The education system has reached a point where money is scarce, as more and more schools each year are losing their funding. With each passing year, schools are deciding which programs are worth salvaging. It’s easy to understand why music and the arts are the first to go; science, math, literature, and physical fitness are considered far more important in today’s society. As American education is falling behind other parts of the world, it’s imperative that children continue to learn what schools have always taught. However, future generations will suffer as art and music programs are being cut from the education systems. It is crucial for children to receive a balanced education, which includes the arts and music. Without them, future generations will suffer intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially.
Speech and music share many processing systems, so it is understandable why music enhances children’s language. As young children take part in musical activities, they are enhancing their processing (Hallam). By doing so, they are improving their chances at a broader perception of language, and as such, children will more easily learn to read, and will more easily understand the concept of any language they learn. Furthermore, learning to play an instrument can be extremely crucial for a young child. Studies have shown that this act enhances the ability to remember words through enlargement of the left cranial temporal regions. As a result, children with some musical experience have proven to remember 17% more verbal information than those who did not receive any musical experiences (Hallam). As a result, these children will be able to better retain information learned in school, no matter the subject. As they are learning to read more easily, and retain 17% more information than others, these children have brighter futures within the classroom, as well as after their schooling ends. By simply taking a few musical classes, they are expanding their abilities, therefore expanding their chances at a better future.
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"The Importance of Music and Art in our Education Systems".
Art can have a similar affect on young children. As children go through art classes, they are expanding their cognitive ability, as well as their critical thinking (Lewis Brown). Art more deeply connects students to their work than any other subject. As a result, art students are more able to comprehend the world around them in different lights. Critical thinking plays an important role in many career fields for the students later in life. As a result, art can broaden a student’s horizons, for both academic purposes, as well as their chosen careers. Research has also shown that parents believed certain parts of their children’s education resulted from music and art classes, and would not have received that education otherwise (Lewis Brown). Music and art classes have also been linked to a higher IQ in children who did participate. With higher IQs, these children are receiving improved test scores. Higher tests scores not only helps children in their future careers, but can also help the school, as their standardized testing averages will increase (Lewis Brown).
Music and art also enhances the emotional aspects of students’ lives. These activities have been linked to improving students’ confidence, self-esteem, and a general sense of achievement (Hallam). Further, it has been linked to providing students with the ability to work through difficult problems with less frustration, as well as helping students with self-discipline, self-expression, and responsibility (Foran). Students, with the help of music and art, will more easily have an outlet for all of their various frustrations. This means that less students will turn to drugs, alcohol, and smoking, as they have already been provided with a healthy outlet (Foran). There have been some cases where children with anger and depression, have entered therapy with little to no hope (Foran). As music became an outlet for those children, it also became a source of happiness and joy. Those particular students were able to achieve more, both in and out of school, because music allowed them to. Students are therefore able to develop more easily a strong sense of identity, with a strong support system whenever it is needed.
Art and music can also increase physical development and wellbeing, which is directly linked to increasing a child’s emotional stability and health. Rhythmic accompaniment enhances the physical development of a student (Hallam). Learning to play instruments can help increase fine motor coordination, which can help a child in other areas of study, and areas of physical education, as well. Studies have proven that singing can help increase a child’s immune system, can improve their mood, and can also help their posture (Hallam). Finally, there are many forms of art and music which can increase the physical endurance of a child, such as dancing and taking part in band. Overall, participating in music and art can increase a child’s physical development, as well as their overall emotional stability.
Finally, participating in art and music programs can increase a child’s social development. Both art and music classes can often promote friendships with other children with similar interests. The classes can promote trust and respect towards classmates as well. Art and music will increase social cohesion, as well as better social adjustments to difficult situations, and positive attitudes, even with more difficult students.
Music and art increase the well-being of students. Not only does it increase the happiness of the child, but it helps his brain development, his language skills, his motor skills, his emotional stability, and his health. Increased brain development and language skills also mean that students will receive higher scores on standardized tests. Schools everywhere can benefit from higher average testing scores, as it often helps aid the school with additional funding. The education system is dependent on keeping all music and art programs, otherwise, future generations will suffer tremendously.
- Foran, Lucille M. “Listening to Music: Helping Children Regulate Their Emotions and Improve Learning in the Classroom”. educational HORIZONS. 2013
- Hallam, Susan. The Power of Music: Its Impact on the Intellectual, Social and Personal Development of Children and Young People. University of London, Institution of Education, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
- Lewis Brown, Laura. “The Benefits of Music Education.” PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013, from http://www.pbs.org
