The importance of music in education.

Did you know that before we started speaking, we expressed ourselves through art? Before we started writing, we drew; before we started walking, we danced; and before we started speaking, we sang.

Singing and dancing are effectively the first forms of expression that arise naturally for any child, regardless of their culture, race, or religion. Music represents the first connections between parents and children, formed through lullabies or playful rhymes , and is one of the most powerful instruments we have at our disposal to communicate and demonstrate feelings .

It's no coincidence that when we're happy, we whistle, snap our fingers, or clap, and when we're sad, other types of more melancholic sounds comfort us.

Because it is so natural to human beings, it is important to explore its influence on child development to the fullest. Through music we can teach children "a world," and it is music, or in an early stage, musical expression, that makes them aware of the world around them and of themselves.

The benefits of early childhood music education are numerous and touch virtually every area of ​​our lives . Below we explore the main ones and see at what stage of life they are most evident.

Musical benefits and interests by stage of development:

THE  Babies - Babies begin to hear around 5 months of age , while still in the mother's womb. It is in the uterus that the baby develops its ability to react to sound stimuli , which is why pregnant women are advised to sing to their baby (so that the baby begins to recognize their voice) or listen to relaxing music.

The baby begins to develop an understanding of rhythm and the repetition of sounds , even when they cannot yet grasp the meaning, which allows for faster learning through memorization . Reading poetry to a baby from a young age makes speech acquisition faster and more effective, and consequently, language learning through the repetition of sounds.

THE  Preschool Age - Up to 4/5 years old , children should have musical expression training. It will still be difficult for them to learn something specific about an instrument, although they are already able to express their preferences. Usually, drums and piano are the instruments that most captivate the attention of young children.

Musical expression involves teaching the fundamentals of music, such as musical notes, rhythmic sense, and the handling of basic instruments (maracas, claves, or the triangle). It is crucial at this stage that children grasp the concept of rhythm and develop it to achieve better articulation of movements and motor coordination , which will be the basis for all other motor activities (including writing!).

THE  Early Childhood Education - Starting at 6/7 years old, with the choice of a specific instrument , the skills mentioned above are developed, plus the notion of practice and discipline . Music plays a crucial role in these two areas: the child will realize that if they don't practice, they won't be able to achieve results with a particular instrument, and that if they don't have the discipline to do so regularly, they are more likely to forget the music/musical notes. There is also learning to manage frustration, since it is rarely possible to play well the first time .

These benefits will be especially useful in an academic context , since the ability to concentrate, persist, be disciplined, and practice are essential for academic success . It is no coincidence that many of the students with the best academic performance also have musical training, as can be seen here .

It is also important to mention the more scientifically proven benefits for cognitive development , since playing an instrument or simply studying and listening to music regularly enhances a child's neurological development . It has been proven that music expands neural pathways and allows for connection between the two hemispheres of the brain.

THE  Adolescence and Adulthood – In addition to all the benefits mentioned above, which naturally accompany lifelong development, from a certain stage onwards, once basic skills are acquired, it is important to work more deeply on social skills .

Music plays a crucial role in the social integration of children and adolescents through the sense of belonging to a musical group. This could be the class group where they learn a particular instrument, the choir they are part of, or the band they start with friends later on.

By studying music together, children become more communicative and work through, even unconsciously, rules of socialization . They become more sensitive and learn to respect the rhythm, timing, and wishes of others, as well as to offer constructive criticism and listen .

The concrete option of being part of a choir is one of the most effective in developing social skills. The child feels part of a group and begins to develop their social and cultural identity, as well as learning the rules and values ​​of the society in which they are embedded.

Start thinking about your child's musical education early and make music central to their daily lives. You'll see that the day starts better when they sing together in the car or invent rhymes on the way to school/work, and ends even better when they finish with a lullaby or share a new song that makes you smile!