How Rewarding is Music Education?

Written by Sophie Zhang
Edited by Riley Worth
Cover Image by Elena Chen

Many students may have experienced some kind of musical education from early on in their lives, whether it be by singing, dancing, or learning a musical instrument. At Havergal, students regularly come together in the mornings, during class, or after school to practise playing music. It may be demanding at times, but it is the arduous yet enlightening nature of music education that makes it so important in a student’s development. The hours and hours spent on these instruments or on singing are a critical part of both social and cognitive learning in students, especially from a younger age. Every note played has the potential to be part of a gigantic step in a student’s maturation, regardless of the major they choose to pursue in the future.

Music plays an important role in cognitive development that cannot be taught by other forms of learning such as reading or mathematics. Regularly activating the auditory cortex, which is the area dealing with memory for music, is vital in day to day life. For example, it can strengthen the ability to process sound. Learning music in school also allows students the opportunity to enhance their memorization skills. By using this part of the brain, a stronger ability to memorize can be applied in other areas such as academics and sports. Furthermore, coordination is developed by learning music in school: many instruments require the control of muscles in the fingers and the ability to combine that with reading the music to produce sound. It uses many of the brain’s abilities at once, including reading, listening, and movement, making for an excellent form of education for all ages.

Beyond the cognitive impact, learning music in school also benefits the social development of students, providing them with skills that are essential in the future. Coordinating different multiple students’ instruments requires increased levels of teamwork and collaboration, teaching students to listen attentively and to value different ideas and perspectives. A study by the University of Toronto in 2018 found that young children who were exposed to singing and moving to a musical beat were more likely to empathize and help their parents. This applies in school as well because increased exposure to music joins students with similar interests and offers them the opportunity for new friendships and meaningful connections to be formed. Both playing and listening to music releases a chemical called oxytocin in the brain, which is known to form positive connections between humans. The countless hours spent producing music with classmates undoubtedly do not go to waste.

At Havergal, music is often a form of connection within the community. Whether it’s in band, orchestra, or choir, music provides students with a sense of belonging while teaching important life skills. This opportunity to work together towards a common goal makes a musical community both engaging and fun.

The rewards of learning music at school go even further: music-playing teaches students important life skills that are applicable in all areas of life. It takes regular practice to improve upon any skill, and the same applies to music. Teaching music in school is a way for students to learn the meaning of hard work. Music is often difficult and tiring, but striving to overcome such difficulties makes for an improved work ethic. This strengthened capability stays with students as they face more difficult challenges in the future.

Humans have used music as a way to connect with each other for thousands and thousands of years - in fact, it’s even older than language - and the implementation of music in school has preserved the aforementioned benefits. It is a journey full of discovery and expression, while uncovering new skills that are to be used for a lifetime. Exploring this fascinating world of sound in school can be rewarding in more ways than we could imagine, and its rewards are not limited to any specific group of students. We are very lucky to have access to this kind of education at Havergal, and this experience holds great importance in our lives as students.

Works Cited

Heshmat, Shahram. “How Music Brings People Together.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 30 Nov. 2021, https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/science-choice/202111/how-music-brings-people-together.

Korbey, Holly. “How Music Primes the Brain for Learning.” Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 22 Apr. 2022, https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-music-primes-brain-learning/.

Moore, Kimberly Sena. “Which Came First: Music or Language?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 20 Sept. 2012, https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/your-musical-self/201209/which-came-first-music-or-language.