Ok, so we all want to set our children up with the tools to learn, grow, and succeed from a very early age. And, we know that volumes of research (and our own logic) proves that music has so many benefits for early development, even improving a child’s IQ! It makes you think that music education should be super important to our school systems, right? Sadly, it’s not. One of the trends in public schools has been to put music and arts education programs on the chopping block due to budget cuts and funding issues. NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants, one of the leading music organizations and music education advocates, partnered with a number of big name artists, arts organizations, and sponsors like Jason Mraz, Barry Manilow, the VHI Save the Music Foundation, & the Gibson Foundation to create an informative insert for the Washington Post that contains a great amount of information to help parents, teachers, and other decision makers understand the power of music. We absolutely loved every article contained in this great piece of content and urge others interested in keeping music and arts in our schools to read and take the steps outlined in the articles to make a difference!
The insert includes a number of pieces linking music to success in academic achievement and life. As the first article states,
“Every year, more studies unveil the impact that early interaction with music has on babies, toddlers, and school age children who participate in age appropriate, sequential music education. This vast body of scientific research shows that children who have comprehensive music education as a part of their early childhood experience and in their school curriculum enjoy improved success in their studies, think creatively and critically, stay in school and go on to graduate college.”
As the document continues to outline through more good information than we can include in this post, humans are wired to respond to music – and the benefits of music to cognitive development is incredible and proven (many times over).
“According to the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the many benefits of learning to play music instruments include increased self-esteem, improved cognitive skills, and higher test scores. Research supported by NAMM explores the connections between music making and academic achievement and has found that children’s overall academic performance is higher if they participate in a rigorous music education program.”
Yet, so many schools continue to cut down on or completely eliminate music education because resources are lacking or curriculum has been narrowed to meet the demands of testing. A recent U.S. Department of Education study shows that 15 to 20 percent of middle and high school students participate in school music programs. And, in many places, the students don’t even have the option or opportunity to participate.
“Without fail, high performing schools have robust music arts programs and often low performing schools do not. Simply put, a child’s education is not complete unless it includes music education.”
The article “Tools for teaching young children about music” is especially in line with Kindermusik’s mission and values, as this covers the tools you can use during the most critical young years (the first five or so years after birth) for essential early childhood development. As we know and are further informed, “the preschool age is the period of most rapid growth in cognitive ability. Therefore, it is the best time to engage children in an active program of music education.” This is why 100,000 families choose to enroll in Kindermusik music classes with their children aged newborn to 7 each year. It also explains why schools choose to utilize Kindermusik’s music and movement-based curricula to teach language arts and English language learning! We definitely recommend you read this particular piece if you are a Kindermusik parent, educator, or even former student, as it really validates the importance of these music activities for kids in their early years.
The final must-read in this piece is the most important – and that is because it outlines the top 25 ways YOU can take action to help keep music in our kids schools. Some of our favorite ideas on how to make a difference were:
# 1. Start early: Provide your child with access to the benefits of music education from birth; sing to your baby, move to music and feel the joy of making music together. Visit your local community music school to find musical opportunities and discover what you can do to get started. (Find out how to get your children started early by finding Kindermusik classes in your area!)
#4. Get involved: Participate in school and/or district planning committees including curriculum, assessment and budget. Position music education as an important instructional tool for improved student leaning and to close the achievement gap.
#8. Form a coalition: Encourage parents and community members to become advocates for your community’s school music programs and form a local coalition.
#15. Educate your community: Turn a local performance into an ‘informance’ by placing interesting music facts inside concert programs. Hold a reception after so that community leaders can start conversations with music supporters.
#19. Reach out to TV and radio: Ask your local television and radio stations to publicly recognize local music programs throughout the year and salute “Music In Our Schools Month” in March. Follow this by providing a calendar of local musical events during March and ask your local media to dedicate them to “Music in our Schools Month.”
#22. Take it to Congress: Write a letter to your Member of Congress about the value of music education in your community and take a delegation of music students to meet with your Congressional representative at their local office. List upcoming local school music events and invite him or her to attend.
#24. Get donations: Encourage local business to support music programs with special donations for special projects that supplement core education funds from the district. Be sure that this support is not seen as a replacement for district funding of music programs.
We’re doing everything we can to ensure that every child is inspired by and developed through music from birth. We’d love to hear what you’re doing to support music education and will feature the best advocates’ efforts on our blog!
Download the PDF of NAMM’s Washington Post music education insert here.