Through our after-school programs, MusicBox Children's Charity brings music to young children who need it the most. We fully subscribe to the concept of music as a developmental tool, and to its beneficial effects on a child’s social, academic and emotional development. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of music on a child’s cognitive development. In a study published in Brain and discussed in The Lancet it is shown that there is a clear difference between children who had experienced musical training and those who had not, leading the authors to conclude that there is evidence for “a transfer effect between musical and non-musical abilities, such as literacy, verbal memory, mathematics, and intelligence quotient.” (Thomas, 2006)

We believe that the context in which music is taught is also important, and that a welcoming and supportive class environment has an added benefit to a child’s growth and development. We strive to provide our participants with positive role models in the form of their youth instructors and our classes are designed to be inclusive and encouraging. Within this environment we believe that students gain self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment. After-school programs, like those offered by MusicBox, have been shown to increase levels of motivation, and positive self-view. Programs which actively engage participants, and which are fun, challenging and rewarding, have been shown to contribute positively to the psychological development of children and youth (Vandell et al., 2005).

To learn more about the importance of musical education on a child’s development, and the benefit of after school programs, please refer to:

• Vandell et al (2005) Activities, engagement, and emotion in after-school programs (and elsewhere). New Directions in Youth Development (105): 121-9

• Thomas, L. (2006) Musical training improves brain development in children. Lancet Neurology. (11): 905