Music practice can be a challenging activity for students, especially during exam time. The usual trend especially among Indian families is to stop all other activities during the exam time and focus solely on studying. At such a juncture, it can be tempting to put away your child’s instrument and stop them practising music. However, allowing them to continue their music practice during school exams has many benefits.
More significantly, music acts as a powerful tool that can help students cope with things like the stress and pressure of exam time. And not just that, music can do more! Here are some ways that music can assist students during their exam time.
Should My Child Continue Practising Music?
Yes, they can and they should continue practising music. Why? Here are some of the ways in which music can help students during exams.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Numerous researches have proven that listening to music can reduce the levels of stress hormones in the body, such as cortisol. Music can also slow down the breathing rate, lower heart rate, and induce a state of relaxation. Alternatively, playing an instrument can also have the same effect, as it requires you to focus on the present moment and let go of any distracting thoughts.
Boosts Concentration and Focus
Music can help your child to concentrate and focus better, especially when studying or doing assignments. Certain types of music, such as classical or instrumental music, enhance your cognitive function, improving focus and attention span. Listening to music without lyrics can be particularly helpful as it allows you to focus fully on your work and avoid all the distractions.
Music Practice Improves Memory
Did you know that playing an instrument or even just singing involves using different areas of the brain? When done over a long period of time, it results in enhanced brain function, including memory. Additionally, the process of learning new music, reading sheet music or memorising notes, chords or patterns and practising different pieces/songs strengthens neural connections in the brain. This exercise for the brain can improve overall cognitive performance.
In essence, music practice can improve focus and concentration, which is vital during exam periods. Children can study more productively and perform better in their exams.
Improves Mood and Keeps Children Motivated
Most students dread exams. You also must have had a moment in your childhood where you thought “why do we have to give these exams?” Well, that’s where music can help. Listening to your favourite tune or song can boost your mood and motivate you to a great extent. It can energize you, lift your spirits, and increase your sense of well-being.
In fact, research has shown that listening to upbeat music can help to reduce fatigue and increase feelings of pleasure and excitement. This can be especially helpful during exam time, when students may feel overwhelmed or demotivated.
Stimulates Creativity
Music can be a powerful source of inspiration and can stimulate creativity. Listening to music can help your child unlock a high level of imagination, promote creative thinking, and help your child approach studies from a fresh perspective. It can also provide a welcome break from more traditional academic activities, which can help prevent burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Music practice can improve one’s problem-solving skills. As your child practises, they may encounter challenges that require creative solutions. Overcoming those challenges, whether it’s learning a difficult piece or improvising, can enhance their creativity and help them think outside the box. The bottom line is that developing creative skills can be useful not just in music, but also in other areas of life.
Music Practice Teaches Discipline and Time Management
When a child learns to play an instrument or sing, it requires regular practice. As students engage in such activities they learn to be disciplined and also develop time management skills. Besides, consistent practice helps to build good habits, improve skills, and reach goals. In addition, by making time for music practice, students can learn to manage their time more effectively, which is valuable from an exams perspective.
Building a Sense of Community
This is an indirect benefit of music learning that can help children and students. Music learning can help to build a sense of community and connection. When children play music with others, they get to meet new people, make friends, and develop social and teamwork skills. It can also provide a sense of purpose and identity. This can be especially helpful for students who may be feeling lost or uncertain during exam time.
All in all, whether your child listens to music, plays an instrument, or sings, incorporating music into their study routine can be a great way to support their overall well-being and academic success.
So, continuing their music practice during school exams is not just beneficial for their musical abilities but also for their overall well-being and even academic performance. By reducing stress, improving cognitive function, enhancing creativity, teaching discipline and time management, and building self-confidence, music practice can help every child to be a more effective student and a more fulfilled individual. So, let them keep practising music, and enjoy the many benefits that come with it.
At, Music Pandit school we have seen students who are inclined to music and practise it tend to often do well in their academics as well.
