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Today more than ever, children and teenagers face a multitude of different pressures. Changes in childhood, family life and technology can all affect a child’s wellbeing and damage self-esteem. Exams, tests, peer pressure and social media are all too often the causes of stress, anxiety and depression - during a time of our lives which should be happy and carefree.
However, music may help defend against these debilitating health issues. Recent research suggests that learning to play a musical instrument can help children to reduce feelings of anxiety, gain a greater control of their emotions and increase attention span.
The largest study of its kind has shown a link between musical training and brain development. The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, analysed brain scans of 232 children aged 6-18. The researchers found evidence to suggest that playing music alters the behaviour-regulating and motor areas of the brain.
Previous studies had shown a correlation between the thickening and thinning of specific areas of the cerebral cortex, and mental health problems in children, such as anxiety, depression and attention deficit issues.
In this new research, music practice was found to influence the thickness of the area of the cortex associated with “executive functioning, including working memory, attentional control, as well as organisation and planning for the future.”
The study supports The Vermont Family-Based Approach, a model created by Dr. James Hudziak - Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont, and lead author of the latest research. According to Hudziak, “Music is a critical component in my model”. He has also hypothesised that a violin might be more effective than medication in helping a child with a psychological disorder.
The authors of the study wrote: “[These] statistics, when taken in the context of our present neuro-imaging results, underscore the vital importance of finding new and innovative ways to make music training more widely available to youths, beginning in childhood.”
“Music and Arts are the bedrock of educational success” says Naveed Idrees, Headteacher of Feversham Primary Academy in Bradford. With music activities becoming integral to pupils' weekly schedule - with between 3 to 8 hours per week of music classes plus the option of additional tuition - Feversham Primary Academy went from being in special measures to having its oldest pupils in the top 2% in England for progress in English and maths.
Watch this news report from the BBC to find out more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06md8jj
Research reveals strong connections between rhythm skills and pre-reading abilities in toddlers.
Music enhances fine motor skills, or the ability to use small, acute muscle movements to write, use a computer, and perform other physical tasks.
Learning to play an instrument can help children who face confidence issues.
Generally speaking, once a child is aware that they can do something well - learning to play the piano, for example - they will become more confident in other areas of their life.
Everyday listening skills are usually stronger in musically-trained children than in those without music training.
Research shows that making music changes the brain, and that these brain changes have tangible impacts on listening skills, learning and cognition.
Learning to play a musical instrument uses both parts of the brain and this in turn boosts memory power.
Participation in music at an early age can help improve a child's learning ability and memory by stimulating different patterns of brain development. Music education is also linked to higher IQ levels and the physical development of certain parts of the brain.
"Music is calming, and calm children with ADHD are better able to focus and pay more attention to what they are doing", says Mechelle Chestnut MA, a music therapist who works in the public schools in New Jersey.
“Music is an age-old way to heal, and it works exceedingly well for children with ADHD,” says Doris Jeanette, PsyD, a psychologist in Philadelphia. “Music reduces the anxiety you have in your body, and when you’re talking about kids with ADHD symptoms, all they have is anxiety.”
Music teachers believe that music can help teach patience. In today's world of instant gratification, learning to play an instrument is not something that can happen overnight. It is the daily effort of everyday practice that allows a musician to develop and progress.
This in turn instills patience. Most musicians go through years of regular practice that includes daily musical exercises and the tackling of progressively difficult musical pieces, which in turn helps them conquer the virtue of patience.
Learning to play a musical instrument gives all of us - especially children - an immense sense of achievement. Research indicates that music lessons change the course of brain development and can influence children's success in other, non-musical tasks.
Extensive research carried out in this area shows a strong correlation between children who learn to play a musical instrument and those who achieve higher academic grades.
If you or someone you know is affected by mental health issues, the following organisations may be able to help:
"Initially the caller is offered emotional support through listening and allowing them to express their feelings regarding any crisis or situation. We also provide an information service whereby from the database we can provide contacts for agencies, both statutory and voluntary, local to the caller."
Links correct as of 13th November 2018
