7th December 2013 9:00
By Sophie Ackroyd
In today’s world, being creative isn’t easy. Earlier this year, Michael Gove attempted to downgrade creative subjects in secondary schools. The arts and other extra-curricular activities are increasingly being pushed aside in favour of academia.
But supposing your child had something they wanted to share but didn’t know how to express it? Music is a powerful tool when it comes to expressing emotions. Many musicians and therapists believe that songwriting is a great way to discover and process feelings of all kinds – hope, fear, joy, sorrow, excitement, anxiety which can all be uncovered as children learn to play with words and melodies. The physical act of writing down what they are feeling can help children distance themselves from worries and fears as well as express wishes, hopes and dreams.
Recently, alongside tutoring I have been working for an after-school songwriting and singing club. There, I see children learn how to sing, how to perform to an audience, both individually and in a group, which helps them gain confidence whilst learning the basics of music theory. But what’s more, from what the participants and their parents tell me, this creative outlet has a positive influence over every other aspect of their lives: their schoolwork and their general work ethic.
As the New Year approaches, you may be thinking about which club would be most suitable for your child’s education. You may be wondering whether an extra-curricular activity could fit in with your child’s schoolwork at all. But what could be more important than giving them an opportunity to express themselves? Whether it be through the medium of music, or playing in a sports team - whatever it may be, it is essential that children find something outside of their studies to be passionate about.
As both and music workshop leader and academic tutor, I’ve seen first hand what a positive effect extra-curricular activities it can have on young people.