You look at the “Baby Shark” hit and wonder why it’s the most watched video on YouTube, raking in billions of views! Parents and teachers will agree that music is essential in learning and aids in developing of brain in young children.
Music Supports All Learning
A music experience for young children of listening, singing, and moving brings a serious benefit to the kids as they progress into formal learning. Music involves more than using the voice and fingers to play an instrument. Ultimately, music education taps into myriad skills sets. Different body parts coordinate when dancing to hymns. It also involves putting into use both small and large muscles, as well as the eyes and ears.
Language Development
Children, especially those between the ages of two to nine, are excited about voices, sounds, and uttering certain words. And what is a better way to help them tap into this natural ability than using music? The inborn capacities of decoding words should be reinforced and practiced, not to mention that they should be celebrated (through tunes, songs etc.). It’s not uncommon for children to learn how to say certain words just by singing certain songs. Musical training is said to develop the left side of the brain, which is known for processing language.
A Brain That Works Harder and Improved IQ
The brain of any musician certainly works harder than that of a nonmusician, and this also applies to children involved and not in music. Music training in children helps grow the neural activity. E. Glenn Schellenberg of the University of Toronto, Mississauga, did a study (as published in the Psychological Science in 2004) and discovered that giving voice and piano lessons to six year olds had increased IQ than children not exposed to music training.
In essence, music should be part and parcel of the learning process in young children. It’s a stimulating pastime and comes with an array of benefits as shown above.