"Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science" Article Recommendation | Music Education: The "Secret Weapon" Shaping Children's Hearts, or a Neglected Growth Essential?

"When we talk about having our children learn music, what are we really discussing? Is it just about acquiring another certification for grading exams, or is it about equipping them with an 'inner armor' strong enough to weather future storms?" This question not only pertains to nurturing a child's interests but also touches upon their future capacity to become individuals who can perceive happiness, excel at collaboration, and possess inner richness.

In the paper "The Relationship Between Music Education and Children's Social-emotional Development: A Literature Review" published in the Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science by Yuxuan Ge from the School of Arts and Creative Technologies, University of York, the author systematically reviews how music education transcends mere skill acquisition to profoundly shape children's inner world and social capabilities.

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Music Education: An Overlooked Form of "Mental Fitness"

In today's climate, where "hyper-parenting" and intense competition have become common sources of anxiety, many parents have reduced education to the cramming of knowledge and the stacking of skills. However, children's social-emotional abilities – such as emotional management, empathy, teamwork, and resilience – this "hidden iceberg" that determines life happiness and achievement, is often neglected under utilitarian educational goals. Music education happens to be one of the most effective "craftsmen" for forging this very iceberg. It is far more than simple "do-re-mi"; it is a comprehensive "mental workout," quietly tempering children's emotional intelligence and social skills through melody and rhythm.

From Solo to Ensemble: Learning "We" Through Collaboration

Processes like the one-child policy and urbanization have led many children to become accustomed to self-centeredness, lacking experience in understanding others and integrating into groups. Music, especially ensemble playing and choir, is inherently an art about "us." The literature points out that when children need to listen to their peers' parts in a band to maintain harmony, or control their own volume in a choir to achieve balance, they are essentially engaging in the most vivid form of social learning. They learn to wait, listen, cooperate, and support, understanding the relationship between the individual and the collective. This sows the seeds of teamwork in children's hearts far more effectively than any lecture could.

The "Safe rehearsal ground" for Emotional Management: When Notes Meet Feelings

Faced with the setbacks and pressures of growing up, many children can become trapped in a whirlpool of emotions, unable to cope. Music provides an excellent "pressure release valve" for emotional expression and catharsis. Whether it's playing an激昂 piece to vent anger or listening to a soothing melody to calm anxiety, music becomes a container and translator for children's emotions. Research cases show that children who receive long-term music education are better able to accurately identify their own and others' emotions and find healthy ways to express and manage them. This innate ability to regulate emotions is a precious asset for resisting psychological risks and maintaining a positive mindset in the future.

The Cornerstone of Confidence: Building Self-Esteem from Every Successful Performance

In an evaluation system that prioritizes standard answers, many children easily fall into the self-doubt of "I can't do it." Music learning offers a unique path to a sense of achievement. The journey from stumbling through practice to fluently performing a complete piece – this visible, audible, tangible progress – is the most solid cornerstone for building confidence. Every public performance, regardless of the size of the stage, is an affirmation of courage and ability. This confidence, earned through one's own efforts and coming from within, is far more robust and enduring than external evaluation.

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."​ This famous quote by Yeats perhaps best interprets the value of music education. It ignites a flame – the flame of a child's ability to perceive the beauty of the world, connect with the goodness in others, and summon the courage to face difficulties.

Amidst the anxiety for quick success and instant benefit in education, are we willing to slow down and preserve a piece of soil where children's hearts can be nurtured by music? As future society increasingly demands versatile talents with high emotional intelligence and strong collaborative skills, the music education we provide for our children today might just be the most visionary investment we can make for their future.

The study was published in Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science

https://www.hillpublisher.com/ArticleDetails/5625

How to cite this paper

Yuxuan Ge. (2025) The Relationship Between Music Education and Children's Social-emotional Development: A Literature Review. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, 9(10), 1940-1943.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.10.017