Music has always been a part of me no matter what. When I need a boost of happiness, music is there, if I need to find a different approach to something, music is there and when I need a solution to any problem, music is there! As a growing teen I know firsthand that some of the major concerns of young people these days center around motivation, mental health and cognition. It is my firm belief that music is a solution for these problems and challenges along with being great fun. This is the reason why I strongly advocate that music should be a mandatory part of growing up.
Memory Improvement
While I can’t recall most of the memories from my childhood, somehow, I vividly remember dancing to different genres of music when I was younger. I think music is the reason behind this. Music actually can be a powerful cognitive enhancer, particularly when it comes to memory recall. When we engage with music, whether by listening or playing an instrument, we involve multiple brain processes, including those associated with emotions, rhythm, and patterns. This engagement can lead to better recall abilities. It happens because the brain associates music with memories, creating a soundtrack to our experiences.
As an example, let us look at a study conducted by the Very Well Family organization in 2022. The experiment contained 40 children aged 10 to 13, half with musical training and half without. Through this experiment, it was concluded that the musically trained students were able to successfully finish the tasks related to memory while the untrained students had difficulty. Thus, we can see how music can be a potent device in memory recollection.
Absorbing Information
Another benefit of music is the structure and repetition, that makes it an excellent tool for absorbing and learning new information. The mnemonic effect of melodies and rhythms helps in the learning and retention of information. In fact music variations like orchestra, choirs and percussion, help students absorb information better by improving areas of the brain that may otherwise not be used. Scientists and researchers have put this to the test.
The medical journal of 2007 by Stanford University School of Medicine, showed how specifically classical music can help your brain absorb and interpret new information more easily. This information was found through several children who volunteered for their brain to be studied. The researchers also found this evidence to suggest that music can engage your brain in such a way that it trains it to absorb more information quicker than others. I am sure that anybody would have seen by now that music is a great way to assimilate new information and become more intelligent.
Mental Health and Motivation
Music has a profound impact on mental health, offering a unique form of therapy that can enhance emotional well-being. Engaging with music, whether through listening or active participation, can regulate mood and reduce stress-related outcomes. Music therapy is an evidence-based invention that uses music to achieve health and education goals by improving mental wellness and reducing anxiety. A study by the Canadian Center of Science and Education in 2019 found that college students who listened to classical music 30 minutes every day for two months significantly lowered their anxiety levels by 75%.
Music can also be a great tool for motivation. The rhythm and melodies of music can stimulate the release of dopamine, a hormone associated with pleasure and reward, which boosts our mood and encourages us to take action. Whether it’s the upbeat tempo of a pop song that gets us moving, or the inspiring lyrics of an uplifting and powerful song, music has the ability to energize and motivate us. It can serve as a soundtrack to our aspirations, pushing us to work harder during a workout, focus more intently while studying, or persevere through a challenging scenario. In summary, music not only helps boost emotional well-being, it also stimulates us to achieve our goals with enthusiasm and a lot of positive energy.
In conclusion, integrating music into the fabric of education and daily life is essential for the holistic development of children. Music is not merely an art form but a powerful educational tool that allows children to learn to express themselves creatively, improve their memory, and mental health. Therefore, I strongly believe that making music a mandatory part of growing up is not just beneficial, but vital for nurturing empathetic and intelligent individuals who can contribute positively to society.
Writer : Saisha Sharma
Grade : 7 (Year 2024)
Place : Melbourne, Australia
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