How+does+music+and+the+arts+affect+students+emotional+growth?


 * Research Question: How does music impact a student's emotional development and growth?**
 * Author: Kathryn Hollowell**

//**Overall Reactions and Summary**//

Researching this topic was very rewarding and enlightening for me as a music student, and future music educator, myself. I learned the direct emotional benefits that music can provide for everyone, especially for children. Children are at the most impressionable and developmentally ready. Integrating music into a child's life can help set them up for success because of several reasons. Stable emotions and confidence are one of those reasons. Self expression lets a person grow and be less stressed in life, creating opportunities for positive development.


 * //Research//**

//"Music in Children" // The editorial “Music in Children” encompasses the fight the keep music in school. Harrison Schneider, the author, argues that “Music is crucial to humanity,” and that ridding schools of it would be unthinkable. It is pointed out how music works with the brain to help on other subjects. Standardized test scores in reading and math tend to be higher for musicians as well. Also graduation rates are 18% higher in schools with music programs. Then Schneider talks about the emotional benefits that music can have on a young student. It is believed that, “music creates an emotional outlet for angry and frustrated students.” Those students have a way of redirecting those emotions which they might now have had otherwise. Students with music tend to use less drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and music students tend to volunteer willingly. This is related to a self-esteem boost that music provides for students. Social skills are also increased through participating in a music program. The teamwork used in an ensemble setting directly relates to real world teamwork needed in the workplace.

I believe this editorial covers all of the basic benefits to music in a concise format that is easy to read. The emotional aspect of music was the focus of my research, and although this editorial does not primarily focus on music it still provides helpful incite. At all levels of schooling students are subjected to emotional situations, but especially so in higher schooling. Not dealing with the emotional outbursts can lead to, as said, drugs, etc. Music provides that "outlet" that keeps students on a better path thus helping their growth and development.

The Music in Children.: Points of View Reference Center Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2013, from []

//“Time to make a song and dance with kids; Parents who don’t sing or dance with their children are missing out on huge developmental benefits – plus a lot of fun” // The article from South Wales Echo is titled, “Time to make a song and dance with kids; Parents who don’t sing or dance with their children are missing out on huge developmental benefits – plus a lot of fun” and is written by Lisa Salmon. The focus of this article is on the emotional and developmental aspects that songs, or music in general, plus dance have on children. Studies have shown that music helps children with “lifelong emotional wellbeing.” But it also mentions that not nearly enough parents provide the songs and dance for their children. Professor Patricia Riddell says that parents are really missing out on “important opportunities to aid their children’s development.” Creating an environment where music and dance is encouraged helps to relieve stress, which in turn helps development.

This article focuses on the benefits of music early on in a child's life and the developmental and emotional importance it has for children. The parents are supposed to begin a child early with music but that is not always the case. It's important to have music in schools to help create that positive, stress relieving environment that is so important to children. This is especially true if there is a lack of music in the home.

LISA SALMON. (2013, August 1). Time to make a song and dance with the kids; Parents who don’t sing or dance with their children are missing out on huge developmental benefits - plus a lot of fun. //South Wales Echo//, pp. 18–19.

 //"The Use of Drumming"// In the article titled “The Use of Drumming” it talks about the importance on reconnecting to your real self through the use of drumming. The authors believe that while growing up children are subjected to experiences that shape them. Yet, because those experiences teach children what is correct in the world, it creates disconnect with self-trust. Music, with its cognitive boosting abilities can help that. Drumming especially helps to, “facilitate emotional healing in growth,” in school aged children. This has helped children with depression, stress, anxiety, tension, and moods overall. Drumming serves as a release for negative emotions and lets positive emotions flow in more readily. It also helps with more personal expression that helps a person connect with themselves.

This was one of the stronger articles that I have found. It really focused directly on what music can do for a person, especially emotionally. Drumming incorporates the rhythmic part of music without the melodic aspect, but it is exactly that which can really connect with us. We have our own drum beat going all the time – our heart beat. This connection might be the key, as <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">suggested in the article, between the emotional growths experienced when exposed to drumming.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Sideroff, S., & Angel, S. (2013). The Use of Drumming. //Annals of Psychotherapy & Integrative Health//, //16//(2), 70–81

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">"Arts Education" // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Music and the arts are, “a unique, valuable way to grow intellectually, socially and emotionally,” according to the article “Arts Education”. Beth Baker, the author, sees that most people believe that the arts are a critical part of schooling, yet funding is still diminishing for these programs. Music and the arts are highly motivating and help connect people to one another. Not nearly enough information and research has been done to help correct this. Schools are not required to report in their arts programs to the government so little data is available. Also studies done seem to vary on results with any negative results ignored. New York University’s Ravitch expressed that, “They’re important for our spirit and soul and humanness,” meaning that the arts, whether good for school or not, are important for us as people. Yet, schools know that the arts create new opportunities and help people in ways that are beneficial. The main problem is getting that funding to let an arts program of any kind fully grow.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> This article is centered around the education part of the debate on the arts. It confirms the beliefs established in previous articles, but acknowledges that making these program a reality is the main problem. It pains me to see that people, especially in poorer communities, are not able to gain a meaningful connection to the arts. If music was not a part of my life I know that I would be nowhere near who I am today. It has the ability to support children emotionally, socially, etc. Why not give it more of a chance?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Beth Baker. (n.d.). Arts Education. //CQ Researcher by CQ Press//. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The web site that I found contained an article on listening to music and controlling emotions as well as classroom learning. This article stresses the importance emotions play in people’s lives even saying, “Emotional regulation, is critical for a child’s mental and physical health.” The development of a person’s emotional regulation begins early in life in patterns. In therapy, music is a great way to help a child or anyone really. It helps reconnect a person to emotions and improves moods. There have been cases where music therapy has worked when nothing else has. A young boy was able to curb his aggression and depression and was able to attend school to learn. Another case involved a rape victim who was able to manage her severe anxiety through music therapy. Teachers in schools are not music therapists but they can integrate music into the school day. And most importantly everyone knows, “emotions affect student performance.” A stressed, emotionally unstable child could benefit greatly from some music integration in their schools.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">This final source combined both the importance of music and emotions. There was a little more on the music therapy side of things but that just means that music can help everyone. There is psychological benefits to using music to overcome trauma. When a person is able to do that they can progress in life and usually be very successful. If music can be integrated more in school, outside of the music department, there could be massive improvements.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Lucille M. Foran. (2013). Listening to Music: Helping Children Regulate Their Emotions and Improve Learning in the Classroom. //educational HORIZONS//.