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

Recommendations

Info

‘A rock music backdrop, was successfully used with ADHD children to help them focus. Classical as well as popular folk music was selected for its rhythmic and dynamic regularity as a background for a child with borderline personality and phobias who was involved in play therapy and art. In this latter study, the music not only reduced anxiety but also led into an active music-making experience’ (2007, P.184). Victoria Wood, author of ‘Music Therapy in Children’s Hospices’, observed that when music therapy was first introduced in children’s hospices, an immediate effect was noted on patients and staff. ‘ It had already proved its value to the children who used its facilities for both respite and palliative care. Staff had been impressed by the way music therapy provided a vital means of communication and self-expression for children with life-limiting conditions for whom verbal communication was difficult or impossible’ (2005, P.147). At challenging times in a child’s life communication can be very difficult. Coming to terms with, and controlling one’s emotions, is something many people find hard at the best of times. If music can be used to help children communicate their emotions at these most distressing times, then that is proof of the positive effects music can have. It is important for young children to interact with one another, as it helps to develop social skills and teamwork. Children with learning disabilities may have had less interaction with other children due to their own difficulties. Music therapy can offer an effective way of children interacting with one another in a way that feels comfortable. ‘All children benefit from pre-school group experiences, but children with special needs may take longer to adapt to social situations and therefore particularly need and benefit from frequently repeated experiences such as those provided in music therapy group work’ (Oldfield, 2008, P.55). If music therapy can give children an opportunity to communicate with each other and help them to develop the skills that they need to handle themselves in social situations, then introducing it at a younger age will build a strong foundation that could lead to further progression in later life. As well as helping children mentally, music therapy can also be used to help children physically. Music therapy can play a huge part in maintaining and restoring physical condition. In Victoria Wood’s book ‘Music Therapy in Children’s Hospices’, she talks about the study of one little girl Jessie, who has a severe and complex medical condition that can change rapidly and therefore needs constant medical care. In this next quote Victoria Wood reveals how music therapy helped with Jessie’s treatment and the progress that she made: Music Education in Regard to Children CM6002 Emily McGregor 163930 8
‘Music is used to develop the use of her physically weaker left side, by encouraging Jessie to reach out and play the guitar and keyboard in particular. I also play short sharp sounds, for example on a wood block, to encourage Jessie to turn where the sound is coming from to develop her awareness of her surroundings’ (2005, P.156). Music therapy has helped to change the lives of many children living with special needs. It has had an extremely beneficial effect and contributed to their having a better quality of life. Music in the Curriculum Artist Jackie Spivey said that: ‘Music education is an important aspect of student growth and is not a luxury, but a necessity to all children’ (2009). Music has always been a subject that has caused debate within government on whether or not it should be a compulsory subject within the National Curriculum. Many people, such as Spivey, have strong beliefs that music should be a compulsory subject in schools, while others believe that it detracts from what they believe to be more beneficial subjects such as English and Mathematics. Music is currently statutory at Key Stages 1-3. The National Curriculum has two main aims. The first aim is to provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and achieve. The second is to promote pupil’s moral, social and cultural development to prepare pupils for the experiences, responsibilities and opportunities that they will face in life. The four main purposes of the National Curriculum are to establish an entitlement, to establish standards, to promote continuity and coherence, and to promote public understanding. ‘The National Curriculum secures for all pupils, irrespective of social background, culture, race, gender, differences in ability and disabilities, an entitlement to a number of areas of learning and to develop knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes necessary for their self-fulfillment and development as active and responsible citizens’ (National Curriculum online, 2011). There are now talks within government about a change being made in the National Curriculum with some subjects such as music being dropped. Subjects such as English and Mathematics will, of course, always be compulsory subjects within the National Curriculum, but there still hasn’t been a definite decision made on whether music will be a statutory subject in the future. Possible alternatives being considered include giving local education authorities responsibility for music provision, perhaps on a fee-paying basis. This risks denying low-income families access to this valuable aspect of their education. If music becomes non-statutory, it may well follow the same path as foreign languages, which became optional in the curriculum some years ago. After a few years everyone became shocked at how poorly the UK was performing in this area compared to our European Music Education in Regard to Children CM6002 Emily McGregor 163930 9
Page 1 and 2: What are the advantages and disadva
Page 3 and 4: What are the advantages and disadva
Page 5 and 6: ‘Good baby music is created with
Page 7: How music can benefit children with
Page 11 and 12: subjects taught in primary schools.
Page 13 and 14: that music can be used effectively
Page 15 and 16: The main aims of the Orff Approach
Page 17 and 18: The Suzuki method is an idea that i
Page 19 and 20: ‘Let your child listen to whateve
Page 21 and 22: meaning, it implies that today’s
Page 23 and 24: Summary and Conclusion It is eviden
Page 25 and 26: Doolan, K. Rhythm Time, [Interview]
Page 27 and 28: National Curriculum, (2011), The na

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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?