The Magic of Singing

From North State Parent January 2016 article by Christina Katz

50 Reasons to Encourage Your Kids to Raise Their Voice

Singing is healthy physically, psychologically, and socially, whether your child’s singing is pitch-perfect or not. Once you consider the many benefits singing can have on any member of your family, you may even decide to set aside your own daily singing time, and start to look for ways to get your whole family singing together and with others.

To lift spirits and lighten moods
To learn to express a range of feelings
To recognize song patterns, rhythms & rhymes
To find comfort or solace
To get involved in the arts
To improve articulation
To make any experience more fun
To release frustration
To encourage creativity
To relax the body
To inspire imagination
To develop a stronger musical ear
To become a better listener
To develop memorization skills
To recover from disappointment
To calm anxious verves
To increase self-confidence
To learn new words
To expose yourself to different song styles
To improve math aptitude
To learn about history
To improve body rhythm
To stimulate brain development
To experience joy
To become a better communicator
To exercise the lips, tongue, mouth, and face
To feel more grounded and present
To cause endorphins to flow
To develop leadership skills
To share something special with others
To aid healing
To carry on traditions
To improve the quality of your singing voice
To find a more natural speaking voice
To develop a sense of musical artistry
To release oxytocin, a natural stress reliever, in the brain
To sleep better at night
To improve your posture
To exercise the lungs, abdomen, and rib muscles
To boost your immune system
To open up your sinuses and respiratory tubes
To develop a healthier breathing pattern
To feel individual power
To participate in something positive
To have the experience of reaching goals
To appreciate all forms of music better
To develop a sense of command over your voice and body
To make music for free or inexpensively
To remember you are an instrument
To make your life rich with music

Singing is not the only way to achieve all of the above. Any form of music training will show a positive effect on reading ability and phonological awareness. Positive things also include enhanced hand-eye co-ordination, rhythm development, and improved reading and memorization skills, especially with the introduction of instruments. Shyer kids become more confident while singing or playing simple instruments. If music is included in school curriculum, students return to their regular class work refreshed and ready to focus. Music shouldn’t be done just because it’s fun, but because it is meaningful in the development of specific children skills.