THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC IN THE CLASSROOM

The Benefits of Music in the Classroom on

Social Anxiety, Quality of School Life, and Increased Brain Functions
Cynthia Acosta
California State University Dominguez Hills

THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC IN THE CLASSROOM

The Benefit of Music in the Classroom on

Social Anxiety, Quality of School Life, and Increased Brain Functions
Music is an international language that is adored by many and practiced by few. There are
many benefits to learning to play a music instrument and therefore music should be included in
elementary curriculum. Music allows students to express themselves, especially students that do
not feel as comfortable publically speaking, and it also helps the social aspect of school by
enhancing the quality of school life. The last benefit music has is creating stronger and
healthier minds which can help the brain tackle other subjects more easily.
Music allows students to express themselves in a form other than traditional school
writing and reading. It is an international language in which students can express themselves
through without feeling the social anxiety some may have with public speaking. I know this from
personal experience. I was lucky enough to have gone to a school where music (singing and
instrumental) is taught from K-12. I was not an outgoing in person, but playing my instrument
gave me confidence and a way to express myself that I did not know how to do through writing
or through a presentation. Music is significant because if taught well, anyone can achieve
proficiency in it and can express him or herself through it. But teachers alone, without the help of
schools, cannot be expected to give such a musical education that I was given. However, music
can be accomplished in the classroom in more realistic ways. Once a week teachers can have
"music time" where students can explore different types of music from different areas of the
world (ex: African drum music, Scottish bag pipe music). The class together can even invest in a
project of building their own percussion instruments from recycled material, such as trashcans

THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC IN THE CLASSROOM

and old silver wear. All of these examples provide students with exposure to music, and can help
students break out of their shell and social anxiety.
How students perceive schools is also known as the quality of school life (QSL), and
music can actually help improve the way students feel towards school. A majority of the time
students spend in school is done sitting at a desk or on the carpet for some grades. Music allows
students to rest their mathematical minds or their reading mouths and lets them explore the area
of sound. In Erola P. and Erola T. (2014) article, a study was done in ten Finnish schools testing
the quality of school life, according to the children, before and after integrating music into the
classroom. It was found that after music was included there was an increase in general
satisfaction of the school and in personal achievement. Overall, the music created social
benefits in the school (Erola P and Erola T, 2014). Not all students have the same talents, and
exposing students to other areas of art are a great way for them to explore any hidden talents they
might have. Showing students there is more than one way to be successful increases their feeling
of accomplishment. Incorporating this into the classroom can include activities such as a career
day where students and the teacher explore careers that include musicians, composers, movie
score writers, and other forms of art. Teachers can show students that school is enjoyable and
increase their general satisfaction with it.
Music should also be included into the classroom because it strengthens the brain.
According to Collins (2014), musicians experience a full body workout in their brain when they
play an instrument. Using brain-measuring tools, it was found that the brain lite up when a
musician played music! Almost all areas of the brain are activated when playing music,
specifically the visual, auditory, and motor cortexes. Continued practice with music strengthens
the brain functions, which can later be used in other subject areas such as problem solving in

THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC IN THE CLASSROOM

Math or creative writing in English. Listening to music has some benefits, but playing music
requires motor skills meaning both hemispheres of the brain are being activated. Musicians can
therefore solve problems more productively and creatively, and they also retrieve and store
memory quicker (Collins, 2014). Ms. Grebow, a teacher at Valley Christian Elementary School I
spoke to recently shared with me she used the tambourine, a simple instrument, to help students
with learning syllables. She would give the students a word, and they used the tambourine to
help them figure out how many syllables it had. For example, watermelon was pronounced using
the tambourine to the beat as wa-ter-me-lon. Techniques like this can introduce students to
music, while activated bother hemispheres of their brain and incorporating language.
Overall, music helps shy students become more open, disinterested students become
more involved, and helps all brains get a great workout. Music should be included in the
elementary curriculum in a way that can be easily integrated by teachers but also gives students
the full benefit of the wonders of playing an instrument. Teachers should consider taking small
steps to introducing music, ultimately building stronger brains and happier students.

THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC IN THE CLASSROOM

References
Collins, A. (2014). How playing an instrument benefits your brain - Anita Collins | TED-Ed
[Video file]. Retrieved from http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-playing-an-instrument
benefits-your-brain-anita-collins
Eerola, P., & Eerola, T. (2014). Extended Music Education Enhances the Quality of School Life.
Music Education Research, 16(1), 88-104