Learning a Musical Instrument Can Help with Childhood Anxiety
As we continue to move forward as a society when it comes to talking about and dealing with mental health issues we are able to look at issues across all age ranges. For a long time the feeling that only adults were capable of having serious mental health issues was propped up by the “ they are just kids, they will be fine” mentality. Thankfully now we are able to recognise the early signs of anxiety and other problems in young children which may well allow us to prevent them being carried into adulthood. One thing that has been recently shown to help children is learning a musical instrument and it could well be a very important realisation for us all.
What Happens in the Brain with Anxiety
This is a complex issue and this article really cannot attempt to go through all of the points. However, it suffices to say that some of the cortices in the brain vary in thickness in people who are prone to mental health problems like anxiety actually change in thickness. The research is wide-ranging and often complex – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28436445 but it is this change in the thickness of a certain cortex that may be a causal effect.
Learning an Instrument
Research published a couple of years ago analysed the brain activity in children between the ages of 6 and 18 years old and found that playing music actively altered certain areas of the brain. It may not come as a surprise playing or listening to music alters the brain activity. Most people who enjoy music would certainly agree that it can change a mood and help with negative feelings but anxiety and depressions are much more than just moods.
Practice Makes Perfect
It seems that the actual act of practising an instrument can have a more profound impact than just changes in activity. The research showed that it can directly influence the thickness of a cortex associated with working memory, attention control and much more. The bottom line is that actively learning an instrument seems to change the structure of the brain in such a way that it may actually begin to mitigate the effects of depression, anxiety, ADHD and more.
Music is my Medicine
One Author of a study around this called James Hudziak said he felt that helping a child learn the violin might be a more effective solution than medication. This is a bold statement but the evidence certainly suggests there is a lot of room for more research into this area.
How to Learn
There is, of course, lots of issues around getting a child to take up an instrument, especially if they have attention issues, anxiety or depression. They may simply just not want to do it. Forcing the point may well cause more stress than it may prevent so this has to be approached carefully. Professional private tutors are often the best way to go if the child has special emotional needs. Most areas will have companies like www.discoverandbe.com who have years of experience teaching kids in a fun and positive way. It is important to read reviews and find one that will suit your child. But, schools should not be forgotten here. A good school music programme may well be just what a child may need. If they then show real enjoyment it is something that can be moved into private 1 to 1 tuition at a later date.
What About Adults?
Well, there is no shortage of grownups with varying degrees of mental health problems, in fact, most people will suffer some kind of issue in their lives. Although there is less evidence of brain alteration in adults when learning there is a lot of evidence that the focus, pleasure and personal time involved can be very helpful to suffering adults. Music has long been a channel for famous and not so famous musicians to pour their heart out into and this stands for us normal folk too!
Learning Together
The two can also be combined; learning an instrument alongside a child with mental health issues can really bring a fresh bond, a new level of support and a lot of pleasure to a family.
The bottom line is that listening to music is good but learning it is better! Whether it is through physical alterations in the brain or just a useful focus and a shared experience taking up an instrument can only be a good thing…unless perhaps you want to play drums and you live in a flat!
*This is a collaborative post.
I agree with this. I have seen so many people (colleague, friend and relatives) who were able to use music as their outlet. I myself, makes music as one of my stress reliever. Also my cousins kid who has an attention disorder used music as her medicine.
There really is something almost magical about music in some senses isn’t there.
I had never played a musical instrument but I do agree that music in general can help childhood anxiety. I used to do musical theatre productions, where I would sing, act and dance and even though I was not comfortable with attention I did find that it did help me feel more confident and in control. I can imagine it being the same with musical instruments as well.
I’m not one for attention I have to admit I loved being part of a musical though, I would feel so alive on stage.
I haven’t thought of it like this, but it is true. When I was little my mum signed me up for piano classes and I carried on for 4 years. It helped me a lot to concentrate and even perform in front of a public.
What I would add is that the child has to want to learn the instrument… I was forced into playing the piano for over 10 years and did not enjoy it. Looking back now, I’m quite thankful I had the opportunity to learn an instrument thoroughly but at the time it probably had the opposite effect on childhood anxiety.
This is a fab post. My partners mum used to say music makes you happy and it is so true. My 2 year old loves singing and plays around with various instruments so I will definitely be encouraging this as he grows older x
This is so interesting. I’m familiar with art therapy but not so much learning an instrument. I suppose I hadn’t considered it because I always found my own music lessons so stressful ?
Haha I think you have to enjoy it – if you don’t then it isn’t going to work.
Great post – I think music is fundamental to good mental health and low stress living. And I think that’s true whatever your age, although giving a child the gift of music is one of the best gifts you can give them. I absolutely agree that learning an instrument with a child is an amazing way to bond and share a journey.
I think there is something wonderful I’m not sure I could still play but I’m glad I did get to learn.
I have to admit even musical instruments have helped me with my anxiety. Nothing beats picking up the guitar and having a little sing along if a stressful/rough day! Does wonders for the soul.
Violet
It is amazing how it can uplift you and take you to a different place of feeling isn’t it.
Thank you for this post. It made me remember when I was a child, I always wanted to learn to play the guitar, just like my older brother. However, my parents told me that “guitars are for boys.” So they made me take piano lessons instead. I did not like it one bit, but what can a 6 year old do? That gave me anxiety and piano recitals made me so nervous. I learned a lot from that and I did not force any of my children to pick up a musical instrument unless they explicitly asked.
I always wanted to play the piano, but they ran out of room so I ended up playing the violin instead and keep it up for many years, only stopped really when I went into hospital. Later learned the guitar for a while but not as much as I did the violin, music definitely is therapeutic.
I absolutely agree that children with emotional needs shouldn’t be forced and I am so glad to hear that there are places with professional tutors who offer the service to such children
It is great isn’t it – I used to love art therapy when I was allowed to just get on and show my feelings how I wanted. It was the only type that worked for me.
I would so agree, music soothes the mind. I know when I get stressed I love to listen to my music.
It is amazing isn’t it – how it can completely soothe your mind.
I guess my thought is maybe it can help with anxiety unless they are being forced into lessons or have trouble learning, then there’s that anxiety.
Most definitely you should never force anyone to do anything they don’t want.