How Does Music Class Help Students? Key Benefits Explained
Last Updated on 23 October, 2024
As a music school owner, your business has something valuable and impactful to offer. From classical to contemporary, music education has an incredible range of benefits for students of all ages. Learning to play an instrument and read music can increase self-esteem, combat cognitive decline, and even reduce your chances of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the specific benefits of music education. We’ll also explore how you can make classes more accessible to students with efficient business management software.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Music and the brain
- Music and a balanced education
- Benefits outside of the classroom
- WellnessLiving makes it easier for students to reap the benefits of music classes
Music and the brain
The benefits of music education on the brain cannot be understated. The best part is students of all ages can reap the rewards of learning to play an instrument, read music, or master a new piece. Here are some of the most significant ways in which music classes affect the brain.
How music improves concentration
The average attention span has shrunk from 2.5 minutes to just 47 seconds since the early 2000s, making it harder to focus on and complete many tasks. With daily overstimulation and easy access to mobile devices and social media, it’s easy to see why. Therefore, an opportunity to improve concentration is something that most people, especially younger students, need.
How does music class help students with concentration? According to Dr. Masha Godkin, a professor at National University, musical training activates both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously. This activation strengthens communication between the two sides and supports concentration in children and adults.
Additionally, the discipline required to learn an instrument or practice a piece of music sharpens the ability to concentrate on tasks for extended periods. This improved concentration betters academic performance, as students who take music lessons often have longer attention spans and therefore, stronger study habits.
Music can accelerate brain development
When we think of music lessons, images of students practicing popular classical music at the piano often come to mind. However, other aspects of music education such as performing music with lyrics and dancing also have incredible benefits.
Music education plays a crucial role in brain development in the following ways:
- For young children, music with lyrics can help with pronunciation and vocabulary.
- Dancing to music enhances motor skills.
- The complex processes of playing an instrument, such as reading sheet movement and coordinating hand movements, can accelerate cognitive development.
- Performing these processes regularly can also improve overall academic performance.
Music and a balanced education
One of the most unique characteristics of music education is its ability to impact other types of learning. World history and math are prime examples. Patterns, counting, and learning about the historical context of different artists, composers, and musical genres can help students become more well-rounded.
Music’s possible impact on math skills
Studies have shown a correlation between playing instruments/listening to music and mathematical skills. Listening to music and playing an instrument are thought to be particularly helpful for students struggling with math.
How does music class help students with math? The two subjects share similar cognitive processes, such as pattern recognition, counting, understanding fractions (like quarter notes and eighth notes), and counting beats.
One school in California implemented a unique music-based math curriculum designed by San Francisco State University researchers to test this theory. They used clapping, drumming, chanting, and more to better students’ understanding of fractions.
They placed fractions at the foundation of the program since it’s known to be one of the most challenging but important concepts for elementary students to understand. A solid knowledge of fractions sets them up for success with more complex math problems in the future. The results were impressive. By the end of the program, the students in the music-based classes scored 50% higher on fraction tests compared to peers in traditional math classes. This implies that music education can have a powerful effect on math abilities.
Music class can teach students about world history
The benefits don’t stop there. Music has a rich history around the world. As a result, music classes are a powerful tool for teaching students about world history.
Throughout history, music has been a way to mark celebrations, pass stories and traditions down through the generations, and more. For example, protest songs from the 1960s give us a window into the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, while classical music offers a glimpse into the lives and times of composers like Beethoven and Mozart.
Songs of all genres reflect the cultural, political, and social contexts of the times in which they were created. By studying music, students can explore different historical periods, understand the themes of songs, and learn about the backgrounds of culturally influential artists.
Benefits outside of the classroom
Playing and listening to music provides benefits beyond the classroom too. It can help students manage stress and anxiety and even build self-confidence. The key to calming yourself down with music is finding the right beats per minute. While increasing your self-esteem is something you develop through persistently practicing your instrument.
Lowering stress and anxiety with music classes
We know that listening to music is an enjoyable pastime, but its power goes beyond that. Studies suggest that music can lower stress and anxiety.
The frequency and tempo of the music you listen to or play have different effects on your brain. For example, more upbeat music can put you in a better mood, while a slow tempo can relax the mind and muscles. According to the University of Nevada, music around 60 beats per minute helps with relaxation because it “can cause the brain to synchronize with the beat causing alpha brainwaves.” These are the types of brainwaves we produce during conscious states of relaxation. They even report that listening to music that causes delta brainwaves for at least 45 minutes can help you sleep.
In a music class, students can use music as a tool for emotional regulation, learning to manage their stress levels through playing instruments, singing, or simply listening to their favorite pieces. This promotes general mental well-being and supports personal and academic growth.
Building self-esteem through practice
Learning music is a journey of trial and error. Learning more advanced pieces or even picking up a new instrument for the first time is an excellent mental challenge. So, it’s easy to see how music classes instill students with perseverance as they practice repeatedly until they master a piece.
Music education involves a constant process of setting goals, working towards them, and achieving them. That sense of achievement after so much hard work gives students of all ages a sense of pride and a boost in confidence.
From playing a complex piece of classical music to trying to master a vocal performance, the consistent building of self-esteem encourages students to pursue challenges in music and other areas of life.
WellnessLiving makes it easier for students to reap the benefits of music classes
At WellnessLiving, we understand that as a music school owner, you want to make it easy for students to enjoy all the benefits of music education regularly.
That’s why you need a robust music school software. Our business management solution helps you operate efficiently while growing your student base.
One key feature is 24/7 online booking via The Achieve Client App. This allows students to book classes at any time, from any device. With WellnessLiving, students can even book classes directly from search and Google Maps results through Reserve With Google.
WellnessLiving also offers website widgets that can be embedded on your school’s website or Facebook page, allowing students to view schedules and book classes directly. This convenience enhances the student experience and fuels more bookings and revenue.
Once you have a strong base of regular students, you’ll need a reliable way to track student progress. Our system makes it easy to book classes while you and your staff monitor student progress and use client profiles to offer a more personalized curriculum to each student.
Additionally, WellnessLiving’s client management features make it easy for students and teachers to access student profiles, track attendance, and monitor progress. These features ensure that everyone stays informed and that the learning journey is seamless.
Ready to simplify your operations so you can attract more students and focus on providing the full benefits of music education? Book a demo of WellnessLiving today.
