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Have you ever wondered is there any reason to get my kid into a band when you’re in homeschool? We show you why you should have your child join a band right now if you homeschool!
As a whole, playing music in a band while in homeschool benefits your child mentally, socially, and cognitively. Their behavior, teamwork, discipline, and attention span will all improve and enhance the quality of their education, character, and future.
Because you are homeschooling, you can find the most beneficial methods of education to improve and aid the homeschooling journey, so please read on.
Playing in a Band Benefits Their Tempo and Concentration
Playing in a band requires your child to adapt to a new environment and concentrate on the music while playing with others of varying skills. If you have ever seen children playing music together for the first time, you are missing an opportunity for a good laugh. It takes many times of practicing together to get to the point where everyone is playing in unison. My son joined his church worship team in his Sunday school, and it was a real challenge. There was a range of ages and skills.
To play a few tunes in unison, they all needed to concentrate and listen to each other.
My son’s music skills are pretty good, and he plays the drums. That’s an important role. He had to maintain a steady tempo since others relied on him to keep them in tune with the song. It’s not like playing by yourself. When you make a mistake, no one notices or is affected. However, in a band, you all rely on each other to keep in tune and tempo. You all sound good or bad together!
Did you know that playing 1 hour per week boosts memory, hearing, and motor functions and may increase IQ by 7pts or more?
Music Benefits to Kids – First With Kids – UVM Children’s Hospital
A Band Connects Music to a Purpose
Your child might resist wanting to join a band. But we as parents know what’s best for our kids. That’s why we chose to homeschool, right? But there is ample evidence that illustrates kids realize the importance of being in a band. And my son looks forward to playing with his band at church. We also encourage him to have a performance where he is taking drum lessons. Playing an instrument and performing are principal components of his homeschool music curriculum. My son has made this connection because he enjoys it and looks forward to these chances to be with his fellow bandmates.
“The social climate emerged as a pervasive element in the study as students noted the importance of relationships for their well-being and growth.”
A Home away from Home”: The World of the High School Music Classroom
We are also elated that our son is on a worship team and in a band at a young age; he’s seven. He’s getting firsthand experience in a group activity to perform for others. I believe he does feel a sense of accomplishment since he has been practicing for months for this one performance. It’s a great way to give purpose to his practice at home. Since he knows he will be performing on stage, he understands the importance of practicing. There is a purpose for all of the practicing and rehearsals for the music he is playing, and we feel this is extremely important.
Playing Music on Stage is Satisfying
The science behind music and the benefits to children and adults are numerous. But we like the fact that there is evidence that playing together on stage is also a gratifying activity for kids. It leads to further reinforcement of learning and creates a cycle of motivation and music appreciation. That leads to more advantages throughout their lives. Moreover, they also enjoy this activity.
“evidence on the benefits that accrue from participation in music-making suggests that this engagement further enhances these psychological characteristics, thereby creating a positive feedback loop. (Kokotsaki & Hallam, 2007)
Psychological benefits of networking technologies in children’s experience of ensemble music making
Of course, you would expect the opposite to be true. If children don’t enjoy themselves or do not play well for a range of reasons, the likelihood of them dropping out of music is high. One often-cited reason for dropping out of a band was not being able to play in unison and having a low need for fulfillment or a sense of belonging.
One of our favorite recommendations for young kids or even beginners for music is wooden percussion instruments. Check out these types of simple and economical instruments to play if you are just exploring music.
A high need for competence, otherwise known as self-determination, was associated with higher participation in a band. It means kids who have an internal desire to excel at something tend to want to participate more in an ensemble. And many parents feel this is a crucial characteristic to have for self-learning. If you want to learn more about SDT or Self-Determination Theory, this is an informative source to explain it.
Could Playing Music DRASTICALLY Change Your Brain?
“This theory suggests that people are able to become self-determined when their needs for competence, connection, and autonomy are fulfilled.”
Self-Determination Theory and Motivation, Kendra Cherry, MS
Being in a band can fulfill this need to provide your child to become competent, feel a connection, and feel they are in control of their destiny through their experience in a band playing music.
Homeschool Band Practice is Great Socialization
Band practice is like many group activities that require patience, discipline, and concentration. And playing music together has been around since the beginning of man. One of the first instruments unearthed by archaeologists was over 35,000 years old, a flute! It’s how we connect as humans and have fun together. The music brings us together and makes us feel good. Researchers also believe that playing music together increases our cohesion and empathy.
“coordinating movement with another person is linked to the release of pleasure chemicals (endorphins) in the brain, which may explain why we get those positive, warm feelings when we make music together.”
Four Ways Music Strengthens Social Bonds
Practice Effectively!
The practice of music is also beneficial to neural pathways. As you practice and play music together, you increase the grey matter in your brain. And these are the building blocks of the nervous system in your body. The repetition and mastery of a skill promote the growth of the critical parts of your child’s brain. Overall, the cooperation as they play together leads to a greater sense of trust and bond among their peers. And a greater sense of cohesion and satisfaction.
“Family and peer relations, as well as positive emotional experiences in everyday life, are strengthened when music is around”
Music listening in families and peer groups: benefits for young people’s social cohesion and emotional well-being across four cultures
Playing Together in a Band Builds Confidence
Most parents value confidence as an integral component of their child’s character. That’s why we love our son to play in a band. Playing together in an ensemble builds his confidence. The positive feedback loop of his peers and leader helps to solidify a sense of achievement and competence. This is what a band and music-making together foster. As we mentioned earlier, the opposite is also true, and playing by themselves at home and not feeling good about it leads many children to quit.
“A lack of perceived competence is a key reason for children ceasing to play.”
My son also plays team soccer and I can see how this also further strengthens his confidence in what he does. That’s a separate topic, but as homeschoolers, we strive to boost our children’s character and look for tools and activities that enhance their experience. Playing in a group and performing music on stage builds confidence and competence which are transferable to other parts of life. And a well-rounded curriculum, lifelong skills for learning, and isn’t it nice to watch your children play music? Well, that’s why we say you should consider having your child join a band and get started on his music journey!
Here’s my son playing on his electronic drum set which we feel is an awesome way and the only instrument to play in homeschool. Check out the informative article we wrote about it here.
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