The Benefits
The Benefits of Singing
In the last few years, with the advent of ‘High School Musical’ , “Hannah Montana’ followed by ‘Glee’, singing in a choir has become a ‘cool’ thing to do.
A host of studies have proven the benefits of introducing children to music at an early age and the positive impact this has on their development.“the potential benefits are huge.”
Children involved in our choir grow in confidence and develop many other fundamental skills which aid their learning throughout their education.
Singing encourages a child to express their emotions and sharpens their ability to communicate while exercising lip and tongue movement. But one of the biggest benefits of singing is the repeated use of the ‘memory muscle’.
Professor Susan Hallam* of the Institute of Education University London has been researching the impact of music on children for many years and her research indicates exposure to music helps the ‘development of perceptual, language and literacy skill, as well as numerical, Intellectual, creative and social development of children.
The research found that singing can be a great teaching tool for children and can be used as a creative and fun way to increase enjoyment and achievement in subject areas where children normally struggle.
Research published by Katie Overy** indicates that the development of temporal processing skills through music training may improve the literacy skills of children with dyslexia.
‘Many children do not think of singing as “work” and willingly participate in sessions.
Singing can be used as a tool to increase enjoyment and participation in a number of different subjects.
A skilled singing tutor can cover subjects as diverse as English, numeracy, science, languages, and culture, to name but a few.’
Professor Graham F Welch***, of the Institute of Education, compiled a report for the government on the benefits of singing…download the overview of the report.
In addition, to the proven benefits of singing, by emphasising VIAM’s theme of Adoption, feedback from schools has shown that children taking part are gaining a better understanding of what it means to be ‘adopted’ and the importance of a family. In some cases this has translated into the classroom; and ‘adopted’ pupils speaking to the morning assembly.
*The Universal Language
The power of music: its impact on the intellectual, social and personal
development of children and young people…download pdf
** Kate Overy is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh; and in 2005 along with Prof Nigel Osborne to establish the IMHSD. Since then the Institute for Music in Human and Social Development has brought together researchers, theorists and practitioners from disciplines including psychology, medicine, neuroscience, informatics, physics, education, linguistics and music. Their aim is to inform both the scientific understanding and practical application of music as a therapeutic, educational, artistic and social tool.
***Professor Graham Welch holds the Institute of Education, University of London Established Chair of Music Education and is Head of the Institute’s Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education. He is President of the International Society for Music Education (ISME), elected Chair of the internationally based Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research (SEMPRE) and past Co-Chair of the Research Commission of ISME