The benefits of music education at home are vast! Making music every day leads to:
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- Strong hand eye coordination
- Improved memory
- Enhanced problem solving abilities
- Better self esteem and study habits
Creating music together at home not only encourages brain development; it also is a powerful tool for creating joy in your family’s life. Our former CEO, Kelly Hoffman, shares a fond family musical memory from her childhood:
“When I was little, I remember watching my grandmother and her brothers and sisters singing around the player piano. They were first-generation Italian immigrants and they loved to sing Sinatra songs. Watching them, I always felt safe, like everything was right in the world.”
A healthy, happy home environment sets a positive foundation, preparing children for life out in the world. A vital part of having a safe and fulfilling home life, especially for young children, is active family togetherness. Creating opportunities for positive family interaction is the best way to foster stronger, more meaningful connections. Making music together is a fantastic, low-stress activity to promote family bonding, helping you grow closer together and create lifelong memories in the process.
Music and family bonding
First, let’s make a distinction: Listening is incredibly enjoyable and an integral part of music education. However, it’s passive and not a collaborative activity. On the other hand, creating music is an active and unifying experience that anyone of any skill level can take part in.
Making music together has been proven to create stronger group dynamics. Recent studies show that when we try to sync with others musically—keeping the beat or harmonizing, for instance—we experience positive social feelings towards those with whom we’re synchronizing. Scientists are unsure exactly why that happens, but it may have something to do with the release of endorphins that results from coordinating movement with another person. In other words, making music together creates warm, positive feelings.
Music works a lot like language does, except instead of words and ideas, feelings and intent are communicated. Much like a dialect, music can be passed down from generation to generation, creating a sense of connection and loyalty within your family unit.
But…I’m not musical! How can I create music with my child when I don’t know anything about music myself?
Great question! There are SO many easy and fun ways for non-musical parents to build a musical environment for their children at home. Check out our article, 7 Ways To Create A Musical Home, for the scoop on that!
How does music create relationships?
Music creates relationships by building connections! A pianist or singer in a group or in lessons is listening to those around them, thinking about the notes they are playing, and thinking of what comes next. Because musicians learn to focus in multiple directions, learning to play music can help students pay better attention – which helps them be better listeners and consequently, more compassionate and kinder friends!
Through the process of learning music and becoming more attentive listeners, children learn valuable life lessons around practice and hard work. Learning to play any instrument strengthens student’s connections to their teachers and to their family because of the time and effort they put into music. To learn more about the social and emotional benefits of music at any age, check out our article about the benefits of playing an instrument.
How does music create a sense of belonging?
Belonging stems from a sense of social connection, which is a key part of our social nature as people! As a universal language, music brings us closer together by expressing deep emotions. When people of any age create music together, participating through trading performances or singing songs, they build relationships. By learning and exploring music, a musician can strengthen their connections and relationships to family and friends.
Experiencing belonging through musical lessons and playing an instrument can be particularly key for young musicians. Being part of a group, like a youth choir or orchestra, offers students a space outside of the family to develop their sense of self. The skills that a child learns in piano lessons — from listening to an instructor to empathizing with a composition — position them to connect with other people and to have a strong sense of their own capability.
How can Hoffman Academy bring the joy of music into my home?
Hoffman Academy’s piano lessons are a great way to bring people together for a fun learning experience. Families with an existing musical background will appreciate the depth and breadth of the learning and music theory. Non-musical families can breathe a sigh of relief that you don’t have to “know” anything to get started. It’s all laid out for you – you simply have to show up, cheer your child on, help them navigate assignments, and, sometimes, sing along! Who knows, you might learn something about music too.