©iStockphoto/Thomas Perkins (perkmeup)
I was fortunate enough to discover the power of music at a very young age. Not only did I love to listen to it, but I loved to play it as well. It was a way for me to express myself without words.
Here are just a few of the skills that can be enhanced through music:
- Stress Relief: Listening to a favorite piece of music, or playing or singing the music yourself, can help you feel better about yourself and the world around you. One song can also bring back memories and help you release both positive and negative emotions.
- Cultural understanding - So much can be learned about a culture by listening to music. What a way to bring history and geography to life!
- Literacy skills - Listening to music and singing it can inspire people of all ages to read and write, and communicate in a variety of ways with words. The words can even be in a foreign language!
- Math skills - Learning how to play an instrument or sing subtly makes you think about math in a complex way. It can even help you learn about fractions! Even dancing and listening to music help you to learn about rhythm and keeping a beat.
- Memory - In order to sing along, you'll want to remember those words! Also, some teachers make up songs to help students remember important details of just about any subject.
- Focus: Music can help you to block out those distractions and build upon your concentration level. It can take you to other worlds, just as reading a book can...
You can find out even more about the power of music if you read Fox News.com's Music Lessons Boost Brain Power.
No matter how old your child is, listening (and even playing or singing) to music together is a wonderful way to spend time together. Being familiar with the books your child reads and the music she or he listens to can really open the lines of communication. And you might want to add some dancing into the equation, too...
We all have some kind of music inside us. Just as there are books for everyone, there's music for everyone. Have you found yours yet?
