A Fun Approach to Teaching Music to Kids



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By Susan Heckler

Are you considering encouraging your child to play a musical instrument? No matter what instrument, there are benefits that you may not be aware of and should be considering.
There is evidence that musicians have organizationally and functionally different brains than non-musicians. If you think about it, when you play an instrument you are using (and exercising) the parts of your brain that control motor skills, coordination, memory and cognitive skills. Studies suggest a 7 point increase in IQ for those that play an instrument as well as improved scores in school.

For those that play a band or orchestra instrument, playing helps build team work skills and social skills in general. For kids going to a new school, meeting fellow musicians allows them to be a part of a group rather than walking into a potentially overwhelming situation.
Learning an instrument helps with time management. It teaches patience, perseverance, and also helps sharpen your concentration as well as a feeling of accomplishment. With confidence comes better social skills. It also opens their eyes culturally and is a great means of self-expression, as well as a stress reliever.

According to Michael Basile, owner of The School of Rock Monmouth County NJ located at 256 Route 79 in Marlboro, music is the great equalizer.  They have taken a new approach in teaching music. Using an inclusive group setting in the curriculum, rather than the traditional method of starting with fundamentals taught from a boring book, the School of Rock starts with the music. “For vocalists, teaching 3 part harmonies is really tough, especially the music theory behind the concepts which makes up a harmony. We teach a Queen song which is chock full of harmonies. The students have fun, and then we go back to the book and back into the theory behind the music. Using this method, the kids learn at exponential rates. I became a believer in the approach.”

For more information about School of Rock, contact Michael at 732-290-0666.