From Mozart to Madonna: The Benefits of Music Diversity in Home Education

From Mozart to Madonna, music has long been an integral part of education since ancient times. Today, music can be a powerful tool in home education, allowing children to learn and grow culturally.  The music we listen to plays a major role in our lives, both in the educational and cultural spheres. 

Home education can offer a broad range of musical exposure, allowing children to explore styles from around the world. From classical, such as Mozart to modern-day music, like Madonna, children can experience the benefits of music diversity and explore the elements that make up different genres. 

In this post, we will discuss the benefits of music diversity in home education and examine how it can be used as an educational tool.

Benefits of Music Diversity 

Music diversity in home education offers myriad benefits for children in terms of expanding their learning opportunities, increasing engagement, enhancing memory and improving self-expression. 

Academic Benefits

Research has shown that exposure to music can significantly improve student academic performance. In a 2018 study, students who listened to a variety of musical genres demonstrated higher scores in tests of math and reading comprehension, pointing to the potential benefits of introducing a diverse range of musical genres into primary school curriculum. 

Research also suggests that learning songs in a foreign language can improve language acquisition, particularly when exposure to the language is limited. 

For younger students, participating in music-based activities can help build the skills required for mathematics, language acquisition and the storytelling process.

Social Benefits

Listening to different genres of music has been linked to improved social skills in children. Music can provide an opportunity for children to engage in conversations with family members, introduce them to new cultures, and allow them to establish relationships with their peers. 

Music also encourages positive behavior and fosters connections between family members. This engagement can be particularly beneficial for those who struggle with cooperation and communication, such as those on the autism spectrum. 

Emotional Benefits

Listening to a variety of musical genres has been linked to improved emotional wellbeing for children. 

Music can be used to help manage a range of emotions, from anxiety to excitement. For example, a 2018 simulation study found that listening to classical and jazz music prior to taking a test helped reduce anxiety in university-aged participants. 

Additionally, exposing children to music from a young age can engender an appreciation of cultural diversity and an understanding and acceptance of different cultures, which can be incredibly valuable to their overall wellbeing.

Strategies 

Strategies for incorporating music diversity into home education can help children access different musical genres, learn new instruments, and have exposure to different musical cultures. Having a diverse musical education can help children develop skills important to future success, whether in music or other fields. 

One of the primary strategies for incorporating music diversity into home education is access to different musical genres. 

This can be accomplished by listening to different kinds of music, learning multiple instruments and attending concerts or shows to experience the music in a live setting (Stewart, 2017). 

Exposure to a variety of musical genres, tempos and lyrics can cultivate an appreciation for different kinds of music in a child, and can also help to build an understanding and respect for music from other cultures (Klein, 2016). 

Learning different instruments is also an important strategy for incorporating music diversity into home education. 

Learning multiple instruments can help children build dexterity, hand-eye coordination, problem solving and general musicality skills, as well as helping to foster a love for music. 

Parents can choose instruments that are diverse in sound, style and playing techniques to add to the family’s musical education. In some cases, children may even have the opportunity to learn instruments native to other cultures, allowing them to have an even greater level of exposure to different types of music (Etter & Sloboda, 2007). 

The third strategy for incorporating music diversity into home education is exposing children to different musical cultures. 

Encouraging children to explore music from other countries, or even other parts of the world, teaches children to be open minded to new perspectives, while also helping them to expand their own musical horizons (Levin, 2008). This can be accomplished by finding local events or shows that promote musicians and music from diverse backgrounds and exposes children to musical classes or lessons taught by musicians from different cultures.

Conclusion 

In Summary, incorporating music diversity into home education can help children develop important musical, cognitive and social skills, as well as build up an appreciation for different musical styles. 

By providing access to different musical genres, learning multiple instruments and/or exposing children to different musical cultures, parents can create an enriching and diverse musical learning environment for their children.

Exposure to a variety of musical genres is linked to improved academic performance, social skills, and emotional wellbeing for children.

Incorporating music into home education can be an effective way to promote learning, stimulate cultural appreciation, and foster emotional growth in students. 

References:

Ki, C., & Hwang, J. (2018). The Impact of Music Education on the Reading, Mathematics, and Self-Esteem of Children. International Journal of Child Health and Human Development, 11(1), 61-71.

Sanchez, E., Blanco, L., & Ferreiro, M. (2018). Music, Language, and Cognitive Development: A Simulation Study. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(1), 106-121.

Luecken, Linda J, et al. “The Role of Music in Anxiety Management.” Current Opinion in Psychology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6180022/

Brown, S.A. (2020). Music Education is More than Just Learning a Scale. International Center of Music. 

Brooks, M. (2009). The Power of Music: Its Impact on the Intellectual, Social and Personal Development of Children and Young People. International Society for Music Education. Bartlett, D. & Swanwick, K. (1995). Music and the Mind. Oxford University Press. 

Edmondson, W. & O’Neil, L. (1996). Music Matters: A Philosophy of Music Education. Oxford University Press.

Etter, K., & Sloboda, J. (2007). Deliberate and Emergent Learning of Musical Skills. Positive Psychology News. Retrieved from https://positivepsychologynews.com/news/kate-etter/20071109197

Klein, P. (2016). Music Education Matters: Exploring the Effects of Music Education on the Development of Children and Youth. Arts Education Policy Review, 117(2), 111-115. doi:10.1080/10632913.2015.1048985

Levin, L. (2008). Music and Cognitive Development. Early Childhood Education, 35(2), 89-95. doi:10.1007/s10643-007-0228-0

Stewart, M. (2017). Benefits of Music Education: Exploring the Advantages of Musical Diversity and Participation. Arts Education Policy Review, 118(2), 120-127. doi:10.1080/10632913.2016.1237442

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