Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand Aug / Sept 2017: The Kids & Family Issue | Page 23

Kids & Education
instruction lead to better literacy skills
and reading comprehension, show
studies cited in “The Power of Music.”
CREATVITY
self-esteem and sense of belonging:
“Playing with an orchestra or singing
in a choir is a great way to make new
friends very quickly,” says Johnson.
WHAT CAN A
The benefits of learning music con-
PARENT DO?
tinue past academics: Creativity gets
With all of these benefits of learn-
a boost for musically-minded kids,
ing an instrument, from math and
too. Students who receive music in-
language skills to improved creativi-
struction are better able to think ab-
ty and sense of self, how does a par-
stractly and improvise, both of which
ent ensure their child can take
are necessary components of an
advantage of musical
active imagination, and
enrichment?
kids who study music
are also more origi-
One important
nal and flexible in
consideration
their thinking.
is that not
Students fluent in
all music
Johnson,
educa-
the Director
musical language are
tion is
of Music at
more equipped to hear
equal.
Harrow, says
How
he has ob-
slight phonetic differences
much
served how
in a second spoken
students
music relates
gain from
to creative
language.
musical
expression
instruction
and confidence
depends on
in some of his
their motiva-
students:
tion to work hard
“Sometimes quiet in-
and whether or not
dividuals who hardly speak
they feel successful during
are extraordinary instrumental-
music learning.
ists. They speak through their instru-
Both teachers Parry and
ments,” he says. “Playing a musical
Johnson said they take into
instrument can develop a child’s per-
account the developmental
sonality and self-esteem.”
aspects of music instruction
when lesson planning. But,
SOCIAL SKILLS
in the end, it’s not only up to
AND EMOTIONAL
the child and the teacher.
INTELLIGENCE
“Learning a musical instru-
Music learning doesn’t happen in a
ment is a three-way partner-
vacuum. It calls for collaboration. In
ship between the child, the
addition to building a relationship
teacher and the parents,”
with their music teachers, in-school
Johnson says. “All three need
music instruction means constant
to work cohesively and co-
cooperation and collaboration with
operatively together to en-
peers for students.
sure the child is successful
Christopher Parry, the primary mu- in their musical endeavors.”
sic teacher at KIS International School, In other words, parents can
says the learned skills of “team build-
and should provide sup-
ing, cooperation, discipline, negotia-
port, by encouraging daily
tion, and group learning” have a trans- practice — but without
formative power on students.
nagging.
Just how a child
“I have had challenging students
who have found an outlet in the learn- uses that daily practice
ing of a musical instrument, and it has time is important, too.
Absent-mindedly tick-
changed their relationships with their
ling the ivories without
teachers and their peers,” Parry says.
structure won’t cut it.
Children participating in musi-
Giving students a goal
cal groups befriend like-minded
or deadline of a perfor-
students, build an enriching so-
mance, or music level
cial life and thereby increase their
examinations, is a great motivator,
Johnson says, calling these guide-
lines “stepping stones to success.”
Besides the clear academic ben-
efits, Parry reminds parents that the
cognitive and social advantages of
music learning grow in tandem with
another benefit: Just having fun.
Learning music from a young age is
an experience that changes a per-
son’s life, not only their brain.
“All the skills are besides the fact
that you get to make music and have
fun,” Parry says.”Music can change our
students and ourselves.”
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