There are countless benefits associated with music education, from improving spatial intelligence and social skills to reducing crime rates and substance abuse among teenagers. Yet, few people realize just how important music is to society. For starters, research has shown that children in music schools have lower rates of substance abuse and increased academic achievement. Moreover, music education has numerous other benefits, too. Visit https://www.savethemusic.org/music-education-resources/ to learn more about music. Let’s take a look at these benefits and more.
Cultural relevance
The recent rise of culturally relevant teaching in music education has sparked a lively debate about the content and purpose of musical education. With a global social justice movement and an epidemic of COVID-19, this debate has gained even more steam. The book offers practical tips and examples for incorporating social justice principles into music education and demonstrates the connection between culturally responsive teaching and school and community life. However, culturally responsive teaching is not a new idea but a relatively recent development in music education.
Middleton (1990) defined the concept of appropriation and informed two study phases. First, the population was defined. This required compiling a list of musicians. The data was gathered from a catalog of audio recordings from Kenya’s National Broadcasting Corporation. Secondly, a stratification of musicians was performed to define the strata by music style and language. Once the strata were identified, the study could explore the cultural relevance of music education and its role in society.
Social relevance
Several books and articles have attempted to address the social relevance of music education. Sociologists have tried to clarify the complex relationships between social and musical phenomena in these studies. These relationships include traditions, acculturation, and mass media. Furthermore, the authors have explored the effects of social interaction on music and how people view their social roles. Finally, they have also explored how music can impact society and the development of critical consciousness.
The authors of Rose and Willis, among others, interviewed fifteen music educators to gain insight into their conceptions of musical production, reproduction, and hegemony. Using the participants’ responses, they could identify differences in their perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs. They also examined how these differences impact the music curriculum. Ultimately, the authors found that music educators can blend musical traditions while preserving their cultures.
Work ethic
In the music business, having a good work ethic is crucial. Unfortunately, many artists fail to reach their goals and fulfill their duties because they lack the commitment to their craft. However, with a good work ethic, anyone can achieve success. Learn more about how to develop your work ethic and start building it today. To become a more efficient worker, read on. Below are valuable tips for fostering a strong work ethic in music education.
First, students in music education develop a sense of teamwork and collaboration. Learning to play instruments together develops their listening skills. They must listen carefully to their peers’ tools to accurately gauge dynamics and volume levels. This collaborative aspect of music education helps students value and combine their ideas and those of others. This will benefit them as they enter the workforce. In addition, students will develop a positive work ethic, which will serve them well in any field they choose to enter after graduating from college.
Academic achievement
Academic achievement is typically measured in terms of test scores and grades. Institutions prize quantitative gains in these assessments in evaluating programs. However, music is a subject with difficulty in quantifying educational benefits, and it is often devalued as a “luxury” subject. Music programs have trouble receiving funding and must demonstrate collateral value to other academic issues and aesthetic value. These studies highlight the potential importance of studying music.
The importance of metacognitive skills in music education cannot be understated. While music educators know how to motivate students to learn, they are often unable to reflect their self-knowledge on their academic performance. Other factors affecting student achievement are poor self-confidence and motivation. Academic achievement often depends on these factors, and other psychological factors may be involved. For instance, in some studies, students do not demonstrate significant differences across grade levels. These results suggest that traditional music education does not provide adequate guiding opportunities for students.
Development of fine motor skills
Parents must support the development of children’s fine motor skills in music education activities. Toddlers often begin moving their entire bodies at once and will need plenty of practice. Parents should encourage their children to use their hands and fingers in age-appropriate ways by providing them with toys and safe scissors. Parents should also engage in age-appropriate activities around the home to build children’s fine motor skills. Similarly, manipulative play activities help children learn to hold a crayon or coloring pen.
One of the best ways to support children’s development is through the teaching of fingerplays. Unlike traditional games, fingerplays help children develop the necessary motor skills by isolating and moving individual fingers. The most critical fingers are the thumb, pointer, and pinky. Parents can use books or musical recordings to encourage the development of these skills. Some resources, such as the Wee Sing Children’s Songs and Fingerplays by Pamela Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp, are available on iTunes.
Self-esteem
Research has shown that self-esteem and the relevance of music education are related and are associated with better psychological well-being. Ultimately, these two components contribute to an individual’s psychological well-being and academic performance. Finally, this study suggests that the benefits of music education for children should be incorporated into the school curriculum. As such, educational institutions must address both of these issues. The following sections provide an overview of these findings.
The relationship between music learning and self-esteem is complex and multi-faceted. It appears that music education influences students’ self-esteem and confidence. This relationship is mediated by implicit self-esteem. However, this research is far from conclusive. However, further research is needed to fully understand both variables’ role and their effects on students’ mental well-being. To that end, this article will highlight several critical aspects of music education that positively affect students.
