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The best gift for a child
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Music improves the grasping power of children and expands their mental faculties. HEMJIT BHARATHAN on the need to initiate children into music.
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MUSIC PLAYS a very meaningful and positive role in a child's education. A precious gift to mankind, music should be cultivated and nurtured in our children for it contributes significantly to their intellectual development. The rhythm, tempo, tone, style etc. in music stimulates brain activity to improve grasping power of children and expand their mental faculties.
Studies have revealed that pre-school children exposed to music and encouraged to sing, get a favourable initial stimulus academically. Early music training is a valuable exercise for children. Even babies respond and gurgle to music enabling them to identify sounds and thereby talk sooner. Music is thus considered to be a `pre-language' and parents, who sing, play music for their toddlers lay the basic foundation for their overall emotional and intellectual growth. In kindergarten, song rehearsals through nursery rhymes have been found to facilitate reading activities and help children to recall, recognise and synthesise. Preschoolers who took piano classes have been observed to acquire better reasoning abilities than those who spent the same time learning computer. Thus every student, it is believed, should have an education in the arts.
Confidence
Students participating in school bands and orchestra gain a sense of well-being and confidence to tackle their tough subjects better and rectify certain weaknesses. Exposure to music is believed make better Maths and Science students. Joyce Mathew, Principal, Bhavan's Adarsh Vidyalaya, Kochi, says, "Music soothes the mind and plays an important role in education. Children, who have an aversion for Mathematics, benefit from the soothing effects of music. Many children have often expressed to me that soft music in the background increases their concentration and make them tackle mathematical problems, fractions better. All forms of music, like vocal, instrumental, community singing, are thus encouraged and nurtured in our school, for it will certainly make better students." Music education and programmes in schools thus will have substantial benefit for our progeny.
Music instils in young minds a higher discipline that helps students work effectively. It exercises the brain for higher activities. Skills learnt through the discipline of music allow students, not only perform better but also enhances their reasoning ability, communication and cognitive skills which are useful in every part of the curriculum.
Stimulate aptitude
A child's inborn musical aptitude should thus be stimulated early before it vanishes. Usha Mohan, Principal, Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Thripunithura, confirms, "music is the voice of the soul and strikes the deepest chords in our heart. It develops personality and has a positive effect in all situations including academic life. Music enables students to understand, grasp even subjects they find tough. Arithmetic tables taught in a musical rhythm are better assimilated than when taught plainly. We encourage students to go for long walks, listen to music, switch on the TV etc. for a short break. Listening to bhajans early in the morning is very inspiring and beneficial not only for students but for everyone."
Not just in kindergarten but in secondary school too music is vital for it gives students the ability to express their ideas and thoughts better. It enhances originality and creativity. Improving self-esteem, personal and social adjustments music is a pleasant distraction for adolescents from harmful addictions.
In Silicon Valley many excellent engineers and technical designers and animators are those who practise music daily.
Even students with less aptitude towards music should be actively encouraged to participate in group musical events, back stage activities or even cheer. For then they are sure to develop a positive attitude towards school.
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