Music and Childhood Development - Literature review Example

Music and Childhood Development Introduction Music is one of the aspects that affect individuals’ lives. Different tribes in the world use music to define their culture and social lives. Music can also be used, as a medium of communication, to deliver information from a person to the other. It has also been used in the business industry by different artists to expound their talents and as a means of survival. The research that follows gives a review to show the relationship of music with childhood development. Several researchers and scholars have researched on the impact of music in childhood development. Childhood is the start of development to adulthood. Many changes happen at this stage, which determine how the child grows. The brain of a child grows and develops immediately after birth, and nurturance plays an important role in the child’s development (Harris, 117). The early childhood environment largely determines the characteristics and behaviors that the child will adapt. According to Harris, musical experiences can play a vital role in a child’s brain development, and active participation in music can help in formation of cognitive development (Harris, 117). Research by Harris states that music can assist in educating a child as it gives the child an avenue for expression and communication as they get new experience (Harris, 117). Theories on multiple intelligences support the view that music plays a central role in development of young children. In elementary schools and early childhood settings, music classes are used to teach children understand rhythm, melody texture, dynamics and form of music (Campbell and Scott-Kassner, 120). The songs sang are accompanied with actions, most of which reflect what the song says. They combine their movements with body sounds, stepping, clapping, patting or snapping. Responses to music through movement, according to Campbell and Scott-Kassner, may be instinctive and natural, but the instinct of children can be further developed through instruction. When children are receptive to musical sound, the rhythm or melody inspires them to participate actively in the music through the movement they imitate or invent. Infants listen attentively to music and respond by moving to its rhythm. At this age, they can use their sense organs to coordinate to actions although not in a systematic manner. Music, according to these researchers contributes to a child’s growth. Rhythm is an essential in childhood development as the child first hears the mother’s heartbeat at the prenatal environment (Campbell and Scott-Kassner, 156). Rhythm can be witnessed in the movements infants make with others or alone. According to Chau and Riforgiate’s research, listening to music has two impacts. One is what the children learn from listening, and the other is how listening to particular forms of music impact the child’s development outside music environment. Researches conducted show the ability of children to understand different sounds from instruments in different families and also different instruments within same instrument family (Chau and Riforgiate, 5). The research shows children between the ages of 3 to 7 years able to differentiate between different instruments as per size, as well as pitch. Children between the ages of 3 to 4 years could differentiate various musical families but could not differentiate instruments in the same family. This shows how music affects childhood development at different stages. Another research article by Levinowitz argues that early childhood is the duration of quick change and development. The research argues that even the youngest infant can receive music and discriminate it according to differences in frequency, melody and stimuli. Music at this stage is as important to the child as babbling is, when the child tries to talk. Claudia Gold, another researcher, argues that music affects how the brain of a child works. She proves there is scientific evidence that music influences children enhancing communication skills, interpersonal relationships, self regulation, and focusing attention, among others. Jackie Silberg notes that music is of importance to the development of a child because it helps develop language skills. She argues that when children listen to familiar words in songs, their brains build connect to the sounds they hear and the words they sing. Children develop language through keeping a steady beat by clapping hands, stamping feet. Her research finds that young children have the ability to recognize words, sounds, rhythms and pitch even before they can talk, sing or dance. A journal of neuroscience published a study that suggests that musical training before the age of seven affects how children think. This is a report, according to the Science Daily. The research shows that ages between six and eight years are sensitive such that their listening to music affects the development of the mind. The ability of a child to play a musical instrument comes from the ability of the mind to coordinate with the body. The effect of music in children’s minds is evident from early ages because it affects how children think, and the effect follows the children’s activities. Many successful musicians, according to Turner (2004), come from families which practiced music together at home. These families have generational traditions in music. This contributes to how children grow (Turner, 2). Sibal presents research conducted by The International Foundation of Music Research, which finds that babies are aware of music, and can respond to it and different sounds inside their mothers’ wombs. It also says that moments just after birth a child can turn to the direction of the sound. Children learn to recognize their mother’s voices from other peoples. This shows how music contributes to childhood development. Another research by Southgate and Roscigno of Ohio State University argues that music affects an individual’s achievement. The research points that music affects the cognitive of the child, and when their performance is compared with others, they perform better than other children. Music opens up the mind of a child if listened at early ages. Conclusion According to the above research articles and books, music has come out to have effect on the growth of children. The sensitive early years of children contribute much to their future behaviors. The researches have shown that children who get exposed to music at their early ages perform better in other fields than those that have no exposure on music. This is an evidence of the impacts that music has on childhood development. Music opens up a child’s mind in their early days, and it completely affects their lives in the future. Works Cited Campbell, Patricia S, and Carol Scott-Kassner. Music in Childhood: From Preschool Through the Elementary Grades. Boston, MA: Schirmer Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Chau, Christopher and Theresa Riforgiate. The Influence of Music on the Development of Children. 2010. Web. 3 May. 2013 Gold, Claudia M. Music, children and Brain Development. Web. 3. May. 2013 Harris, Maureen. Music and the Young Mind: Enhancing Brain Development and Engaging Learning. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2009. Print. Levinowitz, Lili, M. The Importance of Music in Early Childhood. Web. 3 May. 2013. Science Daily. Early Music Lessons Boost Brain Development. Web. 3. May. 2013 Sibal, Karen. More about Kids: Exploting the Effects of Music on Young Children. Web. 3. May. 2013 Silberg, Jackie. The Importance of Music for Children. Web. 3. May. 2013. Southgate, Darby, E. and Vincent J. Roscigno. The Impact of Music on Childhood and Adolescent Achievement. Web. 3. May. 2013. Turner, Jessica B. Your Musical Child: Inspiring Kids to Play and Sing for Keeps. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard, 2004. Print. Read More