Years ago, music education was respected as a required course in the public schools starting at elementary and running through middle school levels. Nowadays, music is not considered as important as science, mathematics, English, History, and other classes. Since music is not considered important by many schools, it is considered an outside activity where students can study privately with teachers by paying a fee for the lessons.

However, evidence suggests that children who are allowed to get at least a basic education in the arts, including music, have higher self-esteem, better memory, increased ability to express oneself, a greater ability to work with others and an understanding of teamwork, and even better academic performance. More than that, though, this type of “education” benefits adults, too, even if they don’t start until later in life. Music education is comprised of any musically related class or lesson.

Do you or your child want to take a class or private lessons with a teacher on your own? Oftentimes, elementary schools already have a music teacher who takes a class and teaches them the basics of music including music pitches, a little music history, and singing some new songs by reading notes. As the child keeps growing musically each year in school, they can decide if they want to take private or class lessons to explore music further.

Nonetheless, what should not be lost is that learning music can be fun. It can even give you the ability to learn more effectively and pick up new skills in other areas of your life, whether you’re a grown-up or a child. Let’s look a little closer just how music can help children and people of all ages, tap into abilities they may not have known they had including emotional and social benefits such as greater self-esteem and self-discipline.

Everyone has a unique learning style when it comes to music, so some may learn faster than others. It is still satisfying to learn an instrument or take voice lessons because you will notice progress in time. You mental process gets a good workout and it helps with reasoning and cognition with adults or young children.

When music students practice and develop the violin or piano skills, they begin with easy melodies and progress into more difficult ones, which subsequently leads to increased self confidence. As a result, they have a sense of achievement and pride in performing well. Learning music then helps build self confidence which leads to belief in oneself in life.

Performing music is a creative means to express oneself. Because music is an art, people can bring out various emotions or feelings through the melody and harmony through a pianist performing, or through the song lyrics through a singer singing. Having music around families, friends or groups help bring people together gives everyone mostly a positive feeling.

People who belong to groups that have a similar pursuits such as music will increase social life and decrease social isolation. Research shows that people who belong to groups or clubs have better physical and mental health which benefits a longer life span. When people work together they learn to get along and feel a better sense of well-being as they learn to achieve goals.