I see evidence every day that playing music fosters and encourages valuable tools for life and learning - self-expression, leadership, communication, creativity, self-esteem and confidence. Bands and orchestras can only be successful if there is focus and dedication from each and every member of the team.
So it was encouraging last week to read the results of the 18 month US study ‘Reinvesting in Arts Education’.
Art, music, drama and other creative activities deserve an "unambiguous place in the curriculum" American researchers said, “Creative subjects lead to significant and lasting benefits for pupil achievement and should be put at the heart of education reforms”.
In addition to gains in student achievement, the report also identified increased motivation and engagement, and improved problem-solving, critical and creative thinking skills as key benefits of arts education.
Decades of research show strong and consistent links between high-quality arts education and a wide range of impressive educational outcomes.
The key findings of the research were:
- Arts education helps increase academic achievement, school engagement and creative thinking.
- Integrating the arts into the teaching of other subjects can dramatically improve results and close the 'achievement gap'.
- Schools that are 'arts-rich' uniquely reach out to disengaged learners.
- Creativity is best developed through arts education.
- Research about the value of arts education is positive and consistent.
Most of us are lucky - our schools recognise the importance of music and the arts but there are also many who don’t or don’t have the resources to deliver what our children deserve. If your school doesn’t offer strong music education, take responsibility yourself to ensure your child gets access to quality music instruction elsewhere. It is a powerful gift which will have spin-off in many areas of their life and learning.
Miranda Rocca | Manager - Lewis Eady Music School
No comments:
Post a Comment