Get Playing
Whether you sing, play an instrument, create or enjoy listening to music, evidence shows that engaging with music from a young age has many benefits. Plus, it's great fun!
Why get playing?
Music is great fun, but did you know it can also support wellbeing and develop teamwork skills? Below, you can find out about some of the many benefits of making music.
Music makes you smile
Music helps with confidence and self-esteem, and plays an important part in nurturing a positive attitude to life. Research shows that listening to music can trigger a release of dopamine to the brain – a ‘feel-good’ chemical released at moments of peak enjoyment as part of our brain’s reward system.
Music is good for your brain
Regularly singing or playing an instrument is linked with improvements in your brain, especially memory and focus. Evidence from neuroscientists in Chile suggests that learning to play a musical instrument improves brain function, in particular attention and working memory.
Music helps you connect
Participation in musical activities helps develop team and organisation skills as well as qualities such as empathy, resilience, and reliability. From fostering patience, listening skills, and group coordination, research suggests that structured musical group improvisations help children develop a sense of empathy.
Music has academic benefits
Music can help support children’s learning in other subjects. Research has shown that music can boost attainment in other academic subjects. For example, a Canadian study found that school music participation is linked to higher exam scores in English, maths, and science.
Music opens a door to a whole world
From gig-going to performing on tour, through music you can meet new people, travel far and wide, and broaden your horizons. Music allows you to meet people from all walks of life and can be a rewarding career or lifelong leisure activity. In fact, in 2019 the UK music industry employed 197,168 people – an all time high.
There are lots of ways to be musical
There are many ways to be a musician. You can sing, play an instrument, create, compose, mix, produce, write lyrics, or simply enjoy listening to music. Youth Music’s research report ‘The Sound of the Next Generation’ found that whilst 30% of young people play an instrument, 67% of young people make music, which includes singing, rapping, DJing, making music on a computer, karaoke, and writing music.
You don't need to spend much to get started
There are lots of opportunities to start learning, and many are free or subsidised. All children aged between 5 and 14 should receive a music education in school as part of the curriculum, and in many cases schools, music services, and other local organisations provide a broad range of music activities including free or subsidised access to instrumental lessons, ensembles, performance opportunities, and instrument hire.
You don't need to be an expert to help your child learn
Show an interest, encourage your child, and create time and space for learning. Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason and her husband Stuart are not professional musicians themselves, but have raised seven children who are all studying and performing music to a very high level, including 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year winner, Sheku. In her keynote at the 2020 Music Mark Annual Conference, Dr Kanneh-Mason emphasised that supporting musical progression as a parent is not about being a ‘superhero’ but nurturing the potential in every child.
Music is for life
A love of music lasts a lifetime. There are over 13,500 adult leisure-time music groups across the UK, enhancing wellbeing and creating a sense of community. Studies carried out with instrumental and vocal groups have repeatedly shown how music-making contributes to positive wellbeing and a sense of community in participants of all ages, as well as developing musical skills and enjoyment.
Music is rewarding
Improving musical skills takes time, patience, and perseverance, but the rewards are significant – the more you put in, the more you get out. South London rapper, Dave, went from performing on his own YouTube channel in 2015 to performing at the Brits in 2020. Laura Mvula, award-winning singer-songwriter, began her career studying classical piano and violin as a child, progressing from Grade 1 through to Grade 8.
Download Your Get Playing Resources
We have created an A3 illustrated poster available in English and Welsh which is free to download and use. Why not print one off to display in your community and celebrate musical learning?
Music Mark Members can download a further pack of illustrated assets to use in addition to the poster. Login to your account and download the resources here.
Do you work at a music hub or service? We have created some additional resources specifically for you. Please get in touch to find out more.
