Music classes benefit students well beyond actual musical expertise. Earlier in this series, we’ve talked about how studying music can teach everything from motor skills to life skills. Today, we specifically want to focus on how music classes (especially musical theater classes) can help teach students valuable social skills.
Building Friendships
One of the more overt benefits of musical theater classes is that they offer students the opportunity to build friendships. There’s plenty of group interaction, all revolving around this shared interest in theater. After all, what better time to make a friend than when you’re both trying to navigate a new, exciting experience together?
Overcoming Obstacles
Another way that music classes can develop social skills is in the fact that everyone is working toward a common goal. Students are practicing everything from cooperation to problem solving skills together. As they watch others, they are also learning that nobody is perfect. This grows in students the valuable knowledge that everyone has room to improve.
Playing Their Part
Learning how to be around others can result in friendships and a mutual sense of “me too!”. It’s equally likely that learning to overcome obstacles together may give students a chance to exercise patience and tolerance with one another. (What more fun opportunity to exercise these qualities than in a light-hearted musical theater class?) Finally, as students learn how to fill their roles in each musical theater performance, they are gifted with the knowledge that individuals have a part to play in the whole. While simple, this is an essential concept to social skills that serves students well beyond their music class experiences.
Supporting Your Student: Is your student over-the-moon enthusiastic about musical theater? Seeking out live theater events locally is a great way to encourage their passion and to bond over shared experiences. Additionally, it provides great opportunities for constructive conversation. What stood out? What made the performances work? Talking about these things can get your student thinking about how to improve their own musical theater skills.
Are you interested in enrolling your child in music classes at either our Cedar Creek or our South Olathe, KS locations? Click here to find out more about current class offerings and enrollment.