Three Reasons Your Child Should Learn How to Play a Musical Instrument

What do William Shakespeare, Bob Marley, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Taylor Swift have in common? They all agree on the importance of music. Even Albert Einstein once said that if he were not a physicist, he would have been a musician:

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. … I cannot tell if I would have done any creative work of importance in music, but I do know that I get most joy in life out of my violin.”

Simply put, music makes life better. Beyond the sense of well being and happiness one gets from music, however, there are numerous other benefits to musical education that parents should be aware of.

No matter what instrument they choose, be it a guitar, a flute, a harp, a violin or a tuba, kids can reap the benefits of learning how to play music. Learning how to play an instrument as a child has numerous benefits, and listed below are three of them.

1. Musical Training Makes Kids Smarter

A study published in the journal Neurological Research in 1999 had two groups of children either study piano or use math learning software. The results were surprising: the group that studied piano scored 27% higher on math and fractions tests than the group that used the math learning software.
In an earlier study published in the journal Nature in 1996, elementary school students who were placed in music programs showed a marked improvement in their math and reading skills compared with children who did not study music at all. Students who were initially academically behind their peers and participated in the music programs improved dramatically in math, scoring ahead of their peers.

2. Music Education Promotes a Sense of Responsibility

A child will learn to set aside a certain time on a certain day or days to learn to play music. S/he will realize that in order to play a piece perfectly, constant practice and studying as well as attendance at lessons are needed. This self discipline that’s involved in learning a musical instrument will promote a sense of responsibility in your child. Caring for and maintaining a musical instrument also teaches your child to respect his/her possessions or the possessions of others (especially if the musical instrument is at first hired or loaned to you). Responsibility, discipline and perseverance are important life skills for your child to learn and to carry on to adulthood.

3. Learning How to Play an Instrument Improves Social Skills

Children make friends through music class, recitals, choir practice and then being involved in public performances. They learn how to socialize, how relate to others well, and how to become good leaders. Music also allows children a glimpse into other cultures, which widens their horizons and teaches them empathy. Becoming good at playing an instrument also boosts their self confidence.

You don’t have to restrict your kids to playing Mozart or Vivaldi in order to reap the benefits of musical training. What’s important is to gently encourage, not force, your child’s love for music and support your child’s desire to learn, whether he or she wants to learn how to play the violin, or how to play rock songs on a guitar.