Awake at 3am I’m scrolling Facebook. There in front of me is a video of automated lorries. This is a technological revolution like never before. The Telegraph posted an article about the future. A future of a convoy of automated lorries, driver-less lorries that could soon occupy our roads. How will this effect your child’s future?
At around ten years old I remember visiting my dad’s workplace. He worked then at British Telecom in Leeds. Whilst I was there he took me into a room full of computers. These computers were huge probably the size of an American fridge-freezer and there were about 6 of these in a room of their own. I was amazed. These computers helped control the way we speak to each other via a cabling system.
Progress
Who could have imagined we would now be speaking into a tiny box without wires? 30 years on those 6 machines probably fit into a watch to power ‘smart’ watches. Corded phones are ‘retro’ and yet it isn’t that long ago. So much in my lifetime has already changed at a rapid rate and I’m only in my early 40s. Computers are now mobile, we communicate more and more by social media messaging services rather than by hand written letter. This is the technological revolution. An ongoing technological revolution.
The Future
An interesting discussion keeps popping up all over the place. What will we do when machines take over more and more jobs? It does seem that the more sophisticated machines we build the more able they are to do the basic jobs that don’t need any human thinking or imagination. This is calling our education system into account. Whilst the Government is hell-bent on the next generation only learning about English grammar and more mathematics what employers are crying out for is the human ability to be creative. According to the World Economic Forum robots could replace 800 million jobs by 2030 and that’s not too far away! My daughter is 13 she will be the generation which may see job opportunities even scarcer than they are now. Is she fully equipped by school to use her imagination and creativity to be the one making the robots or will she be the one being replaced by one? I fear even more for my 5 year old as more and more free and creative play is taken away and replaced by Maths and English.
What can we do as parents?
If schools are no longer providing a balanced curriculum which includes the Arts then we must ensure our children get this from elsewhere. There are lots of out of school activities from art classes, drama classes and music that you can attend or use Pinterest to gage some ideas on how to get your child to be more creative. Give them space and tools to create. Bricks, playdough, clay, material, junk materials let them experiment on their own with a little support and guidance. Even now I m surprised at how limiting Art is in school. Children are directed so often into copying something and you can tell its not their own work. My 13 year old has to copy pictures by other artists and I can’t help feeling that she should be creating her own inspired by other artists.
Why music is best
For many, many years studies have shown that music, above all other art forms, is the activity with the most benefits. Where music can teach other subjects other subjects cannot teach music. Teaching children music in a multi sensory way means every child can be successful. When we learn in a auditory, kinaesthetic and visual way we use what is naturally human to us. Where ever I have taught in this way it has had the most benefits and not just for children, adults too! Learning music is mathematical. Counting beats, understanding patterns of rhythm, multiplication (counting beats in phrases of music), division – of beat (crotchets, quavers, minims etc), structure and more. We know music is great for learning language through song, rhyming, phrasing, phonics, structure. We can learn about the world, people and its history through song.
Music is physical
Believe it or not learning music requires physical abilities. Singing is great for deep breathing reducing stress and anxiety (who needs to go running?). Playing an instrument also requires breathing techniques and physical abilities, drumming for instance is very physical. Using a bow to play violin, using hands and fingers to play guitar, saxophone or trumpet requires co-ordination and manipulation of fingers (great for helping writing skills). Where music helps all these learning aspects above all else it is joyful and gives us feelings of happiness even if we are just listening to music.
Let’s keep our creativity
Keeping our creativity is a basic human right and what will set us apart from robots. It is our ability to think on the spot and react to change, to imagine and invent. Machines have made our lives easier and communication more accessible. We can explore further into the universe than ever before and get information at the tip of our fingers. We created these machines because we can imagine a future. Let’s make sure our children are still creating and imagining long after we are gone. Let them explore the Arts and let them have music learning in their lives.
Want to know more about how music learning can help your child? Get in touch.
Find out how music can be use for health intervention here