Right or Left Brained: Why Music Develops Whole-brained Children

"I'm right-brained. I'm very artistic," or "I'm left-brained. I'm good with math and logic," are common expressions among people to delineate their active strengths. Many people do indeed appear to be mostly right-brained or mostly left-brained. Right-brained people have a higher interest in art and creative thinking. Left-brained people have a higher interest in math and logical thinking. Studies have shown that teaching music to a child will help them to become more whole-brained, having strengths in both areas.

Practicing an instrument. Children gain self-discipline and a wide variety of education by developing skills from an instrument. Daily practice and dedication to an art-form strengthens their sense of personal responsibility and their creative expression and their sampling of different types of music helps strengthen their desire to create something new. Many children compose at a young age, even if the music does not always get written down.

Playing in public. Playing an instrument so often that fingers automatically move to the correct places at the correct times can be a good opportunity for a public recital. Many teachers collaborate and form group recitals where lots of children can participate. Even though playing in public is nerve racking, especially for first-timers, it builds self discipline and accountability because each child must prove to the masses what they have learned and must demonstrate their learning with a touch of flare and their own personal style. Also, children receive certificates of their participation in these recitals which helps them to be motivated to participate in larger activities.

Music theory. During their musical careers, children have the opportunity to learn music theory which involves many different types of rules associated with music. They can study and take music theory tests which examine their knowledge on many different things, including melodic recognition, all of the major and minor key signatures, and rules governing chord progression. Music theory tests are gainful for young musicians who wish to continue their learning experience into adulthood and it keeps them interested in music during times when they are temporarily interested in other things.

Competitions. Sometimes, composition contests come along which young musicians can participate in. Arranged according to their age group, a child can compose and document their original creation, play it in a composition contest and perhaps move forward on to higher competitions. This not only brings out the creativity in your child, but it demands a thorough knowledge of music theory and composition rules. Competitions are also excellent ways for your child to express their love of music without making it into a high pressure situation.

Whole-brained children. When a child grows up in a musical environment, they develop an appreciation for the logic and boundaries of math and science and the free form creative expression of art and culture. Give your child a head start into the academic world by starting them off with their first instrument and having them continue lessons for at least a year. Many children grow to love their expression of music more than any other subject.