Making and listening to music is something that people of all ages, across all cultures, have engaged with over tens of thousands of years. Whilst the nature of music produced has developed and changed over time, our ability to gain both enjoyment, as well as cognitive and social benefits from music, remain constant. It is therefore unsurprising that numerous studies have proven links between music education and music making with improvements in other areas of a child’s development.
The Department for Education outlined its New Plan for Music Education, calling it ‘The Importance of Music’, the aim being to raise the standard and quality of music education provided across all age ranges and all schools. It cites in its vision statement that ‘High quality music education enables lifelong participation in, and enjoyment of music, as well as underpinning excellence and professionalism for those who choose not to pursue a career in music’.
These guiding principles underpin all of our music provision at Norfolk House.
Our recently updated music curriculum ensures that every pupil from Transition to Year Six has the opportunity to engage with music through singing, listening appraisal, performance and composition. Every lesson is focussed around maximising the child’s active involvement with music, this is done through the exploration of music from different eras, cultures and traditions both within the British Isles and across the continents.
In addition, our extra-curricular music clubs offer our pupils the opportunity to participate in collective music making and develop their musicianship skills further. These range from beginners violin ensemble, KS1 Choir, KS2 Choir, Samba Ensemble and Orchestra. The number of children participating in these ensembles is high and the commitment shown by pupils on a weekly basis is testament to the sense of enjoyment created through involvement in such activities. The children enjoy the performance opportunities that such involvement brings, and the gradual development in their confidence and self-efficacy has been palpable.
The benefits of music, however, reach much further than those experienced and witnessed during the course of music lessons and performances.
Neuroscientists have discovered that music training increases cognitive function significantly, measured by an increase in IQ. Studying music develops one’s recognition of sequencing, ordering, classifying, and predicting, all of which are supporting foundations for maths. Further, research suggests that participating in music making develops a person’s ability to memorise language and thus improves reading and literacy skills. With this in mind, our music provision at Norfolk House continues to develop and expand to encompass the broadest range of musical opportunities for our pupils, and we anticipate that the impact of this on their development across the curriculum will be notable.
Research has shown a direct link between music and improved reading ability in children. Memory of words and, hence, language development. Evidence also suggests a link between mathematics and music, but there needs to be a stronger match between the skills being used – for example some types of music education can encourage improvement in some elements of maths more effectively than others. Studies have also shown a connection between music and increased scores in IQ. In both cases it is rhythmic music training that has been shown to make the greatest improvement40. Other studies have demonstrated a link between music and creative skills, particularly musical improvisation and lessons which require children to be imaginative.
Professor Susan Hallam, of the Institute of Education, University of London, analysed scores of researchers’ studies on the benefits of music to children. She found researchers had discovered that learning to play an instrument enlarges the left side of the brain. This leads musically-trained pupils to remember almost a fifth more information.
If you would like to find out more about the music opportunities at the school, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Mrs A Brockman
Music Coordinator
