Pros and Cons of Music Lessons in School (2024)

FAQs

Pros and Cons of Music Lessons in School? ›

Learning to play and write music can provide fantastic lifelong benefits to a child, including improved social skills, increased creativity, and improved cognitive development. However, the disadvantages, such as the cost and time investment should be carefully considered by both the parent and child.

According to campus experts, music with lyrics causes hinders information retention due to overstimulation. Many students across campus listen to music while studying, inadvertently harming them academically. Because lyrics are a stream of information, our brain tries to analyze them in tandem with reading.

A study published by Webmd says, “listening to music can help you relax and lower stress, which can help you as you study.” Lowering stress can help people focus better and concentrate on the task at hand. However, listening to music can also be a distraction if misused.

Music improves cognitive and non-cognitive skills more than twice as much as sports, theater or dance. Kids who take music lessons have better cognitive skills and school grades and are more conscientious, open and ambitious.

However, research shows that music can also induce harmful effects, particularly when it comes to rumination. When a person dwells on negative thinking or feelings, it can contribute to the development of depression and anxiety or worsen existing conditions.

Music-based activities in early childhood education have proven to support self-regulation, cognitive and intellectual development, literacy, and language.

The research is fairly clear that when there's music in the background, and especially music with vocals, our working memory gets worse. Likely as a result, reading comprehension decreases when people listen to music with lyrics.

Music can be a powerful tool to help your child focus and study. The powerful effect of music happens for many reasons. For example, music can increase the brain's production of the chemical dopamine. In the brain, the increased production of dopamine will help your child with ADHD focus and study more effectively.

What are the positive and negative effects of music? ›

The power and influence of music on the human mind and behaviour are undeniable On one hand, it can contribute to an improved mood and help with symptoms of anxiety and depression, while on the other, it can also promote aggression, substance use, and stereotyping.

Also, listening to music can inhibit class participation and social interaction. “Sometimes when [students] do group work, other people will have their airpods in and just won't talk or cooperate. It's like they're in their world and [everyone else] just takes so much longer to finish,” said Gina Park ('26).

Absolutely. Music teaches concentration, learning to read it helps with learning other languages, developed an inner sense of rhythm, teaches team work to achieve a common goal through playing with other musicians, helps with basic math skills and last but not least encourages creative thinking.

If you're interested in pursuing a career related to music, then becoming a music major may be ideal for you. With this degree, you can receive a broad array of job opportunities that allow you to use your craft and hone your skills.

Music incorporates movement and motions: The goal of all instruction is student success, which is why music is another great way to incorporate kinesthetic learning. Using movement and motions along with music will help transfer information into students' long-term memories.

Music can have a negative impact on your working memory, particularly if you already have a working memory with lower capacity. Reading ability can also be negatively affected by listening to music.

There are studies that show, however, that music can impact our mood long-term, increasing depression or anxiety. Certain songs, certain lyrics, certain genres of music are more likely to intensify depression or anxiety, sometimes as much or more as outside stressors and environmental factors.

Benefits of Listening to Music When Studying

Music-based activities in early childhood education have proven to support self-regulation, cognitive and intellectual development, literacy, and language. No matter their age, students can continue to benefit from music to help their academic performance.

Chronic noise in schools can negatively affect the mental health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff, leading to hearing damage, stress, fatigue, distraction, and sleep disruption. Excessive noise exposure over time can result in hearing loss.