First and foremost, it is important to understand that music is one of the few, if not the only subject, that bridges and encompasses all other subjects! Musicians must be able to count complex rhythms (Mathematics), read notation (Language), have the skill and dexterity to play their chosen instrument (PE), understand how we hear sound (Science), understand frequencies and how to record music (Computing), discover how culture and music genres have changed over time (History and Geography). I could go on, but I think I have made my point!
There are many studies that show the significant positive correlation between playing a musical instrument and academic grades and this is largely due to the fact that playing an instrument allows children to build connections between different areas of learning within the brain. It is also an opportunity for children to rehearse what they have been learning in the classroom and put it into physical context. (Baker et al., 2023)
I started to learn Piano from the age of six and French Horn from the age of 9 and noticed that it opened different opportunities for me in my educational journey. Fundamentally, I started to notice patterns between what I was practising on the piano and lessons that I was learning in school. I remember how the concept of division just seemed to be natural to me as I was having to subconsciously subdivide notes into groups of 2 or 3. It also opened opportunities for me that I wouldn’t have received if I had not learnt an instrument. For a lot of my secondary education, I would tour different parts of the UK and Europe as a musician in orchestras. This helped me to build confidence in what I was playing but also develop social skills and learn more about the wider world. This is something that can be even more beneficial in an international school like BSY as we are constantly striving towards making children global citizens of the future.
The health benefits
Learning a musical instrument can be a huge benefit in terms of your physical and mental health. First of all, Music has a calming effect on our brains, which in turn reduces cortisol—a stress related hormone that impacts a wide variety of responses such as inflammation, blood sugar, and your body’s stress response. Lower cortisol levels counteract the effects of chronic stress, promoting lower blood pressure, proper sleep regulation and, thus, a healthier daily cycle.
In addition, studying music supports brain development, including in areas of the brain responsible for anxiety management. It has also been proven to increase levels of dopamine in the brain. This is a hormone that generates the feeling of joy and elation. (Darge, 2024)
It is important to realise that music is a method of being to express what you are feeling and experiencing without using words. As I stated at the beginning of this post, music is a universal language that transcends the borders of our language barriers. It is an emotive language that could almost be described as spiritual. I always express this in my teaching to my students that there are no mistakes when it comes to music. There are certain notes that do not feel at ‘home’ within a given key, but that does not mean they cannot be used effectively to convey an emotion or a feeling. I challenge you to listen to Elgar’s Nimrod without feeling some form of emotional connection or memory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iM5dymBBI4
The Journey of Music
It is always a pleasure to hear the testimonies of people’s travels, and this is something that I have been encountering a lot having moved to my first international school. Having spoken to colleagues, it is clear that we all have moments in our lives that we can vividly recall. I find it fascinating that our brain can use the senses to create these detailed memories and recall them. This is especially the case with the sense of smell and our sense of hearing. Quite often I can recall a specific event in my life that is based off a piece of music. I know that if I were to put on the Dire Straits album ‘Brothers in Arms’, I am instantly transported back to the time I was decorating rooms in my parents’ house. (There is something remarkably satisfying about peeling away old wallpaper in time to the tune ‘Walk of Life’!)
Music has a way of being able to rekindle fond memories like nothing else. Photos allow me to see the memory of my secondary leavers disco but ‘I Gotta Feeling’ by the ‘Black Eyed Peas’ makes me feel like I am back in that moment again – coincidental pun indented!
It is important to realise that we all have a unique relationship with music and it is something to be nourished and invested in.
Conclusion
There have been people that I have spoken to over the years who solely value the academic subjects that potentially give them better career prospects and I am not going to tell you that music is more important than any other subject. However, what I have experienced and learnt as a musician has better helped me to understand other subjects within school. It has also given me a lifelong passion for music and an instrument which I am incredibly grateful for. I have had far too many conversations with adults who say they regret never picking up an instrument when they were younger and this is something I am actively trying to change.
At the end of the day, we can build amazing buildings, we can wonder about complex mysteries of the universe, we can design amazing technology but, there will always be a place for a piece of music to listen to. Whether it is for films, video games or the radio:
Music is universal. It is timeless. It is fun!
It is for everyone.
References
Baker, D., Hallam, S. and Rogers, K. (2023) ‘Does learning to play an instrument have an impact on change in attainment from age 11 to 16?’, British Journal of Music Education, 40(3), pp. 297–310. doi:10.1017/s0265051723000116.
Darge, E. (2024) How playing an instrument improves your health & wellness, Merit School of Music. Available at: https://meritmusic.org/how-playing-an-instrument-improves-health-wellness/ (Accessed: 19 September 2024).
Elgar, E. (no date) Enigma Variations (Nimrod), YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iM5dymBBI4 (Accessed: 19 September 2024).
