The document discusses the value of music in education. It notes that music promotes academic achievement from an early age by helping children acquire knowledge and skills. Research shows that students who participate in music education have increases in general intelligence and focused attention. The document also outlines several benefits of music, including strengthening other skills like language and math abilities. It recommends engaging children with music through listening, singing, moving to music, exploring instruments, and attending live performances to nurture their love of music.

1. The Value of MusicThe Value of Music
in Educationin Education
Agnieszka PisarekAgnieszka Pisarek
Edukacja przez SztukęEdukacja przez Sztukę
I rok II st.I rok II st.

2. The Value of Music in EducationThe Value of Music in Education
 "The trouble with music appreciation"The trouble with music appreciation
in general is that people are taughtin general is that people are taught
to have too much respect for music;to have too much respect for music;
they shouldthey should
be taught to love it instead.„be taught to love it instead.„
- Igor Stravinsky, composer- Igor Stravinsky, composer

3.  Music’s prominent place in early educationMusic’s prominent place in early education
is based on the value of music to children’sis based on the value of music to children’s
growth and learning. The values of musicgrowth and learning. The values of music
are many and varied.are many and varied.

4.  Beyond the simple pleasures associated withBeyond the simple pleasures associated with
music, it is important to think about themusic, it is important to think about the
other benefits music provides. Research tellsother benefits music provides. Research tells
us that music plays a vital role in theus that music plays a vital role in the
learning process and strengthens skills inlearning process and strengthens skills in
other areas.other areas.

5.  Educators believe that engagement inEducators believe that engagement in
music supports academic achievement. Asmusic supports academic achievement. As
early as preschool, playing music helpsearly as preschool, playing music helps
children acquire knowledge, skills, andchildren acquire knowledge, skills, and
attitudes that influence them throughoutattitudes that influence them throughout
their livestheir lives

6.  Glenn Shellenberg relates musicGlenn Shellenberg relates music
education to a wide range of cognitiveeducation to a wide range of cognitive
skills. Children who had participated inskills. Children who had participated in
music education for one year hadmusic education for one year had
increases in general intelligence.increases in general intelligence.
Schellenberg thought this increase wasSchellenberg thought this increase was
related to periods of focused attention,related to periods of focused attention,
memorization, and the concentrationmemorization, and the concentration
involved in listening to and makinginvolved in listening to and making
music.music.

7. The Value of Music –The Value of Music –
Research and theoryResearch and theory
 Music hasMusic has
intrinsic andintrinsic and
instrumentalinstrumental
value in and ofvalue in and of
itself. Music isitself. Music is
critical tocritical to
humanhuman
developmentdevelopment
and to creativeand to creative
thought.thought.

8.  Music can also be used to presentMusic can also be used to present
ideas and build concepts, teach orideas and build concepts, teach or
persuade, entertain, design, plan,persuade, entertain, design, plan,
beautify, and create.beautify, and create.

9.  Music plays a valued role in creatingMusic plays a valued role in creating
cultures and building civilizations.cultures and building civilizations.
Music awakens children to folk artsMusic awakens children to folk arts
and their influence on their own livesand their influence on their own lives
and the lives of othersand the lives of others
 Music is a social activity. Listening toMusic is a social activity. Listening to
music and singing or dancingmusic and singing or dancing
together unites children. Individualstogether unites children. Individuals
come to feel a part of the communitycome to feel a part of the community
when singing together.when singing together.

10. Music gives children unique opportunities toMusic gives children unique opportunities to
create, be fluent in their thinking and tocreate, be fluent in their thinking and to
express their feelings and ideas freely . Theyexpress their feelings and ideas freely . They
can respond in unique ways to listening orcan respond in unique ways to listening or
moving to music and create new songs andmoving to music and create new songs and
rhymes.rhymes.

11.  Music can help in other areas of learningMusic can help in other areas of learning
and school activities, for example in mathand school activities, for example in math
– because music is mathematical (the– because music is mathematical (the
rhythmic quality of music fosters children’srhythmic quality of music fosters children’s
ability to keep time and count sequences)ability to keep time and count sequences)
or P.E.- children can sway, clap, dance, oror P.E.- children can sway, clap, dance, or
stomp to music, gaining control over theirstomp to music, gaining control over their
bodies (even singing is a physical activitybodies (even singing is a physical activity
that requires the ability to controlthat requires the ability to control
muscles, vocal cords, and breathing).muscles, vocal cords, and breathing).
 Music also develops the skills necessaryMusic also develops the skills necessary
for learning to read and write.for learning to read and write.

12.  Music benefits children with special needs.Music benefits children with special needs.
Because music is a pleasurable,Because music is a pleasurable,
nonthreatening experience, it can be usednonthreatening experience, it can be used
to help a child with special needs feel moreto help a child with special needs feel more
comfortable within the group.comfortable within the group.

13. Engaging Young Children in theEngaging Young Children in the
World of MusicWorld of Music
 There are many ways to nurture yourThere are many ways to nurture your
child’s love of music and encourage his orchild’s love of music and encourage his or
her musical talents. Acknowledge yourher musical talents. Acknowledge your
child’s efforts and achievements in musicalchild’s efforts and achievements in musical
activities. It is as a result of these activeactivities. It is as a result of these active
listening and music-making experienceslistening and music-making experiences
that children develop musically, advancethat children develop musically, advance
in other skills areas, and acquire a sensein other skills areas, and acquire a sense
of accomplishment as musicians.of accomplishment as musicians.

14. Listening to music, moving toListening to music, moving to
rhythms, singing, and playingrhythms, singing, and playing
musical games are best formusical games are best for
small children and good forsmall children and good for
elementary students as well.elementary students as well.
Have your child participate inHave your child participate in
musical activities by:musical activities by:

15.  ListeningListening. Sing to your child, even when the child. Sing to your child, even when the child
is an infant. Whenever possible, give your child ais an infant. Whenever possible, give your child a
wide variety of listening experiences by includingwide variety of listening experiences by including
music of all styles—and be certain to encouragemusic of all styles—and be certain to encourage
him or her to talk about the music. Acknowledgehim or her to talk about the music. Acknowledge
your child’s musical interests, but continue toyour child’s musical interests, but continue to
expand his or her repertoire of listening as well.expand his or her repertoire of listening as well.

16.  SingingSinging. Invite your child to sing along with you. Sing. Invite your child to sing along with you. Sing
favorite songs with your child while you’re gettingfavorite songs with your child while you’re getting
ready for school, cleaning up toys, or riding in theready for school, cleaning up toys, or riding in the
car. Singing with children builds on their naturalcar. Singing with children builds on their natural
ability for spontaneous, free-rhythm singing,ability for spontaneous, free-rhythm singing,
encouraging them to sing more structured songs.encouraging them to sing more structured songs.

17.  Moving.Moving. Notice the wayNotice the way
your child respondsyour child responds
physically to music.physically to music.
Encourage your child toEncourage your child to
develop his or herdevelop his or her
spontaneous desire tospontaneous desire to
move to music bymove to music by
being a model. Movebeing a model. Move
your body, clap to theyour body, clap to the
rhythm, or create arhythm, or create a
dance that reflects thedance that reflects the
feeling of the musicalfeeling of the musical
selection. Your childselection. Your child
will soon join in thewill soon join in the
fun.fun.

18.  Exploring the musical sounds of instrumentsExploring the musical sounds of instruments..
Start by getting a few good quality instruments.Start by getting a few good quality instruments.
Together explore the sounds the instrumentsTogether explore the sounds the instruments
can make. Regardless of your level of aptitudecan make. Regardless of your level of aptitude
with an instrument, just playing along with yourwith an instrument, just playing along with your
child spurs interest and offers encouragement.child spurs interest and offers encouragement.

19.  Attending live performancesAttending live performances. Share music. Share music
that you love with your child and expandthat you love with your child and expand
your own range of musical experiences byyour own range of musical experiences by
attending programs at local festivals, artattending programs at local festivals, art
centers, museums, community centers, andcenters, museums, community centers, and
parks. Remember to choose performancesparks. Remember to choose performances
that are more informal for preschoolers.that are more informal for preschoolers.