The Power of Music! A Blog by Deborah Bannister, Dubai Heights Academy’s Head of Music

The ‘Musicplay’ curriculum taught at Dubai Heights Academy

Music brings so many positives to a child's education and at DHA we believe in giving all of our students opportunities to experience music, whether it be through learning an instrument, using song and sounds in lessons or by discussing musical experiences and what these experiences mean to them. Music is something that takes on so many forms, and it is important to ensure children experience it throughout their education.

At DHA, our music offering is exciting and inclusive of all children and abilities and students are taught through the award winning ‘Musicplay’ curriculum, which is a sequential curriculum with lessons that follow the calendar year. The curriculum includes seasonal songs, fun songs, rounds, partner songs, folk music, multicultural music and choral music. In the Musicplay curriculum students sing, play instruments, move to music, listen, create and learn to read and write music. Every important musical concept is taught through play. Each week a new singing game is featured. Students are taught note names, solfege, beat, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, form and cultural context Musicplay follows the Kodaly methodology of teaching and students are taught to read and write music through careful sequencing of activities.

We provide students with many opportunities to take part in musical activities throughout the year; including after school activities, recitals and productions. We also perform a number of times within the local community in Dubai, such as at hotels’ tree lighting events each December. Music is fun and all inclusive and it makes the children at DHA happy!

So, what exactly are some of the benefits of music in education?

An article recently published in Brainworld indicates that imitating the rhythms and patterns of songs engages and stimulates the same part of the brain needed for language development, meaning that children are able to process language and speech more readily and have improved memory development as performing teaches children to analyse, adjust and adapt from memory.

The processes needed to read music and master an instrument demand skill and craftsmanship: students gradually learn to want to create good work instead of mediocre work. It encourages them to always take one step further; for instance learning multiple instruments or being able to read a range of complex sheet music. Once experienced, this will run through into all areas of life. In fact, more young people who have been continually exposed to music go on to college and university.

But academic achievement isn’t the only benefit of music education and exposure. Music – and performing it in public – fires all areas of child development; intellectual, emotional, plus motor and language skills. It develops confidence and enhances sociability. It gives them something to strive for and to keep developing.