Albert Einstein, famed physicist who developed the theory of relativity laying the foundations for modern quantum theory was a big lover of the violin. It has been reported that the violin inspired him as he developed his elegant theories in science (Waldrop).
Musical instrument aids in better brain functioning, what is considered transferable mediums to better academic performance.
The premise is that learning to read music notes and learning to play an instrument increases your child chances of achieving aptitude and agency.
Practicing a musical instrument in childhood enhances verbal ability and nonverbal reasoning according to a study done by plos.org, a journal dedicated to world health. The study also shows that children with approximately 5 years of instrument music training outperformed their counterparts in auditory discrimination abilities and fine motor skills.
Music stimulates cognitive development according to the study, “many correlations studies have been used to suggest that transfer may occur from music training to other domains”. Music enhancement to the brain functions is measured in two ways here, near transfer and far transfer.
Near transfer is more closely related to music as in transfer occurs when children significantly improve in tonal and rhythmic auditory discrimination abilities than untrained musical children.
Far transfer on the other hand, according to several studies find that there is some correlation between music studies and spatial outcomes. As well as, music study is also linked to verbal skills, mathematical and IQ performances (Forgeard, 2).
In music, both reading notes and playing an instrument has many benefits in enhancing cognitive learning in children. Some believe that spatial reasoning (which depends on perception skills that note observantly slight differences) is “music training because music notation itself is spatial since specific pitches are indicated by their particular position on a series of lines and spaces”.
Music, has also been linked to verbal skills as reading and music require reading from left to right symbols that represent, “sound pitch harmony, melody and time rhythm, meter; as well as temporal order of rapid changing acoustic sounds”.
Furthermore, according to Green raising the question in her article, Should I Encourage My Child to Learn a Musical Instrument?, and concluding thatmusic helps children to express their creativity and themselves, music enhances time management skills and increases confidence.
Another positive benefit to enhance a child learning music is, music is about his or her choice of interest. In other word, let the child pick his or her choice of intrament: violin, trumpet, guitar, drum, banjo, piano or etc.
Also be sure to explore the list of unusual World instruments here: https://artsandculture.google.com/theme/10-unusual-musical-instruments-from-around-the-world/-gJiyqdl_D_BIQ?hl=en.
Keep Learning click here to take a lesson on13 Super Effective Ways to Motivate Your Child to Practice Music. See topics below: https://takelessons.com/blog/motivate-your-child-to-practice-music-z15.
1). Treat Music Like a Different Subject
2). Put Your Child in Control
3). Help Your Child Understand the Gift of Music
4). Don’t Make Practice an Obligation
5). Plan Performances
6). Let Your Child Choose
7). Be Their Cheerleader
8). Help Them Engage With Music
9). Create Challenges
10). Celebrate ALL Accomplishments
11). Let Them Play Music They Like
12). Make Practice Fun
13). Find the Right Teacher
Works Cited Page
13 Super Effective Ways to Motivate Your Child to Practice Music. Takelessons.com/blog.
Apr. 15, 2016. https://takelessons.com/blog/motivate-your-child-to-practice-music-z15.
Forgeard, Marie., et.al. Practicing a Musical Instrument in Childhood is Associated with Enhanced Verbal Ability and Nonverbal Reasoning. PloS ONE 2008. 3 (10).
https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/4553287/2570220.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Green, Sabina. Should I Encourage My Child to Learn a Musical Instrument? Deepinmummymatters.com. Oct. 17.
Waldrop, Mitch. Inside Einstein’s Love Affair With ‘Lina’—His Cherished Violin. NationalGeographic.com. Feb. 3, 2017. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/einstein-genius-violin-music physics-science
