Dr. Hind Louali: Why Music and Children Belong Together
When talking about what kids learn to appreciate and learn to play as far as music at school goes or the impact of music education on their lives, Dr. Hind Louali, founder of French School of Austin – Ecole Jean-Jacques Rousseau, has a ton of experience and insight on the matter.
How Music Helps in Child Development
One of the first and most essential things children get from learning music is rhythm, which is an incredibly underrated aspect of life. So many people overlook the importance of having a sense of rhythm in their daily lives. Once children develop rhythm, the skill can branch out into countless other things, and when children develop their sense of rhythm, they take a significant step away from being awkward. Learning rhythm also leads to a deeper appreciation of music, points out Dr. Hind Louali. It also allows them to use music to express themselves further. Through rhythm, children can sing, dance, and, of course, play musical instruments.
While learning how to read notes and following early lessons may seem boring at first, these are merely meant to get children into the habit. The real fun comes later when they learn to improvise. It is where their creativity spikes.
Children who learn music and are encouraged by their teachers, parents, and friends to perform in front of people gain much-needed self-confidence. It will prove to be of great value to them as they get older. They won’t be afraid to perform or even speak to groups of people — and that is a good thing.
The Lasting Effects of Music
Many people may only have very vague or hazy memories of their favorite nursery rhyme or any song that was sung to them back when they were children. That said, it doesn’t mean the music they were exposed to didn’t have a huge impact on their development.
The fact is music is such a powerful tool, and there are just so many benefits of music appreciation in and out of the realm of academics. Music appreciation, as well as learning how to play musical instruments, helps with all areas of the development of children, such as fine and gross motor skills, literacy and language, social-emotional skills, and more.
The psychological benefits of letting children listen to classical music have been widely documented. According to Dr. Hind Louali of French School of Austin – Ecole Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a lot of times, the logical step is for parents to have their children learn how to play music.
Some experts agree that though some genres may not be appropriate just yet for children under seven, most types of music when learned either on the piano, guitar, violin, or ukulele, or any other instrument for that matter, stimulate a child’s mental growth.
How Music Affects the Family
Music also plays a huge role between children and their families. For example, when children find themselves on a very long family road trip, one of the most meaningful and fun things to do to address boredom, especially for young kids, is to burst out in song. Even if none of the family is singing in tune, Dr. Hind Louali says that the experience creates even funnier memories. Singing together to classic songs you like and contemporary music the children love is great quality time and also helps to bridge the gap with how music changes over the decades.
In today’s world, people have almost unlimited access to popular music. It is good to expose the children to music, and this is something that even science has backed up. Especially in the early years, music can be very beneficial to a child’s mental, social, and emotional development — and this is a parent’s job.
Studies show that music stimulates the brain and enhances intelligence. There have been several experiments that prove people who listen to music score better in logic and spatial awareness. It goes double for kids who learn how to play a musical instrument and are encouraged by their parents to do so. For a child, music can help develop language, math, and motor skills.
While television, game consoles, and other electronics contribute to the shortening attention span of children today, Dr. Hind Louali of French School of Austin – Ecole Jean-Jacques Rousseau notes that music improves focus and memory. Children who also enjoy music are more attuned to their emotions and can more confidently express their thoughts and feelings.
For more articles on education, music, art, and more from Dr. Hind Louali of French School of Austin – Ecole Jean-Jacques Rousseau, click this link.
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