The wonders of music are endless. It has the potential to support growth and development, to reduce stress, pain, and anxiety, to provide entertainment and promote social interactions, and to improve overall health and well-being. That is why music therapy, delivered by a qualified and experienced registered musical therapist, may be significantly beneficial to many children.
Musical instruments can facilitate the physical, social, mental, and cognitive benefits that may be achieved through music therapy. Each program can be developed to cater for your child’s unique needs, abilities, preferences, and goals. This may involve your child listening to a therapist play an instrument or playing an instrument themselves.
Learning to play an instrument or listening to music played on an instrument can offer many benefits to people facing a broad array of challenges. At Chatterbox, our music therapists encourage children to explore and experiment with musical instruments. Read on to find out why!
Why is Music a Form of Therapy?
Our registered music therapists deliver this evidence-based approach to therapy because there are countless outcomes that may positively enhance a child’s life, no matter their background, abilities, and requirements.
Music therapy can help in a variety of areas, such as:
- Emotion regulation
- Social engagement.
- Cognition.
- Communication development.
- Fine and gross motor skills development.
- Play skills development.
The methods and techniques employed in music therapy sessions aim to support children as they face a diverse array of challenges, such as:
- Developmental delays.
- Physical or learning disabilities.
- Trauma.
- Life changes.
- Communication difficulties.
- Anti-social behaviour.
Should my Child Learn a Musical Instrument?
Learning a musical instrument can foster a child’s development, harness their strengths, and enhance their abilities. The potential benefits of learning a musical instrument are multi-faceted and seemingly endless because there are so many elements to the process.
Playing a musical instrument requires discipline, patience, a dedicated work ethic, enthusiasm, and passion. It also involves understanding new elements such as sheet music, certain movements and actions, and harmonies. Teamwork and social interactions may also be involved.
These factors can lead to feelings of accomplishment and increased confidence and self-esteem and may enhance physical, emotional, academic, and cognitive development, which can positively touch many areas of a person’s life.
5 Benefits of Playing a Musical Instrument as a Child
The list of possible advantages of learning and playing a musical instrument is varied and long. Here, we will explore five benefits your child may experience if they play a musical instrument:
1. Motor Skills Development
Most instruments require some degree of fine or gross motor engagement. From covering the holes on a wind instrument with their fingers to hitting a big drum with drumsticks, children utilise and strengthen their motor skills, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination, which can help in many aspects of their lives, such as holding a pencil when writing, catching a ball, and preparing food.
2. Cognitive Enhancement
Musical instruments may engage various areas of the brain when played, which can develop and enhance abilities such as memory, problem-solving, and attention.
3. Self-Expression
The act of playing or listening to musical instruments may facilitate an emotional release and stress relief and promote creativity. It may also help children to consider and articulate their thoughts, experiences, and feelings through rhythms, melodies, lyrics, and movement.
4. Vocabulary Expansion
Not only do children learn new terminology when it comes to the music field, but playing a musical instrument can promote language development and improvement through factors such as listening to directions, asking for explanations, and discussing the music they are playing. Lyrics may also form part of the musical experience they are taking part in.
5. Social Interaction
Playing a musical instrument can be a solo pursuit but can also promote being part of various groups. This can develop teamwork and cooperation skills, create a sense of community, foster friendships, and encourage positive behaviour.
Enjoy Musical Instruments at Chatterbox
If your child is facing challenges or difficulties, music therapy can provide support and offers options that may assist them in finding improvement. Whether they have previously learned to play an instrument or not, your child can take part in music therapy at Chatterbox in Sydney. We will develop a personalised program for them and guide them as they learn and explore the many amazing aspects of music.
Please contact your nearest Chatterbox clinic to organise an initial appointment. We look forward to meeting you and your child!