Editor’s Note: Our newest music blog is written by Tracy Jiang, one of our summer interns. In partnership with the NYC Summer Youth Employment Program, we are working with incredible high school and college students from NYC, who are getting hands-on experience in business administration, design, writing and more. We are very excited to share some new perspectives and more guest blogging in the weeks to come. Enjoy! - DC

Growing up, music has always been a big part of my childhood. From being a part of my choir in elementary school to learning to play the recorder and dancing to jazz, I was constantly surrounded by music. Music has shaped my personal growth and without it, I would not be the person that I am today. Regardless of the mood that I am in, whether I feel happy or sad, music always finds a way into my life.

Plenty of scientific studies have been conducted that show the power of music and its positive impact on shaping the brain, especially during early childhood development. Whether it is listening to music, playing an instrument, or singing a song, music essentially involves all of our cognitive abilities and can be beneficial to our overall development and well being. For example, according to a study conducted by the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, after babies listen to music, their auditory and prefrontal cortexes, which are regions of the brain that are in charge of processing music and speech, are altered and it enhances their ability to process musical sounds and speech. Clearly, for young children, exposing them to the wonders of music at an early age can be incredibly beneficial to their academic, social, physical, and psychological development.

It is also important to remember that you don’t need to be professionally trained or have years of experience under your belt to be able to enjoy and make music. No matter the age or experience, music is for everyone!

Here are four fun ways in which children can improve their overall well being through music:

1. Creating Mood Playlists for Different Effects

Feeling down and under the weather and you just want to crawl under the covers? Need a moment to relax and calm down after a stressful and overwhelming day? Or maybe you are ready to head out and want to kick off your day with a strong, positive start? Make a playlist to fit your mood!

For children, making a playlist and filling it with their favorite songs can be a great activity that allows them to express themselves and explore the different genres of music that they enjoy the most. Depending on the emotions that one is feeling at a certain point in time, pulling up a list of favorite songs that matches your mood can be a very fulfilling experience. Research studies have also shown that listening to music can help lower blood pressure, reduce your heart rate, decrease your stress hormone levels, and increase your serotonin levels which essentially helps to elevate your mood and relieve anxiety.

Try This: Peace Like A River

Here at Yo Re Mi, we have also made our own album that is filled with lots of exciting songs you can sing along to. Check it out here on Spotify!

2. Writing Songs at Home or in the Classroom

Another great way to improve overall well being is to come up with your own songs! Lots of people may not consider themselves to be songwriters, but we all have a creative side and through different activities and games, you can get your creative juices flowing and come up with some unique lyrics and melodies. For example, one fun way to approach songwriting is to pick five random words from a dictionary or even your favorite book and try to form a story by connecting those five random words in your song. Another cool way to write an original song in a collaborative manner is to have a friend pick out a word and have you write one line of a song. Then the last word in your line can be the first word in their line. This is a great way to work together and get to know each other.

3. Singing Along to Yo Re Mi Yoga Activities

At Yo Re Mi, we make learning and exercising fun by providing engaging activities and sing-along songs that encourage children to exercise. Our curriculum allows for children to develop their physical, social, and emotional wellbeing through mindful music and yoga. Studies have shown that singing can be a cathartic activity that allows children to develop their emotional intelligence and express their feelings. When paired with yoga, it can be a great way to get kids moving and release stress.

Try This: Sittin’ on the Floor

4. Learn a New Instrument as a Family or as a Class

Learning a new instrument is an awesome family bonding activity, as music is a great bridge to bringing people together. The first instrument that I ever picked up was the recorder, and ever since then, my love for learning how to play different instruments has continued to blossom. During our free time, my family members and I love to form little bands and perform duets and trios of our favorite songs. Playing instruments as a group can also be a great activity for class. By learning and playing together as a team, students can enhance their communication skills as well as their understanding of music. When playing together, students with more developed skills can help those around them with less developed skills, reinforcing the power of helping each other to learn. Furthermore, learning an instrument opens up different facets of your brain, making other types of learning much more efficient and approachable, such as learning languages or math.

Try this: Tambourine Stretching

Now that we have introduced you to some of these exciting activities and put some ideas into your head, we encourage you to just go for it and have fun! Who knows, maybe you’ll discover something new about yourself or even create the next big hit!

Tracy Jiang is a junior at Harvard University studying Government and Economics. She is passionate about making education accessible and engaging to people of all types of backgrounds. In her free time, Tracy enjoys hiking, traveling, dancing, listening to music, and playing the clarinet.