The Importance of Music
Music education in the elementary school level is a vital aspect of a successful school’s curriculum. Researchers have continually gathered evidence supporting the benefits and positive effects of music education within the school and have clearly demonstrated the need for elementary music programs.
Music education as early as pre-school is beneficial and results in increased intelligence and better study skills. Music education programs increase children cognitive development. Also, research shows that “pre-schoolers who took daily thirty minute group singing lessons and a weekly 10-15 minute private keyboard lessons scored 80 percent higher in object assembly skills than students who did not have music lessons” as reported in a 1994 study by Frances Rauscher and Gordon Shaw at the University of California, Irvine (Harvey, 1997). It is clear that music education programs dramatically stimulate a child’s learning capacity as shown in drastic increases in the scores of children who participated in music programs.
Music education programs can begin as early as pre-school and should continue for the greatest results.
When music education is sustained throughout the elementary years, children continue to learn better through the clear connections between music and other areas of study. For instance, a 1999 study presented in Neurological Research reveals that when second and third grade students were taught fractions through basic music rhythm notation they “scored a full 100% higher on fraction test than those who learned in the conventional manner.” This study shows that students who learned about the mathematical concept of fractions related their music knowledge of the relationships between eight, quarter, half and whole notes in order to fully understand the material.
Students in music programs consistently score better on tests as also exemplified in the 2001 study complied by Music Educators National Conference of the Philippines. It is obvious that when students have experience in music education in both the elementary and high school level they perform considerably better in other important subjects as well. Music education programs in the elementary school level ae necessary for the future success of students in all subject areas.
Music education programs not only increase students opportunities for success in high school, but also ensure a healthy future life style. For example, a 2006 Harris Interactive poll of high school principals showed that “schools that music programs have significantly higher graduation rates than those without programs (90.2% as compared to 72.9%).” This fact certainly proves that students who participated in music education programs are consistently more successful in completing their high school education than students not exposed to music programs. It is crucial that music education programs are maintained during the elementary level so that when students reach high school they have the greatest opportunity for success.
It is also incredibly beneficial for students to participate in music programs since they will be positively affected for the rest of their lives. It is easy to understand that music programs for children in the elementary level leads to academic success for students.
Children who are actively involve in music programs offered by schools are equipped to make better life style choices since they have a strong foundational knowledge of their abilities as well as a great self-esteem due to their well-rounded education. As educators of children, we must recognized that it is essential o teach each child as a whole, and that in order for a student to learn best, a school’s curriculum must acknowledge children’s multiple intelligences - such as musical. Music education programs must persevere so that children may continue to creatively learn about the world around them.