Whether students who study music turn it into a career, a lifelong hobby, or just enjoy playing tunes throughout their school years, studies show that students benefit from music education in a plethora of ways. Recent studies have added to the growing list of benefits.
Dr. Nina Kraus of Northwestern University has conducted extensive research related to music education. Her findings point to connections between musicians and increased fine-motor skills, vocabulary, literacy, sound processing and memory, and reasoning skills.
While these connections hold many benefits, they can be particularly helpful to foreign language learners. As students reach adolescence, the ability to hear and replicate slight differences in the pronunciation of foreign words becomes more difficult. Exposure to the sounds through music at a young age enhances sound processing and memory skills, aiding students in making such distinctions as they grow older and ultimately enhancing their ability to learn a new language.
Brenda Hanna-Pladdy, a clinical neuropsychologist at Emory University School of Medicine, conducted a 2012 study that suggests instrumental music instruction over the course of 10 years or more can enhance cognition in old age. The number of years spent playing an instrument showed the greatest impact on cognition, but she also discovered that those who begin studying instrumental music before age nine and continue playing beyond the age of 60 showed the best results.
In addition to the findings in these studies, music can help students develop a sense of teamwork as they play in a musical group, self-discipline as they rehearse, and self-confidence as they perform. It can also serve as a form of self-expression. So, as a distance learner, how can you reap the benefits music has to offer? Here are a few suggestions:
–Register for a music course. Study music's history in music appreciation or learn the basics of rhythm, meter, pitch, scales, key signatures, and more in music theory at Ignite Christian Academy.
–Take music lessons. Find an instructor in your community and begin instrument or voice lessons at a young age. Whether it's a teacher at a local school, a professor at a local college, or a musically talented neighbor, use the resources that surround you to obtain musical instruction.
–Search for local performance opportunities. Once you start receiving instruction, find a way to share your music with others. Whether you enter a talent show or join a community ensemble, performing is a great way to reward yourself for your hard work and share the joy of music with others.
–Start your own ensemble. Seek out fellow distance learners or other community members who want company while they rehearse. If you're not sure who to ask, try posting flyers at local churches to see of anyone is interested.
–Serve the Lord. Church is an excellent place to serve both God and your congregation by putting your musical talent into practice. Talk to your church's musical coordinator or pastor to find out how you can contribute to a worship service.
How do you study music as a distance learner?