Educator Reveals Character Benefits of Music Mastery

Online, May 28, 2010 (Newswire.com) - [St. Louis, Mo. - May 24, 2010] Learning to master a musical instrument helps students succeed in academics and life, says Laura Yeh, director of the St. Louis School of Music.

Yeh, who teaches violin and ocarina, explains surprising hidden benefits of music education in a new article titled Music Mastery and Confidence: Teaching kids to expect more of themselves.

"When students master a piece of music that seemed at first impossible, they develop confidence and persistence that can help them in academics and whatever they set out to do," she says. "I have seen this again and again. Students who apply themselves intelligently, efficiently and persistently end up surpassing their own expectations and achieving their goals."

Some benefits Yeh outlines include:

 Persistence: Children learn that mastering a skill takes practice and dedication. They learn to overcome a myriad of distractions and pressure to seek immediate gratification.

 Patience: Students who commit the time and energy it takes to learn a musical instrument learn not to get easily discouraged but to keep working towards their goals.

 Responsibility: Kids learn to respond positively to constructive criticism. They discover they can master a skill by applying themselves to a task.

 Self-esteem: A patient yet demanding music teacher can help young people learn to overcome fear of failure to develop confidence in their abilities.

 Problem-solving skills: One of the greatest benefits of music, Yeh says, is how it teaches young people to think through difficulties and figure out how to overcome them.

All these skills transfer directly to the classroom and to life as students learn they hold the keys to their own success - in academics, relationships and future careers.

"It is through meeting challenges and mastering problems that they build self-confidence," Yeh says. "This is an important lesson for parents who want to motivate their kids to succeed.

Laura Yeh's articles are available on the Web at http://www.stlocarina.presskit247.com