Music influence in the children’s development

In 2017, the American Occupational Therapy Association reported that it is “seeing a trend nationwide of children not developing the muscles in their hands that control motor skills”. Overuse of iPads, tablets, where the user watches passively, has meant that traditional activities such as colouring, cutting with scissors, grasping, stacking blocks are often overlooked. 

The study of an instrument could help to reserve this trend. Take the piano it requires the performer to use two hands, ten fingers and a range of articulations (where notes are held or released), dynamics and rhythms concurrently. As one example, the ABRSM piano syllabus contains many instances where a firm “pincer” grip is needed. In the last bar of “Happy Day” (C:1), the performer must hold the RH thumh down while adding two extra notes in the upper part of the hand. The resulting chord will not sound cleanly unless the thumh firmly grips the first note. The triads in “Minuet in C” (A:2) require a similar strong tone but this time in a forte context. And “The Echo” (B:2) demands strong even fingers in both closed and open hand positions. 

Play an instrument give the children the opportunity to grow up in a multi-sensorial environment that develop their skills.

Cheshire School of Music, based in Macclesfield, offers excellent teachers to help you in the early stages of the wonderful music world.