Hobbies and sports are great outlets for young children as they learn social skills, fine motor skills, emotional skills and more. And one of the best things kids can learn is how to play a musical instrument.Parade spoke with several psychologists, and there was one prevailing benefit of learning an instrument as a kid they could all agree on, explaining why children should learn a musical instrument.
But it goes beyond that one psychological benefit of musiceducation. There are so many reasons that playing piano, guitar, joining marching band, etc. can benefit kids as they grow up and even into adulthood. This isn't to say they need to be masters at their chosen instrument. Even if there's no intent to take their skills to a professional level, there are so many cognitive benefits of playing music that come with just the act of practicing the skill.
According to the BBC, studies have shown that playing a musical instrument can be beneficial to people as they age, helping with memory, cognitive decline and more. But picking up music later in life isn't the only time you can see a positive effect. For children, these psychologists all agree that starting them down a musical path early is a huge way to positively shape their young minds.
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One of the biggest benefits of learning an instrument for kids is that it builds perseverance, psychologists say.
Dr. Heather Liebert, a psychologist with Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, tells Parade, "Regular [instrument] practice results in improved concentration and focus [and] encourages perseverance and discipline."
Dr. Amy Vigliotti—a licensed psychologist and founder at SelfWorks, a group private therapy practice in New York—concurs.
"Kids who learn instruments learn how to stay with something that's difficult," she says, adding, "They've had the experience of making mistakes, hitting a plateau and experiencing gradual growth, and they learn the life lesson that growth comes from consistent practice, not instant success."
She thinks that in an age of so much instant gratification, learning an instrument teaches valuable skills like "persistence, delayed gratification and staying with something that's hard."
Dr. Joseph Jones, a licensed psychologist, board-certified music therapist and pediatric neuropsychology fellow at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore, MD, adds that learning an instrument gives kids tangible growth markers.
"Kids are naturally working on listening, coordination and memory all at once, but what really sticks with them is seeing themselves get better over time," he explains. "That sense of 'I couldn't do this last month, and now I can' builds persistence and self-discipline in a way that feels rewarding instead of like a chore."
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3 Reasons Why Learning an Instrument as a Kid Is So Important
Music and child brain development go hand-in-hand.
"Learning an instrument leads to accelerated cognitive development as it is one of the few activities that activates many areas of the brain at once," says Dr. Liebert.
Dr. Vigliotti adds that it helps with things like "attention, impulse control, organization, synchronizing, cognitive flexibility and working memory."
2. Makes kids feel capable
Another valuable lesson is that instruments teach kids that they are accomplished and intelligent.
"One of the great gifts of learning an instrument is that it allows children to feel capable," says Dr. Liebert. "They learn that they can overcome adversity and achieve goals of all kinds."
"Adults who learned an instrument as children often show stronger auditory processing skills, such as understanding speech in noisy environments, along with better auditory working memory," says Dr. Jones.
Dr. Liebert adds, "Often, adults who learned an instrument as children are creative problem solvers in any context. They learn the value of practice, tolerate the discomfort of being a beginner and have prior experience developing competence over time."
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1. Social connection
"The benefit that really jumps out in my work with young people is the social connection it offers through making music with others in a band or orchestra, for example, or by connecting with an audience," says Dr. Jenna Rudo-Stern, a pediatric psychologist at Phoenix Children's. "Making music can give young people a powerful sense of belonging."
Dr. Liebert concurs, adding that playing an instrument "becomes a bridge for connecting with peers, mentors and community."
Dr. Max Doshay, a clinical psychologist and co-founder and CEO of KMN Psych, says that a common benefit to learning an instrument at a young age is emotional regulation through music.
"When kids play a musical instrument, they learn how to be patient and deal with anger by sitting still while frustrated," he says, adding, "They learn to have an outlet for their emotions."
3. Fine motor skills
"Many instruments take a high amount of finger dexterity, which in turn helps to grow fine motor skills," says Dr. Jones.
Dr. Doshay says that practicing music is "a good way for kids to express themselves as well as deal with stress in a positive manner."
5. Family time
"Music is also an activity that families can share," says Dr. Jones. He adds, "When I taught private instrument lessons, many of my students' parents also learned an instrument alongside their children. This provided a meaningful way for them to spend time together, encourage one another and celebrate progress together."
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Are There Any Downsides To Learning an Instrument Young?
"The negative impacts typically arise from parental pressures rather than the actual music," explains Dr. Doshay. "A child who has an overly demanding parent may associate their instrument with stress, or feelings of being perfect in order to avoid disappointment for their parents."
Dr. Vigliotti says that parents should also be cognizant of not over-scheduling their kids in music activities. "Particularly young kids, but all kids, need free play, friendships and rest," she says.
And Dr. Rudo-Stern states that parents should also make sure their kids are using proper "posture and technique that minimizes the risk of pain or injury" when playing their chosen instrument.
"We all have an innate musicality. Infants respond to rhythm and sound. Unfortunately, at some point, many of us get the message that with music, we have to do it 'right' or not at all," says Dr. Rudo-Stern. She encourages parents to focus on support rather than perfection.
"Find ways to keep it joyful and to build and maintain a spirit of exploration and learning rather than focus on performance or achieving an ideal sound," she suggests. "Most of us will not be professional musicians, and that’s OK."
She continues, adding, "Some adults hold a lot of shame from early, negative experiences with music. Those who were encouraged, however, can carry that throughout life and continue to use music to connect with others and to be playful, creative, joyful and present, in music and beyond."
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Sources:
Dr. Joseph Jones is a licensed psychologist, board-certified music therapist and pediatric neuropsychology fellow at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore, MD.Dr. Heather Liebert is a psychologist with Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.Dr. Amy Vigliotti is a licensed psychologist and founder at SelfWorks, a group private therapy practice in New York.Dr. Jenna Rudo-Stern is a pediatric psychologist at Phoenix Children's.Dr. Max Doshay is a clinical psychologist and co-founder and CEO of KMN Psych.Hence then, the article about 3 psychologists agree this is the biggest benefit of learning an instrument as a kid was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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