Have you ever watched someone talk about something that they are truly passionate about? Their eyes light up, their hands flail about uncontrollably and you can almost see their heart beating out of their chest; it’s a magical thing to watch. We get like that when we talk about the importance of music education.
Children need to learn about the arts. It is a shame that society is trending towards a colossal under-appreciation of the arts in education. School after school across the US is cutting the funding that goes towards the arts. Moreover, most of the music programs that exist outside of regular schools fail to achieve a professional quality level due to the lack of credentialed requirements for music teachers.
In the US, there are no restrictions for who can teach music. Basically anyone, including amateurs, can teach music, even if they lack the credentials. This can be very detrimental for students who fall into the wrong hands. The unique relationship that a student forms with a private music teacher can make or break their future musical success. If the teacher is not adequately qualified or if the lessons lack proper structure and foundation, the student can have a bad experience and lose interest in music altogether.
More often than not, when we hear about a student who used to like music but no longer seems interested, it is not the music education they’ve lost interest in but rather the lesson experience with a poorly qualified instructor and an unstructured learning program. So this is not just about advocating for music education, but rather quality music education. It was because of this passion and vision that Superior Academy of Music (SAM) came to be.
At SAM, all of our teachers have Masters and/or Doctorate degrees in Music, and are active performers with a vast teaching experience. We also work with a unique music curriculum as part of our comprehensive program that is nationally recognized for its success.
The benefits of a quality music education extend well beyond simply gaining musical knowledge. Now that funding for the arts is being so carelessly cut, we are afraid that the next generation will lack imagination, passion and creativity; and if that happens, then that magical vision of watching someone talk about something that they are truly passionate about could become a thing of the past and that would be an absolute shame.
There are a number of reasons why the arts, specifically music education, should be taken more seriously as an important piece of the educational puzzle. When you really break it down, the benefits of music education are astounding and far-reaching. There has been a wealth of research done into the subject. The following are just a few of the benefits proven to stem from a child’s access to a quality music education…
Increased engagement and comprehension: Students who receive a quality music education exhibit an increased understanding and ability to learn in the classroom. They also engage in their lessons more often than those students without a background in music education.
Increased graduation rates and test scores: Study after study has proven that children who study music are more likely to excel in their studies, stay in school and pursue a higher education. Students who study music also score higher on standardized tests. These higher test scores apply to English, reading and mathematics alike and results have been consistent across geographic regions.
Better developed critical thinking and leadership skills: Music education develops parts of the brain that help with critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork. Since one cannot be a good leader without a comprehensive understanding of teamwork, it makes sense that music education would also lead to better leadership skills.
Develops key brain functions: Music education engages both the left and right brain and has been proven to build and strengthen connections between brain cells. As evidenced by the above mentioned benefits, music education has been shown to nourish the process of learning and enhance both academic and social skills. It has also been shown to engage the parts of the brain which are involved with memory, paying attention and making predictions.
Overall increased IQ: Music education instills a love of learning and a deeper comprehension of what you’re learning so it makes sense that students with access to a quality music education would show higher IQ results across the board.
The bottom line is this— Researchers have studied the benefits of a quality music education for decades and the results have come back consistently in favor of music education. Over and over again strong correlations have been made between music and academic achievement.
The benefits have also been proven to carry into adulthood. Music education instills in children all the components necessary for a rich and meaningful adult life. In the case of adult students, it also helps them have a creative and expressive outlet that stimulates and motivates them in a unique way. So whether you have young children or are an adult student, don’t miss out on all the benefits of a quality music education. If you’re looking for a unique musical program consisting of the best piano, guitar, voice, violin, cello and music theory lessons Miami has to offer, look no further than Superior Academy of Music! Give us a call today to learn more about the comprehensive music education program offered at our Miami Music School.
