Why Music Education Matters: Curriculum Connections

Why Music Education Matters: Curriculum Connections

Key learnings from this article:

• Music has heart and purpose implicitly, but it also supports learning across the curriculum whentaught as an isolated subject, and integrated across all teaching.

• The interconnected nature of music, structure of notation and careful listening skills mimic thoserequired in maths. Research shows that regular music teaching improves high level mathematicalskills.

• The speaking, listening and comprehension skills acquired as part of a musical education bolsterand develop the skills involved in early literacy.

• Investigation, classification and comparison are frequent skills used as learners explore the worldof music. These skills are also required for a robust scientific education - practising them in botharenas supports a holistic approach to learning.

Emotional and Social Skills

Music education fosters emotional intelligence and social skills. Participating in musical activities, such as playing in a band or singing in a choir, teaches students teamwork, discipline, and the ability to work towards a common goal. It also provides a healthy outlet for expressing emotions and dealing with stress. Learning an instrument requires regular practice and dedication, which translates into improved discipline and time management skills. These skills are crucial for academic success, as they help students to better organize their study time and manage their coursework effectively.