Does playing an instrument help students to better grades elsewhere?
Anil Dawar
Commissioning Editor, Journalist and communications specialist - writing compelling copy, sparking insightful conversation and delivering thought leadership.
You might have heard Keir Starmer talk about his love of playing the flute and how he fears we have lost the value of music in schools.
Apart from bringing joy, making music also teaches children skills they will need for the future workplace, he said.
Some educationalists such as Sam Freedman disagreed, not with the joy part, but the idea it boosts wider transferable skills.
AQA's Adam Steedman Thake delved into the research around the topic to see whether or not learning to play an instrument did have any wider benefit.
Here's a fascinating blog charting his journey into brain development, motor skills, verbal reasoning and academic achievement.
#Teaching #musiceducation #musiceducationmatters #musicteachers #musiced #musiceducator #musicforkids #neuroscience #neurology #academicachievement #academicachievements
Sandra Allan Susan Hallam
Award-winning founder and director at Finnoah PR / former senior national journalist
1 年As a bit of a muso myself and a media professional, I would say it has helped me with with dedication, focus, determination and creativity in my career.
Executive Director of People at AQA
1 年In fairness to Sam freedman he says playing an instrument doesn’t teach skills that prepare you for work. You may or may not agree with that but the wider point is that surely school and education is supposed to do more than that? What about turning out creative and confident human beings who are able to contribute to wider society? Isn’t that one of the things that differentiate us from machines or lab rats? Surely education is not limited to teaching directly useful skills and knowledge for the purpose of work alone ? I think we are asking the wrong question about the purpose of teaching the arts.
CNCI, CNIDP
1 年I remember in our school a Mrs Menary, who would occasionally have real musicians play in the classroom. And one day there was a Fluertist play, she played pieces of The Magic Flute…..and it was just so inspiring. At school there were various bands, rock, mods, etc….and it was much easier to mix with these people because of that common bond….it certainly bridges social gaps. Been playing the drums since those school days…..possibly the same school as you ?