The Role of Music Education in Childhood

Abstract Introduction: From the second half of the 20th century onwards, studies on the transfer effects of music learning have become increasingly common. Both in the domestic and international literature, we can read research with a solid scientific background that supports the transfer effects of music education on different aspects of life. Purpose: The aim of paper was to map the effect of learning music in childhood based on both the international and the Hungarian scientific literature. Methods: When analyzing the social impact of learning music in detail we distinguished five areas: 1. state of physical development, skillfulness, health; 2. cognitive skills; 3. personal development and emotional intelligence; 4. the role of compensating for deficit; 5. community building. In this study we present in detail the results of research studies in these fields. Conclusions: In our opinion music education institutions transmit several values and hidden curriculum to children the effect of which serves as a determining and formative factor throughout their whole lives. That is why it is important that, based on the research findings, teachers should be aware of it and consciously control it. In our view learning music can act as a supporting factor for the physical, spiritual and mental development of the children and apart from improving different areas of competence it can also influence their attitude to work.