruments.

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How to get students interested in learning music

We’ve already discussed there are a lot of benefits to having music in schools, how it can improve students’ academic performance and have a positive impact on their social and emotional development.

Most of the time when students are required to learn music, they are met with three different challenges. The first is that there are not enough qualified teachers. The second is the challenge of teaching someone who either has no musical skills or has never been exposed to any form of music before. And the third is that it takes too much time for a student to become proficient in a musical instrument.

But sometimes the problem is not every student is interested in music. They say that they are not good enough or they don’t have the time.

Students need to know that they can improve their skills in music by participating in various activities, like playing in an orchestra, choir, or band. Participation and engagement are the key to improving skills in music.

In order to get high school students interested in learning music at school, teachers need to make it interesting for them.

If the classes are too structured, students will start losing interest since they feel like they’re being told what to do all the time. Instead, teachers should encourage creativity and self-expression in their classrooms so that students don’t feel bored or frustrated while learning music.

Here are some ideas music teachers can use to get more students interested in learning music:

• Music teachers can use popular songs to attract more students. Playing famous songs is often more engaging than playing classical pieces. It is also a good way to teach students how to improvise or play tunes in different styles.
• Music teachers can give students a more enjoyable experience by making them feel welcomed and valued. Increase the odds of their students wanting to return by praising the student for their strengths and give constructive criticism about what could be improved.
• Teaching the basics of music and its history to make it more interesting. Musical knowledge is not just about theory and technique skills. It is about the history and evolution of music as well.

Teachers should find common ground with the students in order to get them interested in music. They should avoid teaching as a purely academic subject, but rather use it as a pathway for creativity and self-expression.

Final Thoughts

Music is an important part of every culture and every student’s life. It develops some skills which are more important than others, but all are helpful in one way or another.

Learning music can be both challenging and rewarding. However, early exposure to music education can have a profound impact on students’ intellectual, social, and emotional development. For this reason, music should be taught in schools and extra classes and activities should be provided if students are interested in music.

The perception that one needs to be a gifted musician in order to be a successful musician is slowly fading away. With the help of music education, anyone can become a great musician with dedication and passion.

Music education has proven to be a valuable asset for students as it helps them develop skills such as those needed in the workplace. Students who have taken music lessons have been shown to be more confident, articulate, and better at problem-solving skills than those who haven’t. These are all qualities that are highly desired by employers these days.

Without a doubt, education will always play an important role in shaping the lives of students and having access to good education is vital to improving oneself.