A study has found that taking part in an activity like choir or band can make children more resilient. Parents are trying to raise their children to be respectable, and productive members of society. They will reach a moment when they are ready to leave the nest and go out in the world.
This means that parents are trying to instill certain traits in their children that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Things like being kind, empathetic, and generous are all traits that parents would like their children to have, but they also want them to be resilient.
They want them to be able to face the challenges that come their way and to come out stronger at the end of hardships. According to The Conversation, a new study has found that being part of choir, orchestra or band can help to make children more resilient.
The study was done on participants of the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra, and the results can be read in full here. They looked at accomplished musicians that were between the ages of 14 to 25. They collected comments from musicians, coaches, and teachers and then did follow-up interviews.
The results showed that qualities like teamwork, empathy, and grit are all developed through group music-making. These three traits are the framework for resilience, and making sure children can get through adversity and tough times. There are specific examples of how this happens through group music. In order to make music, every single person has to work together.
It doesn’t matter how large, or small, their instrument is, they have to work in harmony to make a song. They need to know and acknowledge the value of every single person's contribution to the group. This means that they have to care about each other, and this is where empathy comes in. They have to be willing to give others the spotlight when the time calls for it, and be OK with it.
Playing an instrument and being in a band or orchestra also involves a lot of hard work. It involves a lot of practice outside of regular band hours and working constantly on their skills. It is about learning new, and more challenging music. When you add in all of these elements, it is easy to see how being part of a musical community can help children become more resilient.
Sources: The Conversation, University of Tasmania