Music & Child Development

I started investing time and energy into music when I was young and it significantly impacted my life. I wouldn’t be a photographer today if it weren’t for me going to local shows in my teen years and adventuring into concert photography.

Music is an international language, capable of transcending cultures, communicating emotions and stimulating minds. For children specifically, it can serve as a powerful educational tool beyond simply entertainment. 

Harborlights, band in Atlanta (2020)

The Cognitive Symphony

There's a mountain of evidence showing how powerful music is for kids' brains. Music is a workout for the memory and focus of a young, developing mind. Just like a conductor bringing an orchestra together, music activates different parts of the brain at once, strengthening connections between them. Learning an instrument takes it a step further, introducing kids to math concepts and strengthening spatial-temporal skills. Think about it: those rhythms, sequences, and scales are like secret lessons in fractions, patterns, and ratios! Plus, mastering an instrument requires patience and practice, building discipline that can even spill over into their academic work.

Music can have profound emotional and social impacts for children. Not only can it soothe minds and heart but it can also help children express a range of feelings more effectively. I don’t know how I would have been able to express my complicated teenage feelings without the help of exploring a wide variety of alternative music artists and immersing myself in the “scene kid culture” of the 2000s-2010s.

Emotional literacy helps them navigate both their own feelings as well as those of others, developing empathy and emotional intelligence. Music provides a common ground that brings children together, encouraging friendships and teamwork. Participating in school bands or choirs teaches children the value of cooperation, coordination, and compromise to reach shared musical goals. Children also develop skills like listening to one another, appreciating diverse roles, and working in harmony - skills that go well beyond music rooms.

Tuning into the Musical World

Open young ears to the symphony of the world. Let them bathe in the crystalline melodies of classical, the syncopated rhythms of jazz, the raw energy of rock, the earthy tones of folk. In this playground of sound, their spirits will take flight, their imaginations will take root.

Explore the instruments, these vessels of expression. Visit the school music program, a local class, a nearby music store. Let them touch the strings, blow on the brass, tap the drums. Online, too, the world of music unfolds, a treasure trove of tutorials and guides.

No need to mold them into prodigies. Let them be explorers, creators, revelers in the pure joy of sound. If an instrument calls to their soul, a genre resonates with their heart, then nurture their passion with lessons and guidance.

Weave music into the fabric of every day. Sing together, let your voices blend in harmony. Move to the rhythm, bodies swaying like trees in a summer breeze. Live concerts become shared experiences, memories etched in the tapestry of their lives. Perhaps, even, your family will form a band, a chorus of love and laughter.

For music speaks a language understood by all, a universal tongue that transcends borders and generations. Let it open doors in their hearts, doors to creativity, self-expression, and the profound harmony of the universe.

Conducting a Musical Childhood

Bottom line: music's an amazing gift for kids. It helps them learn, understand their feelings, and even make friends. When they grow older, take them to concerts, find local artists, and be a part of the next generation of musicians. It’s a community, identity, and society that they can benefit from for decades to come.