Thursday, April 28, 2011

Health Benefits of Music

By Timothy Owen


For many children throughout history, playing a musical instrument is as normal as playing sports or learning to read and write. Many schools offer music lessons as part of their compulsory curriculum and many offer after school lessons for a variety of instruments. Quite often, the extra-curricular lessons are free of charge and instruments can be borrowed, meaning that all children have the same opportunities to learn an instrument. Unfortunately, not all school pupils take advantage of these opportunities, and sadly this often something that many adults regret in later life.

Playing musical instruments across the board, some more obvious than others. For many children, playing an instrument at school opens a whole world of opportunities. Firstly, it offers a social gain. Taking lessons with groups of like-minded children can be an enjoyable experience for your child and close friendships are often formed. Even out of school, many groups of young people choose to show off their musical talents by forming bands.

When it comes to performing in front of large groups, doing so from a young age has significant benefits in terms of increasing confidence. This is something that a person will benefit from in later life in all manner of situations. Stephen Baron specialises in childrens musical performances ad his schools are a great way of introducing children to music.

Recent studies have revealed a less obvious benefit that can be gained from playing a musical instrument. Research carried out at the University of Kansas concluded that people that learn to play an instrument for a prolonged period in their lives and to a high standard are less likely to suffer from neurological problems such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's in later life. The studies suggest that brain activity that occurs whilst playing a musical instrument, prepares the brain to cope with the deterioration that occurs during old age.

Keeping an active brain can help to slow down the effects of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and a great way of doing this is by carrying on playing musical instruments. Apart from within the school, there are many ways in which you can introduce your child to the world of music. Several musicians such as Stephen Baron have set up schools especially for young musicians.




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