Professor and Head of the School of Music at the University of Queensland, Margaret S. Barrett said there were myriad benefits of shared music programs for children from a young age.

“We’re seeing significant outcomes to social development and literacy and numeracy skills from shared music making,” Professor Barrett said.

Professor Barrett is undertaking a major national study between 2013 and 2016 to investigate the life and learning outcomes of those participating in music early in life.

She said participants in Musikids in Wodonga, run by Kathryn Pyle, formed part of the study as did those in two Music Early Learning Programs in Brisbane and one on the Gold Coast.

She will interview past students of Musikids until Friday, having spoken to families with children presently enrolled during her last visit in November.

“There’s lots of benefits of participating in group music,” she said.

“For example, taking turns in a group, social control, communication strategies, learning behavioural norms and interacting with peers and adults.”

Professor Barrett and her colleagues had their findings that children who had access to shared music were better prepared for school published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly.

“At age three the children who experience the most shared music made for better school readiness at five … they scored more strongly at literacy and numeracy measures,” she said.

Professor Barrett said she hoped music might be better incorporated into childcare centres in future.

“I have this crazy desire to ensure every child in Australia has access to musical education in childcare,” she said.

“To participate in music you don’t have to be Mozart; the important thing is to engage with your child and with others.

“The emphasis in music is on talent and experts and it disenfranchises a person to sing with their child or in a classroom.” 

Professor Barrett’s research has investigated issues in the pedagogy of creativity, early musical development, the development of musical expertise, the value of engagement in music and arts activity and music program evaluation.

This research has been funded by grants from the Australian Research Council, the Australia Council for the Arts, the British Council and commissioning bodies.

She has published more than 100 articles, book chapters and conference papers.

Professor Barrett will talk about creativity in children and invented song at Musikids on Thursday at 7.30pm. To book phone (02) 6021 7777.