The Effects of Music on Children as They Mature

Did you know when Alzheimer’s patients hear a song they were familiar with

between the ages of seven and nineteen, they could remember the people, events,

and places they associated with those songs? All of this is possible because of a

study that has proven the medial pre-frontal cortex region of the brain keeps track

of our memories. This region sits right behind the forehead and acts like recent

Oscar host Hugh Jackman singing and dancing down Hollywood’s memory lane. "It

calls back memories of a particular person or place, and you might all of a sudden see

that person's face in your mind's eye," said Petr Janata, a cognitive neuroscientist at

University of California, Davis. Another study has proven that students who receive at

least three years of instruction on learning to play a musical instrument outscore their

control counterparts who have no musical training. These students had enhanced verbal

ability and nonverbal reasoning, which resulted in higher test scores and more improved

S.A.T. scores as they continued instruction in high school. These are only a few of the

reasons that music is essential to the growth and development of children as well as

senior adults.
I want you to close your eyes. Now, think about your favorite song. What special
memories did you associate with this song? How does it make you feel to think
about those memories and the people and places in them? You were able to do this
because of your medial pre-frontal cortex, the part of the brain that sits right behind
your forehead and controls your memories. "It calls back memories of a particular
person or place, and you might all of a sudden see that person's face in your mind's eye,"
said Petr Janata, a cognitive neuroscientist at University of California, Davis. Good
evening, my name is Sarah Shaw and I believe that music is the most powerful
communicator of thought and emotion and a true academic course of study
essential. Recent studies have proven that children who are active in music
programs throughout their elementary and middle school years of education will
outscore and be more focused than their peers who are not musically active. These
students have enhanced verbal ability and nonverbal reasoning, which resulted in higher
test scores and more improved S.A.T. scores as they continued instruction in high school.
They will also have healthier brains and stronger memories as they age.

In research, I learned more than I expected. I was aware that music did wonders for
the mind but I wasn’t aware of the magnitude of its power. So much research has
been done on how music affects the brain and it was kind of hard for me to choose
just one topic. Music is something I love so I decided to do my research on how
music increases longevity of the brain in youth and senior citizens. Through
researching about the brain and how music affects it I learned that music is so much
more than just something you listen to. Being in band and around music and talking
to all of the people who are in that program with me made me notice the people who
maybe don’t rhythm and are not as intelligent as those who do. I have also learned
that music improves the vocabulary and thinking skills of students who are
musically active. Many researchers believe that the earlier a child is exposed to
music, the more the brain responds to different music tones. We know that children
are easily able to imitate musical phrases and songs. As toddlers, they love to bang
on pots and pans, searching for that certain beat that they play over and over again –
it’s their way of expressing their feelings and emotions. As they get older, they sing,
improvise, move and dance and are often introduced to instruments and formal
music instruction. In general terms, it basically confirms what we already know –
that as human beings, music is an inherent part of who we really are, and its
exposure during a child’s early years can have significant effects on their overall
well-being that last well into adulthood. If anything, the research has made us more
aware of the value of introducing our children and younger generation to music
while they are very young. What’s most important is that we provide our younger
generation with a rich and varied environment that promotes their overall growth
and development. Music can definitely play a key role in creating an enriching and
stimulating environment for our children.