According to Stan Ellis, band director at the Old Hammondtown School in Mattapoisett and Old Rochester Regional High School, “Younger children tend to learn quite a bit through repetition, and there is no greater example of the power of repetition than in music.”
Ellis is not alone. Dr. Carol Nicholeris, assistant professor of elementary music, has done extensive research on brain development and music and notes that music crosses all areas of brain function, unlike speech, which is centered in particular areas of the brain. Dr. Nicholeris believes music is a vital part of child development.
Other proponents of using music to teach claim that it can help with language development, character building, self-esteem and socialization. When learning an instrument is introduced, the benefits are better hand-eye coordination and improved motor skills. Music has also been shown to help students develop a better understanding of core academic subjects—especially when music is used in conjunction with other subjects to teach content.
According to Ilchi Lee, originator of the Brain Education System Training (BEST) and author of Power Brain Kids, “All human creations—our art, our architecture our technologies—begin with the brain.”
Sound, the rhythm and music of life, is one of our earliest human experiences. By keeping the sound of music alive for our children—at home and in school—we can give them the full power of their brains. We can give them the power to create.
Popular Brain Tips 
Most of us started our lives listening to our parents sing lullabies. Today, as parents, we continue to do the same with our children. We even play “Baby Mozart” and other classical music to babies before they are born. So it’s not surprising that most children enjoy music and continue to enjoy it into adulthood. However, what may be surprising is how valuable music can be as a tool for teaching.
