Are Music Lessons Worth It?
Does your child love singing, tinkering around on the piano or pounding on the drum? Have they asked you repeatedly to sign them up for lessons? If so, we’ve got the breakdown of costs and benefits of music lessons for kids.
The average cost of private music lessons ranges from $15-$50 per half hour; it will vary depending on location and the expertise of teacher. Depending on the rate, private lessons cost parents $1,000 to $2,000 a year. This may make you wonder, are music lessons really worth it? Here are some short and long term benefits of music lessons to help you decide.
Discipline
Learning to play beautiful music doesn’t happen overnight. All students must start from the beginning playing scales and mastering basic skills. In our society, instant gratification is the norm. Music teaches the value of patience and discipline because children must set aside time for practice and make it part of their routine in order to further their skills.
Work ethic
Music teaches children a good work ethic because they see the value of practice as they improve and reach new achievements. Students will learn how dedication creates good results, while failing to do all the necessary practice results in mediocre results. These lessons can carry into school studies and future careers. Here are some tips to help inspire your kid to practice their instrument without tears.
Memory
Is your child always forgetting things? Music requires kids to practice memorization. Even if sheet music is used, students memorize how to play each note and the sheet music eventually becomes a guide. Students can use their developing memorization skills in a variety of ways in school and at home.
Math and language skills
Music helps develop math and language skills that give kids an edge in school and life. According to the National Association for Music Education, “Students who have early musical training will develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning. The left side of the brain is better developed with music.”
Teamwork
Teamwork isn’t just for sports. Music students will have opportunities to participate in a band or orchestra. This provides kids experience working as part of a team and a sense of camaraderie. Teamwork helps kids develops social skills that they will use for a lifetime.
Confidence and social development
Kids will gain confidence as they begin to perform music for an audience. This helps kids learn to face their fears and builds self-esteem. As kids build up this confidence, they are more likely to boost their communication skills and have increased social development.
Lifelong challenge
In music, there is always room for improvement. This creates the opportunity for students of any age to improve and challenge themselves for many years to come.
Stress relief
Since the 1950s, there has been a steady increase in rates of childhood anxiety. Playing an instrument can be an outlet for kids. Music can be relaxing and a form of stress relief, as well as a way to express yourself creatively and feel a sense of control over an aspect of life. Kids who have this outlet are less likely to find negative ways to relieve stress such as drugs and alcohol in the future.
Improved coordination
Kids who play instruments develop strong hand-eye coordination and multitasking skill. Just like in sports, playing an instrument requires these skills and develops their motor skills.
Introduces children to other cultures
Through music kids are exposed to other cultures, teaching them awareness and empathy for others. This helps them become more accepting of other cultures at an early age. Discovering a style of music from a different culture can spark a child’s curiosity and lead them to studying a new language, too.
My daughter recently started taking piano lessons. As I sat in the room observing her first lesson, I witnessed something. As she played her first chord,a smile spread across her face. It was clear she has a true love for music. To me, this makes the cost of lessons worth it. Each parent will have to weigh the costs and benefits of signing their child up for lessons to decide if they’re are truly worth the cost.