“Music is all around you, all you have to do is listen”. It is one of the most beautiful languages which unlike all other languages, doesn’t create an artificial barrier of hindrance among people as it’s universally understood. Music is a tool of expressing oneself in ways which wouldn’t be possible without it and it soothes one’s soul, helps in relaxation and meditation and also imparts education.
Music teaches us way beyond the text. When music speaks all others fall silent. Music helps us grow as individuals, teaches values of life and increases our comprehensive capabilities. Music training helps the brain to process words in spoken conversation, meaning children with disabilities can improve their reading ability. Music is also seen to enhance the process of learning. The systems it nourishes, which include our integrated sensory, attention, cognitive, emotional and motor capacities, are shown to be the driving forces behind all other learning.
Research has shown that music tends to improve a child’s abstract reasoning skills far better than textbook or computer based training. It is also seen to be a brownie point for students of arts and humanities as it integrates better understanding of languages of countries and also about people belonging to them. Among other things, music is a stress releaser and has shown great improvement with students suffering from anxiety and those showing aggressive behaviour.
Music inculcates creative thinking and also boosts engagement of brain networks that are responsible for decision making and the ability to focus attention and inhibit impulses. Research shows that music training boosts IQ, focus and persistence.
The value of incorporating music into a child’s education cannot be understated. There is a heap of incontestable research showing that an education rich in music improves students’ cognitive function and academic performance.
Keeping these factors in mind Children in Harmony conducted its first Amani Project Launch in Bagamoyo, Tanzania in August of 2017. The vision of the project, that each person, regardless of gender, is powerful and should have access to his, her, their dreams. Hundreds of children across different countries have participated in activities involving composing music which has helped in breaking barriers; physical, mental, emotional and social.
In India the Amani India Project partnered with Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence to weave their programme into music making curriculum and it was launched in Delhi with Smile Foundation and Children in Harmony.
The Amani Project is an initiative through which children learn to identify, comprehend and manage their emotions through music – the project brought together teachers, student mentors, and schoolchildren across the city.
The project focuses on music theory, music practice and its association with emotional intelligence training.
Simply put, children learn better when music is part of their school curriculum.
