Learning music improves cognitive skills, which supports memory, attention, reading, math, and language

There is ample research and evidence on the correlation between learning music and the development of the brain. Music improves cognitive skills, which supports memory, attention, reading, math, and language. Several studies are showing that teens who study music perform better in school - they get higher grades, have improved literacy, and are more likely to graduate; however, there is little attention paid to how learning music supports the development of life skills that have become so essential for life and work in the 21st century.

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, famously said at a World Economic Forum summit, “our entire education system built over the last two hundred years is based on acquiring knowledge which today is accessed with a few clicks on the internet. Skills such as communication and collaboration, creative and critical thinking, and the ability to empathise have a premium today and will only become more important.” Music is a powerful experiential medium that is ideally suited to inculcating these skills.

Unlike a subject test, it is impossible to study music the day before a class or performance. Learning music takes time and understanding when and how much to practice teaches effective time management skills. Learning music also requires concentration and focus. Children learn to concentrate on multiple elements, enhancing their productivity and attention span.

Getting to a certain skill level can at times be frustrating, both physically and mentally. Whether an instrumentalist plays through sore fingertips or a vocalist tries to reach a certain note, it is easy to want to give up. Persevering requires discipline and patience. Children learn that mastery and progress take time and consistent effort. This discipline helps with their academics and personal commitments.

As children progress and achieve milestones, their sense of accomplishment grows, leading to increased self-assurance. Performing in front of an audience also enhances their self-esteem.

Music is a wonderful way to express oneself creatively. The way one approaches and interprets music is unique and helps mould individuality and creative thinking. It is also a fantastic way to communicate with others. Music in the classroom is always a group exercise and requires careful listening and collaboration to be able to perform in unison. These strategies eventually help with relationships at school, jobs, and other social situations.

"When we sing or create music, we use all the parts of the brain: left, right, front, and back. All these parts collaborate. That is very unique!" said Hanne Deneire, composer.

Children who go to schools that use a Montessori-type of pedagogy or follow curricula such as the IB learn music as part of their regular school. Children whose families can afford a private music education also benefit. Today, almost 1 in 4 school-going children in the world are in India. Seventy-five per cent of them attend government or low-income private schools that do not provide this opportunity. If we are to take advantage of the dividend that can result from a well-educated and capable young force that our population demographic can afford us, we must invest in the right type of education that prepares them for the 21st century. Music education can play a vital role towards this goal.

(The writer is the founder, of Enabling Leadership, views are personal)