Can Music Lessons help your kids with school?

As we move into another academic year, read how music lessons can improve your child’s academic performance

Many parents believe that music and learning musical instruments can enhance children’s intelligence and academic performance. Some pregnant women even play Mozart for their unborn babies in hopes that classical music will give their children an academic edge. It turns out that learning a musical instrument indeed benefits the development of a child’s brain. Ample evidence suggests that taking music lessons at a young age can improve intelligence, cognitive and social development, and verbal communication skills.

Although it is commonly believed that learning classical music is the only way to reap these benefits, any genre of music will work as long as the child actively participates in music making.  

Let’s go through some studies that have been done and methods you can employ to reap the benefits of music for your child’s development.

Studies on Music and Intelligence

In a 2004 study led by E. Glenn Schellenberg, PhD, 144 six-year-old children were given a standardized IQ test before entering the first grade, and they were given the same test again at age seven before entering the second grade. During the time between those two tests, they were randomly split into four groups. Two were control groups; one group was given no lessons, and the other group was given drama classes. The two experimental groups were given 36 weeks of vocal or keyboard music lessons. All four groups had reliable increases in IQ as a consequence of entering school; however, the two groups that received music lessons had a far greater increase in IQ, indicating that music lessons can improve intellectual ability over a short duration like 36 weeks.

Schellenberg then asked himself, “Would the effect get bigger with more than a year of lessons?”

In 2006, Schellenberg performed a follow-up study to find out if longer periods of music lessons would generate a higher increase in IQ. The follow-up study found a dose-response association whereby the longer a child takes music lessons, the higher the increase of IQ and academic performance. On average, every month of music lessons was accompanied by one-sixth of a point of increase in IQ. According to the study, the average increase of IQ would be 7.5 points over a period of six years. Besides studying children, the follow-up study also looked at college freshmen and found that taking music lessons as a child is a significant predictor of a higher IQ in young adulthood and a history of better grades in school.

Jamming instead of reading

It is widely known that reading to or with children benefits the developing brain. However, wouldn’t it be fun if the same benefits can be produced from playing music with your children? A 2015 study by the University of Queensland has shown that informal music education at home can produce the same benefits associated with shared book-reading, but at a higher rate of efficacy.

This conclusion was drawn from data analysis generated from studying more than 3,000 children. Parents of these children were asked to replace all shared-reading activities with music activities when the children were between two and three years old. The children were then given a range of tests that measured social, emotional, and cognitive improvements two years later. The results showed that music activities were particularly linked with prosocial skills, numeracy, and attentional regulation.

Music and Speech

It is often said that music is a form of communication that transcends languages, but it is now believed that music can help children learn spoken languages. In 2008, a study titled “Musical Training Influences Linguistic Abilities in 8-Year-Old Children: More Evidence for Brain Plasticity” was conducted to determine whether musical training can improve non-musical abilities such as reading and speech.

The study began by having 32 non-musician 8-year-old children take a series of tests to determine their reading abilities and pitch discrimination abilities in relation to speech. The tests included a WISC-III intelligence test and reading tests. The children were then assigned to music or painting training for a period of six months. After six months, the children were tested again and the study found improved results in reading and speech in children that underwent musical training. Before-and-after comparison of brain wave patterns also showed that the six months of musical training had significant effects on the neural processes of the children. The results revealed a positive transfer of abilities between music and speech and highlighted the influence of musical training. Additionally, the results showed the remarkable plasticity of a child’s brain, considering a relatively short period of training had a strong impact on the organizational structure of a child’s brain.

Patience, discipline, and the value of hard-work

When it comes to craft and art, there is only one way to get really good at it: practice, practice, practice. However talented and naturally inclined your children may be, they will not progress without practice. And even with practice, it takes years to become proficient at anything. Throughout the journey, your child will learn how to be patient as results are oftentimes slow and progress is not guaranteed. There will also be days when practicing may feel like a chore, but these are good opportunities to teach discipline. It takes discipline to continue practicing in the face of activities that may seem more interesting at the time. Music, or any other craft, is a great opportunity for children to learn patience and discipline.

Children can learn the value of hard-work when they learn an instrument. Learning an instrument is an activity with tangible outcomes and it’s a great learning opportunity for children at a young age. The idea is simple: you work hard, you get results; you don’t work hard, and there’s no progress. It’s as simple as that.

Everyone needs a hobby

As you can see, the value of music for the cognitive and social development of children is very positive. Additionally, it is a great hobby to pick up as it is something that can also be done as a group. Group activities like playing music provides a great bonding opportunity for parents and their children. I find activities like these especially important considering many kids are quick to reach for the nearby iPad for entertainment these days. Why not reach for the nearby instrument instead?

You may also be wondering if the previously stated benefits apply to adults, and the good news is, many of them do. There have been just as many studies done on adults as there have been for children! 

Read more articles about music lessons at https://allegroschoolofmusic.net/category/educational/

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August Lessons are selling out FAST!

Available times and waiting lists for Onsite Lessons:

Guitar

Andrea – Wednesday and Thursday are sold out

Neal – Thursday is sold out

Tommy – Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are sold out.  Friday has two spots available

John – Tuesday , Wednesday and Thursday are sold out

Piano

Mary Ann – Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are sold out

Mary Ellen –  Sold out on all days

Masami – Tuesday two spots are available, Thursday is sold out

Dan – Monday and Tuesday are sold out

Harumi – Tuesday and Saturday are sold out.  Wednesday has four spots available.

Voice

All voice teachers are sold out.  Call for wait list and current availability.

Drums

Joshua – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are sold out.  Monday and Saturday have one spot available

Strings

Jesus – spots available on Saturday and Sunday

Pat –  Monday and Saturday are sold out, Friday has one spot, Sunday has two spots available

Melissa – Wednesday is sold out, Thursday has one spot available

Winds

Spots are available Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

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Many teachers are sold out for July.  However, we will have more openings for August Lessons!  Please give us a call for current availabilities and we can reserve your spot for August or get you on the waiting list.

Foothills: 520-670-9162   Eastside: 520-274-4977

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How onsite lessons work…

Masks are mandatory for EVERYONE in the building at all times.  

All teachers, staff, and students will be required to wear masks.  We will have lots of complimentary masks available if you forget yours.

For now, only students will be allowed in the building.  

Lobbies will be closed for now.  There will be a small amount of chairs spread out throughout the building for students.

Pickup and drop-off 

You’ll drop your student off and walk them to the school entrance.  Your teacher will escort the student to their lesson.  For pickup, your teacher will escort the student back to the front where you can meet them.

Sanitizing

All frequently touched surfaces ie: door knobs will be sanitized between every lesson.  There will be hand sanitizer and wipes in every room for students and teachers. Additionally, there will be air filtration units in every studio.

Social distancing

All lesson rooms will have the teacher and the students spaced apart 6 feet.  There will be no shared instruments.  ie: Piano rooms will be equipped with additional keyboards.

Can I keep my lessons remote?

YES. If you’d like continue to stay online, we will be offering that option.  We have been teaching remote lessons for a long time, well before Covid.  It has always been an option and will continue to be an option.

We can’t wait to see you back at the schools!

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Easy, Yummy, Summertime Dessert

Summer Fruit Tart with Cream Cheese Filling

Recipe by Vallery Lomas

3/4 cup powdered sugar, divided
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, cold
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cup mixed fresh blue fruit and red fruit (such as blueberries, raspberries, halved or quartered strawberries
1/4 cup strawberry or raspberry seedless jam

Pre Made Graham Cracker Pie Crust

Step 1. Place cream cheese, heavy cream, ½ cup powdered sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until filling is thick and smooth and very stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. (The mixture may be lumpy at first from the cold cream cheese, but it will smooth out if you continue beating.)

Step 2.  Spread cream cheese mixture evenly in tart crust. Top with fruit.

Step 3.  Place jam in a microwavable bowl, and microwave on high just until jam becomes more liquid (but not hot), 10 to 20 seconds. Brush jam on top of the fruit. Refrigerate tart at least 30 minutes before serving. Tart can be refrigerated up to 2 days.

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For current students only!

Join us this summer for FREE hour long Zoom classes!

Want to brush up on your skills this summer?  Stay cool and play more music!

This June and July, we’ll be offering a series of free hour long classes for our currently enrolled students.  You’ll receive the schedule in your emails soon.

It’s easy to participate!  Just log in to the Zoom links when it’s time for the class.  No sign up is necessary!

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 Add more lessons this summer and get 25% Off July and August!

Current students only:

25% Off July and August for any added lessons*

*currently enrolled students only.

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Important Dates

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Thanks for voting Allegro as Tucson’s Most Loved Music School!