This document discusses the educational and developmental benefits of music education. It outlines how musical training can enhance academic performance, cognitive development, social-emotional skills, communication abilities, math skills, self-discipline, stress relief and more. Music education fosters skills like teamwork, reading comprehension, memory, and both left and right brain development. Overall, incorporating music into the school curriculum makes learning fun while enriching students' well-being and performance.

2. People of all ages enjoy music – whether they’re
listening to it, singing along or even dancing – but
did you know that studying music has many
educational and developmental benefits?
Incorporating music education into the school
curriculum does not only make learning fun for
students but can also enrich a student’s academic
performance and personal wellbeing.

3. When performing or studying music, musicians
are constantly using their memory to process
and recall sheet music.
If you play an instrument you have to
simultaneously use the parts of the brain which
control motor skills, audio information and
memory. Research suggests that playing an
instrument can actually change the shape and
power of the brain.

4. Students who have musical training develop the
left side of the brain quickly, which relates to
language and reasoning.
Students constantly use reading and
comprehension skills when studying music. When
you see the notes on the page, the musician has to
recognise what it means in relation to their hands
as well as reading the rhythm.
A study published in the Psychology of Music, found
children exposed to a program of music tuition
displayed superior reading skills compared to their
non-musically trained peers.

5. Teamwork is an essential skill in life. Students
involved in orchestras have to cooperate with
their fellow musicians to make music. Each
musical section and individual player has to
learn to listen to each other and learn to play
together.

6. Did you know reading music can help you
maths skills? Learning sheet music combines
counting notes and rhythms.
Research suggests students who play
instruments or study the arts often achieve
better in maths. (Source: Friedman, B. (1959) An
evaluation of the achievement in reading and arithmetic of
pupils)

7. Musical education can develop better
communicational skills in students with
encouragement from teachers and parents.
Learning to play new pieces of music can be
challenging but once even the simplest note
has been mastered, it provides a sense of
achievement.
Playing an instrument gives children the
opportunity to perform in bands or orchestras
in front of audiences, which build self-
confidence too.

8. Giving a child the decision about which
instrument they learn and the music they play
fosters a positive attitude towards learning and
intellectual curiosity.
Music is an art form they can share with family
and their friends, encouraging their creativity
in all academic subjects as well as everyday
life.

9. The 21st century is becoming an ever increasing
creative economy with employers expecting
creative intuition and independent learning in
all industries – something that learning music
instils.
There are more and more artistic careers being
recognised, which is likely to only keep
increasing.

10. Learning to play an instrument can be very
challenging, therefore one of the qualities
student musicians learn is self-discipline.
To be successful requires practicing time and
time again, but the sense of achievement
reminds children that the hard work is
definitely worth it.

11. Parents never want to see their children
stressed at any age but giving a child the
freedom of music is the perfect relaxation –
they can play whatever they like to express
their emotions! Music is a great form of stress
release and relaxation therapy.

12. Music is a fun subject that students can get
involved with hands-on by playing instruments,
writing music and organising performances. At
Kimichi, we apply music education to all
subject areas to encourage our students’
interests and keep them engaged in school.
Outside of school, music can promote
happiness in the students’ lives and for those
around them.

13. Find out more about Kimichi School on our
website:
http://www.kimichischool.co.uk/