Why do schools need music?

Aspects of all other school subjects can be taught through music. Pick a subject - any subject - and you’ll find a link. The science of sound, the mathematical complexities of rhythm and metre, the influence of historical events on people and music.

Aside from the opportunities for cross-curricular teaching it presents, music can help pupils to develop their vocabulary, improve memory and increase their verbal IQ. Research has found that children who learn music from a young age find it easier to learn new languages, even in adulthood.

Yet, aside from all the academic benefits, schools need music because it is good for the soul. It has been widely reported that pupils are increasingly suffering from stress due to the pressure of exams and standardised tests. Music is a powerful stress-buster, because it grounds us in the present moment and gives us a release for our emotions.  

Drumming has been proven to be particularly effective in reducing stress and anxiety and promoting mindfulness. Group drumming offers the added benefit of feeling connected to the rest of the group and experiencing a sense of belonging and community.

The importance of creativity and music in our schools

I recently had the pleasure of delivering a keynote speech at the Latin American Heads Conference. The key theme of my presentation was the importance of creativity and music in our schools.

Throughout the presentation, I referenced influential thinkers from all walks of life. They all know that the arts have a role to play in helping us to grow - both as individuals and as a society. Here are three of the quotes I shared at the Latin American Heads Conference.
 

What does Sir Ken Robinson have to say about creativity in schools?

When delivering my keynote, it made sense to lean on the words of one of the most inspiring keynote speakers in the world. Sir Ken Robinson is one of the leading educationalists in the world, delivering wildly popular speeches for TED and the RSA. Here's a video of his, now legendary, 'Do schools kill creativity?' TED talk.

If you haven't got a spare 20-minutes to watch the whole thing, then let me summarise with one Sir Ken Robinson quote:

Creativity now is as important in education as literacy.

 

 

It's a bold statement. Literacy (along with numeracy) is the absolute centre of attention for teachers. SATs, the EBacc, Progress 8 and Attainment 8 all lend weight to literacy and numeracy. Music and the other creative subjects are either excluded (SATs and EBacc) or given less weight (Progress 8 and Attainment 8).

Sir Ken recognises that creativity is, and will continue to be, a core driver of our economy. It is the factor that will allow us to differentiate ourselves in the jobs market.

If that's the case, then music and the other arts seem like a sensible starting point to me.
 

What did Picasso have to say about the arts?

It's hard to think of a more ground-breaking individual than Pablo Picasso. His remarkably individual paintings transformed our understanding of the word 'art' and contributed to an explosion of creativity in the 20th century.

He took his fair share of criticism too. It would be an understatement to say that he divided opinion in the art world. I took years for his ideas to become sufficiently accepted that they were included in schools.

Picasso wasn't just a trailblazer when it came to creating art. He was singing Sir Ken Robinson's tune long before TED was even conceived.

 

 

All children are born artists – the problem is to remain an artist as we grow up.

In other words, Picasso felt that our upbringing and education combine to take away our creativity. That 'adult society' gets in the way of our creative development. Sir Ken could have easily used this quote as an alternative title for his 'Do schools kill creativity?' keynote.
 

What did Hans Christian Andersen have to say about music?

 

Despite being best known for writing fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen was a prolific author, playwright and poet. Clearly, he understood the value of music. He is the man responsible for this well known quote:

Where words fail, music speaks.

Clearly words did not fail Mr Andersen when he wrote these five. He knew that music is a medium that allows us to communicate thoughts and feelings. Especially those we often struggle to put into words.

Why would we limit children's creativity by teaching them the limited vocabulary of English and not the broader language of music?
 

Your quotes about music in schools

At Beat Goes On, we would like to hear your thoughts on the importance of creativity and music in our schools. Why do the arts deserve a place in the curriculum? What role do they have to play?

If you can summarise your thoughts to the length of a tweet, send them to us on Twitter (@BeatGoesOnUK). If you need a bit more space, then try our Facebook Page. We'll take the best quotes and use them as the basis for a future blog post.
 

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Ollie Tunmer is Director at Beat Goes On, delivering body percussion and samba drumming workshops to schools across the UK and around the world. A former cast member of the hit show STOMP, Ollie has been delivering workshops since 2001. As well as delivering CPD sessions to music specialists, Ollie also promotes the use of music as a means of encouraging well-being, both for individuals and schools. After a recent workshop, one school said:

“Our young people visibly developed their confidence and team working skills and the atmosphere was truly inspiring and energising.”