Music has the power to lift the spirit and nourish the soul, and when it's you that's playing it, all kinds of mental and physical benefits can be enjoyed. No surprise then that it's something parents encourage their children to take up an instrument, with over 500,000 Australian kids currently learning how to play one of the many available.
At What Age Should A Child Play An Instrument?
Before the age of 4, a typical child's interpersonal skills and brain function are not yet developed enough to play an instrument, so any time after this is a good time. This is the point at which many kids are able to comprehend music theory and have the coordination required to play competently. As such, music should feature prominently in any parenting plan.
Why Are Musical Instruments Important For Kids?
There have been a number of widely-read studies that show that playing and listening to music can make you smarter, with child psychology experts telling us that the stimulation provided works out the brain, creating new neural connections as it does. The benefits can be enjoyed irrespective of age, too, as music is something of a universal language that everyone understands.
It’s also been shown that while listening to music can be very advantageous, playing it yourself as a child offers an even greater boost to cognitive function. Whether playing a triangle as a baby or playing Moonlight Sonata as a teenager, the benefits to the mind and mood are one and the same. It’s only the player that has really changed.
It’s the action of creating music in whatever form it comes. It offers a cathartic experience during which the player can get a dopamine rush that instils a love for the pastime. It’s what makes the playing of music so addictive - but in a way that has no obvious downsides.
The Developmental Benefits Of Playing Music
Online education courses in child development teach us that playing music offers much to nurture cognitive growth, with the following benefits being enjoyed:
- Overall brain development is accelerated - playing music takes a good deal of brainpower to achieve, so it can't help but develop the right hemisphere of the brain that deals with creativity.
- Perseverance and patience are instilled - practice, practice and practice again - that’s how kids get better at music, and it teaches both patience and perseverance skills.
- Hand-to-eye coordination is improved - fine motor skills get a good workout no matter what instrument is being played.
- Sensory development is supported - music is something that can be felt, with pitch, volume, tone, speed, and more needing to be considered.
The instrument being played will depend on the age of your child. For very young toddlers, you’re likely to be limited to playing percussion instruments such as tambourines, triangles, and maracas. The child in question will not feel limited, however, and will get all the benefits they’re able to at their stage of life.
In fact, as any good parenting course will show you, solutions can be found around the home if you don't have access to musical instruments for toddlers. A couple of saucepans and wooden spoons will do just as well for kids this young, so you can start them early and get them accustomed to getting involved before they even reach preschool.
Enhance Your Parenting Skills With Short Courses Online
Music is something that most people simply can't do without, so it’s not surprising that it can be so beneficial in the development of children. As a parent, it can be tough to ensure that every part of your child’s development is taken care of, but the good news is that short courses online from OCA can help if you need help with parental guidance.
Our online studying options are video-based for easy digestion and modular, meaning that you enjoy a module in any spare 10 minutes you get during the day. They’re CPD Endorsed, too, with courses like our Supporting Development in Children also coming with 1-to-1 mentoring available for every student, so you’ll always get help if you get stuck.
If you’d like to know more about what it’s like to learn with us, take a look at our Student Study Demo - or browse our website www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au where you’ll see that we have a myriad of courses that cover more than 20 different professional sectors. We even have flexible payment options to spread the cost, so there’s literally nothing stopping your development.
However, if you’d prefer to speak to a member of our team about your precise learning requirements, we’re more than happy to oblige. All you need to do is call us on 1300 611 404 today or drop us an email at [email protected], and we’ll get back to you as soon as we possibly can.
