Literature study

In order to adress the question 'Is music education at an early age necessary to reach a professional level in music?', an independent study was performed for Polifonia in 2005. In this study the focus is on music education that takes place before the level of higher education and especially on the necessity of students receiving music education before they enter higher music education. 

Several factors that are known to influence the development of young musicians are discussed, such as the influence of the parents, the amount of practice and the starting age. This literature study tries to determine which factors are the major contributors to professional musical development. Therefore, in the first chapter several questions and hypotheses are stated about factors expected to influence musical development that are tested through the literature discussed and reviewed in the present study. 

The first chapter focuses on grounds for teaching music and the intrinsic value of music and music education. This chapter forms the foundation of the study, by emphasizing the importance of music and music education for all children, whether they will be professional musicians or not. 

A thorough understanding of the development of music students is necessary to provide them with the best music education possible. In order to understand the development of children in general and children who want to become (or eventually will be) musicians in the second and third chapter developmental respectively musical developmental theories are dealt with. This is followed in chapter four by a discussion on existing literature and research about important factors that contribute to the development of musical performance, which includes influence by parents and siblings, peers and the teacher, but also the starting age and the amount of study hours. Chapter five starts with a discussion of the role of talent in the development of musicality and musical performance. 

Chapter six reviews literature about the brain and the influence music has on the brain. The research results seem to prove that starting early with music education and making music has a long-lasting influence on the shape of the brain. 

In the last chapter reflects on the hypotheses; the document is concluded by a discussion and recommendations for further research. 

Downloadable documents
Literature Study: 'Preparing young musicians for professional training: What does scientific research tell us?'	English