As a young child, I was never into sports. While studies were being done about the advantages of playing on a team, I just wasn’t coordinated enough to play anything. In truth, my interests lay elsewhere, mainly in books and writing. Even today, experts tell parents to get their children involved in physical activities to keep them healthy and lower the rates of childhood obesity.
Unfortunately, I don’t believe that every child is geared to a life of sports, and while you should encourage them to get exercise in some form, forcing them to play on a team where they’re not comfortable may only add stress to their young lives. If you want to get your child involved in something beneficial, exploring a musical avenue might be a good option.
I started playing the saxophone when I was in fifth grade and have always been grateful to my parents for allowing me to get involved. Though movies have given rise to the term “band geek”, youth who become involved in music often find a world that they can both excel in and enjoy. Listed below are five key reasons why getting your child enrolled in a music program is a good idea.
1.Joining a band helps them learn the value of teamwork – One of the main ways to get your child into music is to let them join the school music program. This usually consists of them joining the band. If the school is large, there may a concert, marching, symphony, or pep band to choose from. No matter what style your child prefers, they will have to learn the value of teamwork to put on a good show. Not only will they learn to work with the others in their musical section, but with everyone else in the band as well. Teamwork skills are essential, and a child is more likely to learn and use them when the product is a well done concert or show that puts them in the spotlight.
2.Daily practice gives them discipline – To play well, your child will have to practice outside of the classroom. Knowing that they will eventually sound better will probably be a good motivator, but knowing they will have to play in front of their peers is an even better one. Allow them to set their schedule and length of time, but insist that they stick to it when learning a musical instrument. Not letting them give up and encouraging them to practice until they learn what they need to will give them a good sense of discipline that they will be able to use in other areas of their life.
3.Creativity in one area tends to bring about creativity in other areas: – Music is considered an art, and the part of the brain that latches on to it is also the part that produces pictures, writings, and many other types of creative thinking. Even if your children’s musical talent doesn’t lead to a bestselling novel or critically acclaimed painting, they’ll be exposed to different kinds of music and in turn, will learn to appreciate other forms of art. Getting your child involved in a music program will be a step towards having a well rounded student.
4.Focus development will help them in academics – For anyone who has never learned an instrument or how to read music, I can tell you that it takes a lot of focus to do both. It’s an accomplishment in itself to learn the notes and the terminology of music, but to mix that with musical techniques and actually producing sound from an instrument is a great feat. Once your child learns how to focus on the hand eye coordination needed to read music and play an instrument at the same time, chances are they’ll find that focusing on other academic areas will come a lot easier.
5.Scholarships are available and it can be a form of study – If your child finds a love of music and wants to pursue it, it can be a college major and a good career for those who have worked to hone their talent. Even if your college bound student doesn’t want to pursue it as a career, scholarships are offered for student musicians in much the same way that they’re offered for student athletes. When the time comes, have your child use this path to apply for whatever is available to help them start their college career.
These are just a few of the advantages that a child who finds a love for music can reap from a local program. With some parental encouragement and a little digging to find the right areas and instrument for your student, you can help set them on a positive path in life that will build their esteem and give them many benefits that will stay with them for years.
