You have probably seen or heard about news stories that make various claims regarding the benefits of learning a musical instrument. I myself have read countless articles that document studies on the matter and elaborate on the many personal, social, physical, mental and academic benefits of music study. However, the articles typically focus on one particular area of interest, or list a small group of positive attributes in music students. My goal with this article is to list every benefit I have ever read about, or witnessed in myself and my students, that was a result of learning an instrument – specifically through private lessons.
For whom is this article primarily designed? Obviously, prospective students (and parents thereof) might be particularly interested in this information if they are on the fence about enrolling in music lessons. Similarly, current students/parents might find the information helpful if they are trying to decide whether or not to continue with lessons. However, this article is also for all the private music teachers (including myself) that experience challenging times with students that do not practice, seem completely uninterested in learning music, or just seem apathetic about life in general. We teachers truly make a difference in the lives of our students, often in ways that we cannot readily observe or define, and we need to remember that!
The items in the following list are not in order of importance. In fact, every student/parent will find some items more or less relevant to their own experience. The order is very loosely based on stages of life (young child-teen-adult-senior). As you will notice, most of the first items address young children and their development. Many of the middle items can apply to individuals of any age (especially teens and adults), while the items near the end are geared more toward older adults. Although it may appear as if some items are duplicated in the list, I believe each entry has its own separate meaning and value.
As a disclaimer, I am not asserting that the following benefits apply to every music student in every situation. Obviously, many factors, including the quality of instruction by the teacher and dedication of the student, need to be taken into consideration. However, I believe it's fair to say that, according to independent studies and observations by experts in various fields (including music teachers), in many cases learning an instrument through private lessons...
1) Accelerates overall brain development, activating almost all regions/networks of the brain
2) Contributes to language skills
3) Improves development of spatial intelligence
4) Teaches pattern recognition
5) Strengthens fine motor skills
6) Improves reading and comprehension skills
7) Fosters independent learning skills
8) Improves math skills
9) Strengthens general communication skills
10) Improves analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
11) Strengthens overall coordination
12) Sharpens concentration and ability to focus
13) Increases self-awareness
14) Develops creative thinking
15) Positively impacts overall emotional development
16) Benefits interpersonal skills and social skills in general
17) Improves auditory attention and general listening skills
18) Creates a sense of achievement
19) Sharpens attention to details, both aurally and visually
20) Builds initiative
21) Enhances critical thinking skills
22) Boosts self-esteem and confidence
23) Teaches responsibility
24) Helps organizational skills
25) Teaches accountability
26) Helps time management skills
27) Refines personal assessment skills
28) Positively impacts ability to bond with others
29) Encourages spontaneity
30) Positively impacts overall academic success, including standardized test scores
31) Teaches self-discipline
32) Promotes craftsmanship
33) Teaches how to overcome fear of failure
34) Improves attention span, possibly assisting those with A.D.D./A.D.H.D.
35) Fosters self-expression
36) Contributes to higher IQ
37) Teaches perseverance
38) Strengthens ability to process constructive criticism
39) Teaches patience
40) Improves ability to take direction from others
41) Prevents boredom that can lead to “unhealthy” activities or behavior
42) Impacts ability to interact one-on-one with an authority figure
43) Develops overall artistic sensibility
44) Enhances appreciation of all music by increasing overall understanding
45) Fosters emotional sensitivity and empathy
46) Enhances general performing abilities and may reduce feelings of self-consciousness
47) Strengthens ability to accept personal mistakes
48) Sharpens reaction skills
49) Enhances ability to recover from mistakes
50) Elevates physical and mental reaction time
51) Supplies a method for emotional self-discovery
52) Helps treat and prevent anxiety
53) Helps treat and prevent depression
54) Serves as a highly engaging distraction during difficult times
55) Provides a way to brighten the lives of others
56) Provides a healthy emotional outlet and a way to “express the inexpressible”
57) Increases overall enjoyment of life
58) Relives stress and provides a healthy, regular source of relaxation
59) Provides light exercise
60) Stimulates the brain, rewiring it and helping it to perform better
61) Improves memory
62) Provides physical feeling of joy through the release of dopamine in the brain
63) Strengthens the immune system
64) Lowers blood pressure
65) Increases blood flow to the brain
66) Helps prevent dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders
67) Enhances respiratory system (for trumpet students)
68) Elevates specific cognitive skills and the processing speed of the brain
69) Assists as a therapy for various medical disorders and injuries, even in the relief of physical pain
70) Oh yeah...helps if you want to pursue a career playing a musical instrument!
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