What can Music bring to my child?

In 1964, anthropologist Alan P. Merriam presented the the following functions of music. To this
day, they have been used as a framework for the philosophy of music education, and help us
better understand how music will be essential in the development of your child.

1. Emotional expression: Your child will have a healthy means of understanding and
expressing their emotions should they have a well rounded education that includes the
study of music.

2. Aesthetic enjoyment: Music has the ability to tap into emotions and means of expression
that go beyond words for students. It opens up doors for a language students have yet to
fully understand but can with time and patience.

3. Entertainment: Everyone enjoys music, and everyone deserves to be a part of that

enjoyable experience. Studying music allows students to recognize when they are listening
to music in the media and enjoy it even more.

4. Communication: Societally, we have means by which we can express emotions that are
non-verbal. This communication is key in a student’s success in their given family,
community, and culture.

5. Symbolic representation: Students will be given the opportunity to understand a deeper

meaning of musical sounds. Understanding what these sounds mean on a deeper level will
push their thinking to allow them to grow their own personal body of knowledge by making
connections between different melodies and meters in a familial, communal, and societal
context.

6. Physical response: Music has been used for dancing and other physical activity for
generations. When children experience music in a physical way, they have an easier time
growing as a musician and understanding how their body works as a percussive
instrument.

7. Enforcement of conformity to social norms: Music can be used to teach lessons that need
to be understood by young students. Societally, we use music and the lessons in the text
to have students grow into a moral code that aligns with society.

8. Validation of social institutions and religious rituals: Music has been used in religious
services and state occasions since their inception. A child who understands music can
have a firmer understanding of how to participate in social rituals and religious experiences.
Anything from singing in a church choir, to following along with the national anthem at a
sports game can help them validate their place in these institutions.

9. Contribution to the continuity and stability of culture: Music has always been an expression
of cultural values. History, literature, and social morals have been transferred through time
in music and offer children one of the best understandings of their given culture.

10. Contribution to the integration of society: Music is a shared experience through society, and
children have the ability to be socialized through musical experiences.