What are the advantages and disadvantages of a musical education ...

‘Let your child listen to whatever he likes. Anything with a good melody will do, although
slow songs may work best for bedtime and fast ones for play. In the morning, play classical
music (choose something pleasant and happy) so he'll wake up in a light and upbeat mood’
(1997).
In the book ‘Good Music, Brighter Children’, Habermeyer talks about the results of studies
carried out by university students. ‘Recent scientific studies at some of the most respected
universities in the world indicate that children introduced to classical music at a young age
read earlier and perform better on achievement tests’ (1999, P.344). One of the most famous
approaches to music is the ‘Mozart Effect’. It is an idea based around a set of results that
indicate early exposure to classical music can help contribute to a child’s mental
development. ‘The “Mozart effect” refers to claims that people perform better on tests of
spatial abilities after listening to music composed by Mozart’ (Thompson, 2001). It is already
clear to see that with such conflicting ideas this subject causes much confusion. There has
still not been any clear conclusion made on what music is definitely best for babies and at the
present time it is still being left to people’s personal (albeit conflicting) opinions.
Children’s minds are so vulnerable. From the day they are born they are learning and
absorbing all that is around them. A baby is born with no concept of right or wrong and it is
up to the people around them as they grow to help feed them with the information that will
help determine the sort of person they will become. If from the day a child is born their
parents constantly teach them that it is acceptable to steal, cheat, hate, or adversely to love
and respect, that child will most likely grow up believing it is the truth. Young children are so
easily guided by those around them. It is for this very reason that children start school so
young, start to learn the piano, or take up a sport. The young mind absorbs information better
than at any other time in a person’s life. The older we get the harder it is to take in new
information and learn new skills. We become set in our ways and new practices seem alien to
us and therefore a lot harder to integrate into our day-to-day lives. The vulnerability and
willingness to learn that young children have is so wonderfully powerful. Their minds are so
precious and delicate but if placed into the wrong hands or surroundings the effects can be
devastating and sometimes fatal.
Music plays such a huge part in today’s society. It is everywhere we turn: from the films we
watch to the boy racers who drive past with explicit lyrical content and hard-core drum and
bass booming from their car speakers at an intrusively loud volume. It is almost impossible to
last 24 hours without hearing some form of music. It is clear to see how introducing music to
children at a young age can benefit them in many ways, but not all types of music have the
same effects. ‘Listening to sexually explicit or violent music lyrics can affect children's
schoolwork, social interactions, mood and behaviour’ (Elizabeth, 2009). Explicit and
provocative lyrics have become a huge part of today’s music culture. People seem to have
become almost immune to the brutally violent and strong sex references that have taken over
the music charts. Perhaps some people would be shocked to turn on the television at 3
o’clock in the afternoon when most children finish school to find a distasteful and graphic sex
scene on the BBC. This is why there have been boundaries put on what can be shown on
mainstream television before 9 o’clock. Yet at anytime during the day you are able to turn on
the radio to hear popular artists singing about how they go around the streets killing people
Music Education in Regard to Children CM6002 Emily McGregor 163930
19