What’s so great about music? We all know that music can make us want to jump, dance and tap our feet. But did you know that music has been linked to higher math scores, brain development, and anxiety relief? During the critical early ages of learning, while the brain is still developing, the impact of music is at its highest. But even beyond the younger years, music can still play an important role, providing instruction for tweens, anxiety relief for adults, and even therapy for Alzheimer’s patients.

Psychologists and educators are just beginning to discover the many benefits that music provides for our mental health. While we may all be somewhat familiar with the idea that loud, fast music makes us feel differently than quiet, slow music, research shows that the predictable ways music can influence us goes beyond altering our state. of spirit. Some studies show that we can predictably alter many of our mental states and even heal damaged brains. Another study found that students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) were able to improve their concentration given the results of neurofeedback while listening to background music.

There are many genres of music, and for a student who wants to benefit from the motivational and instructional elements of music, the first step is to properly align their age and interest with a particular music genre. Parents and teachers know that tweens won’t get sucked into listening to music that appealed to them as young children. But while there are plenty of genres and songs to choose from for kids and adults, there are fewer selections for those in between, who could benefit more from the educational value of music.

Educational music for children can be influential to teach values, instructive to memorize the alphabet, for example, and motivating to want to learn more about a subject. Some teachers play “welcome music” as children enter the classroom, which gets their attention and desire to learn more about the topic of the educational song.

Children are hardwired to want to learn, and the teaching approaches that work best are aligned with the learner’s natural learning process and interests. Music for children is a powerful way to connect, motivate and teach young learners, in a method that is not forced, but aligns with their interests and natural desire to learn.