More often than not, parents are being told to expose their children to classical music as early as possible. Statistics show that the majority of first time parents actually follow this advice hoping to give their children a headstart in life. Many scientists, musicians, neurologists, physicists and even ancient Chinese and Hindu scholars share this knowledge. Several studies have been made and evidence have been gathered that music is indeed a significant factor in a child’s brain development. It is not THE most essential aspect of nurturing your child’s full potential but it does play a vital role.
Studies show that classical music resembles the high frequencies of sounds that are being heard in a mother’s womb. Such music produces a calming and soothing effect in children which in effect helps them in their emotional and psychological growth. Modern brain imaging technologies such as the MRI and PET have produced compelling evidence of the positive effects of early exposure to music. These studies show that young children and adults who receive regular music lessons tend to have better learning abilities especially in the areas of math, reading and logical thinking than those who do not play any instrument. Statistics also show that students who play an instrument or listen to classical music tend to obtain higher scores in tests than those who do not. Research also showed that adults who play an instrument have the ability to retain more information for a longer period of time compared to those who do not play any instrument.
It is a known fact that parents are the best teachers a child could have. Many physicians therefore suggest that learning how to play an instrument, even at an older age could be beneficial not only to the individual playing the instrument but to everyone in his household. Parents have to keep in mind that it is not the tune that would arouse their child’s interest in music but their passion and joy while making music. Unfortunately, several parents nowadays resort to more high tech and more expensive means to educate their children such as electronic toys, computers and “educational” TV programs. Due to the stressful life that several parents lead, they ignore the fact that there is a more efficient and affordable way to nurture their child’s full potential – introducing them to music by teaching them how to play an instrument. The piano and the violin are the most widely used in playing classical music. However, violin lessons are gaining more popularity due to the instrument’s portability. Statistics show that students learn how to play the violin in a shorter period of time than learning how to play the piano. Regardless of the instrument, parents should always bear in mind that each day that passes in their child’s life is a lost opportunity in enhancing their child’s intellectual capability.
Photo credits: Jon Olave
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